From the saddle, turn left (not right, like the NP GPX track says) and head steeply downhill to the water drainage area. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended to reach the start of this loop. It also offers the most dramatic photography with long shadows and more vibrant colors. Type of hike: cross-country and gravel wash, Distance: 7 miles to upper Through Cyn, 16 mile loop to return via Granite Canyon, Start: Confidence Mill site, 6.6 miles from Ashford Junction on Harry Wade Road. This was our first backpacking trip in GTNP and it was great. National Park fees are paid at the ranger stations or at any of the self-pay facilities around the park. Cottonwood/Marble Canyon Road intersection. The trail combines going … All hikers are different, but in general you should carry at least 4 liters of water per person per day. Solo Backpacking Death Valley | Telescope Peak - Duration: 17:29. Elevate your next backpacking trip with a minimalist seat that makes break time and chilling in camp more comfortable. In this guide, we break down all of the best features from articulated knees to zip-off legs. Larger groups may request an exception to these limits from the superintendent under the terms of a special use permit. To qualify, you must accumulate at least four points by hiking the trails listed below and snapping a picture as proof. The gift ideas listed in the CleverHiker Gift Guide are can’t miss recommendations for anyone that enjoys backpacking, hiking, and camping. Extended hiking during the summer months is ill-advised. From the saddle overlooking Deadhorse Canyon (you can see one large cottonwood tree in the canyon below from the top), turn left (not right) from this saddle and head down to the water runoff drainage. You’ll spend months communing with nature, build jaw-dropping endurance, and develop lasting friendships along the way. SLEEPING BAG: We used the Enlightened Equipment Revelation 10° and Therm-a-Rest Vesper quilts on this trip. Turn left onto Cottonwood Canyon Rd and drive 4.3 miles to Stovepiple Wells Campground. That’s why it blew my mind a few years back when I learned that thru-hikers cover thousands of trail miles every year in running shoes. The following downloads are all optional and unnecessary if you use the full trip download. It’s highly recommended that you use a GPS device on this route, as it can be tricky to navigate at times and getting lost would be disastrous. With all the technical data to sift through and seemingly endless choices on the market, it can be a real challenge to figure out what to buy. Type of hike: wet canyon with remnants of old jeep road, some rock scrambling. In addition, and more importantly for this loop, we always hike with a downloaded GPS app on our phone, like Gaia GPS, and make sure to download the GPX track. My friends Rich and Wendy and I started our 32-mile, four-day, Death Valley backpacking trip by carrying only a two-day supply of water, expecting to find Cottonwood Springs, a reliable water source, by the end of our second day. A tough climb up to Indian Pass on the Continental Divide provided some pretty spectacular views. So get in the mix! If you’re still sipping from that banged up old bottle you've had for a decade, it might be time for an upgrade. A visit to the Butte Valley would not be complete without a hike to its 4,744 foot summit. Popular with desert-loving backpackers, this long and challenging hike is one of the few loop trails in Death Valley National Park. We're Dave & Annie, the outdoor adventurers behind CleverHiker. This is another confusing spot. But, it is … I completed a solo 26 mile backpacking trek around the Cottonwood - Marble Canyon Loop in Death Valley. Pairing down the essentials into one single bag can be fun and freeing as long as you have the right gear and the right travel backpack to pack it in. This route in Death Valley is a really fantastic backpacking loop. Maps: Dunes 7.5 minute topo or Trails Illustrated Map of Death Valley, Comments: Hike across the gently rising upper end of Panamint Valley to star-shaped dunes. CAMERA: The Sony RX100 is our go-to camera for lightweight backpacking. Walking on, climbing, entering, ascending, descending, or traversing any archaeological or cultural resource is prohibited. If I had to describe Death Valley National Park in one word, it would be “strange”. Comments: Narrow canyon with high walls, similar to Titus. The national park is jam-packed with bizarre formations that make you feel like you are on another planet. Harmony is also a great place