Upper Mosaic Canyon – Death Valley National Park
Explore the more difficult, less-traveled part of Mosaic Canyon.
| Total Distance: Up to 5.8+ miles out & back | Elevation Gain: 3,031ft. (932ft. to 3,082ft.) |
| Difficulty: Strenuous | 5-10 Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous |
| View Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars |
| Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] | Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] |
| Pets: No | Horses: No. You’d never get a horse up this trail. |
| Best Seasons: November-April | Special Permits: None |
| Water Availability: None | Overnight Options: At least 1 mile from the parking area (as the crow flies, not how the canyon twists and turns) |
| Trailhead Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Solitude |
| Trailhead Access: 1.2 | |
Uses:     | Trail Surface:     |
Features:     | Hazards:     |
Mile-by-Mile: Upper Mosaic Canyon
0.0 Mosaic Canyon Trailhead (932ft.). Follow the trail up the wash to the 25ft. dryfall (trail description here), where casual hiking ends. (36.571824°, -117.144272°)
1.8 25ft. Dryfall (2,009ft.). Casual upcanyon travel ends here. To continue upcanyon, walk almost 0.05 miles back downcanyon to a social trail on the left (south) side of the canyon. The route is unstable and has exposure, so use care. After bypassing the dryfall, scramble (Class 3) back down the unstable slope into the wash and continue upcanyon. There will be a few short dryfalls to navigate. The walls close in again as the canyon travels south to the Fourth Narrows. (36.558168°, -117.127976°)
2.1 30ft. Dryfall (2,139ft.). This may be the end of hiking up Mosaic Canyon. However, it is rumored that it is possible to climb the very unstable slope to the left of the dryfall and bypass the obstacle. This guide will continue as though it is possible. Drop back into the wash (which is fairly wide) and continue upcanyon. (36.557324°, -117.126899°)
2.25 Wash splits (2,206ft.). Take the right fork southwest. (36.555755°, -117.125864°)
2.4 Dryfall (2,328ft.). If the dryfall is impassible, this is the end of hiking up Mosaic Canyon. However, if it can be safely bypassed or scrambled, you’ll be in for a treat: 0.5+ miles of narrows with slots and scrambles and more. (36.554220°, -117.125736°)
2.9 Dryfall (3,082ft.). This guide turns around here. (36.548031°, -117.124233°)
History & More
It’s possible that you could continue many miles up Mosaic Canyon. I’ve heard of canyoneers who have started high in the mountains and come down, but they had ropes and some pretty good know-how. Also, the difficulty/beauty will depend on exactly which spurs of the canyon you follow.
The beginning of this trail will likely be extremely crowded. The further you go upcanyon, the thinner the crowds, until you’ll likely have the upper part of the canyon to yourself.
Most of the walls of Mosaic Canyon are made up of either Noonday Dolomite (the highly-polished walls) or Mosaic Canyon Breccia (colorful rocks trapped in a natural cement-like mud/rock that looks like a mosaic pavement). The gravel on the bottom of the wash is picked up in flash floods and scours the walls, revealing the breccia and polishing the dolomite.
It’s likely that Mosaic Canyon received its name from the breccia, the pebbles of which would have reminded early visitors of a mosaic pavement.
Download Trail Map
Coming soon!
Driving Directions
The access road is along CA-190 0.4 miles west of Stovepipe Wells and 9 miles east of the Emigrant Canyon Road. Turn onto the 2WD-friendly, dirt access road for 2.3 miles to the parking area at the end of the road.
Camping in a canyon is discouraged due to the danger of flash floods.
Remember, it may be easier to climb up dryfalls than down them (or vice versa). Be sure you can climb in the other direction before climbing up or down a dryfall.
Camping is not allowed within one mile of a paved road, developed area, or dirt road that is closed to camping.
Camping is not permitted within 100 feet of a flowing stream, spring, or other natural body of open water.
No camping is permitted on the floor of Death Valley, within one mile of Darwin Falls and Greenwater Canyon, on the active/shifting sand dunes, and certain other canyons and backcountry areas.
Camping is also prohibited within one mile of the Ubehebe Lead Mine, Leadfield Mines, Keane Wonder Mill, and Skidoo Mill.
Camping is limited to 30 days per calendar year within the park.
Fires are permitted in NPS-provided fire grates or grills ONLY.
Leave No Trace Principles are enforced
Drones and model aircrafts are prohibited
Camping is permitted only in designated sites or in areas open to dispersed backcountry camping
All park rules and regulations
12 Month Pass: $55/Death Valley Annual Pass (valid at Death Valley National Park). $80/America the Beautiful Annual Pass (valid at all national park and federal fee areas). $20/Annual Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/4th Grade Pass (Valid Sept. 1-August 31 of the child’s 4th Grade school year). Free/Military Pass (valid for all active military personel and their dependents with a CAC Card or DD Form 1173).
Lifetime Pass: $80/Lifetime Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/Access Pass (available to all US citizens with perminent disabilities). Free/Access for Veterans and Gold Star Families Pass (valid for all military and veterans with a CAC card, Veteran HJealth Identification Card, Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on state-issued drivers license or identification card.)