to see the night sky. The road is rough and may require a 4WD high clearance vehicle for the final 2 miles to the trailhead. In early season, snow can make the trail a bit harder to follow here. Backpacking Training Trip: Cottonwood-Marble Loop, Death Valley National Park: Day 1 Get link; Facebook; Twitter; Pinterest; Email; Other Apps; February 24, 2017 Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop. Whether you’re planning on backpacking the grueling Death Valley Traverse or just want to peak at its top trails, prepare for a trek unlike any other. Below is a snapshot of important regulations to follow. Here’s why we prefer hiking in trail running shoes: 5 Reasons to Ditch Your Hiking Boots. We've built over 30 instructional backpacking videos in two series - Essential Trail Skills & Lightweight Backpacking Foundations. It is possible to continue over pass (no trail) to ghost town of Panamint City. At 3 miles you reach a dry fall, which can be passed on the south side with moderate difficulty. I caught this fellow hiker coming around a bend and boy does he make a great prop! A lightweight down coat should be at the center of any good backpacking list. For recommendations on our favorite lightweight backpacking equipment, check out the CleverHiker Gear Guide and Top Picks page. February 15, 2020 (8.5 miles), Day 2 - Hike to Cottonwood Springs (3.5 miles), Day 3 - Hike from Cottonwood Springs to seasonal Deadhorse Springs (6 miles), Day 4 - Hike from Deadhorse Springs through Marble Canyon and back to your car (8.3 miles). You’ll wear it just about every night on the trail. Follow CleverHiker on Facebook to catch our latest updates & shares. Several small dry falls are easily passed, but at upper end of gorge an 80 foot dry fall requires scrambling up talus slope on north side to continue beyond. There's nothing quite as satisfying as having just the tool you need for a job, right when and where you need it. Read More. To create this loop, the “trail” follows dirt roads and washes (not an actual … Distance: Varies, between 26.3 and 31.8, depending on route, Elevation Gain/Loss: 4,032 feet (1,229 meters), Peak Elevation: 4,955 feet (1,510 meters), Best Time to Travel: Winter (or late fall, early spring), Beautiful and fun to navigate narrow canyons. Start: 8 to 10 miles from Stovepipe Wells on Cottonwood Canyon Road. 1 Rain jacket shell - Marmot Pre-Cip / Rab Kinetic Plus, 1 Pair of rain pants (optional) - Mountain Hardwear Stretch Ozonic, 1 Down jacket - Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody. And absolutely avoid this loop if there’s any chance of flash flooding. If your vehicle is unable to venture the final two miles, you’ll have to hike the additional two miles in and out. Paintbrush loop is a bit more scenic, but this is less crowded. For many of us, it’s been drilled into our heads since day one that backpackers wear boots. In fact, the only reason I’m able to give any “clever” hiking advice is because of all the laughably bad mistakes I’ve made over the years. In the large "amphitheater" between Schwaub and Pyramid Peaks many small side canyons make good loop hikes by crossing low divides and returning via another canyon. Distance: 10 miles from Scotty's Castle Road to upper dry fall. Separated Road and Trek KML Tracks: Cottonwood Marble Road ( 6 KB download), Cottonwood Canyon Road (16 KB download), Marble Canyon Road (2 KB download). Our reputation is our most important asset, which is why we only provide completely honest and unbiased recommendations. So give a gift that gets someone outdoors this year. Elevation loss: 1700 down to spring; 4700 feet down to road, Start: 11 miles from start of Titus Canyon Road (do not block road). Check out some of our favorite items in our guide to the Best Backpacking Gear for Women. Welcome to Death Valley backpacking! Lightweight backpacking video guides and reviews of the best ultralight tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, stoves, and more. It also requires navigating narrow canyons and open deserts (topo map, compass, and phone GPS app strongly recommended). Whatever your pleasure; walking, running, biking, or hiking - being equipped with the right mindset and a quality rain jacket will empower you to seize any opportunity to get outdoors, regardless of the forecast. If you’ve spent any time in the woods, you’ve probably made some epic backcountry blunders. Looking for some deep trail sleep? Much of the hike involves walking on dirt roads, gravel washes and cross-country brushy areas, and through deep sand or gravel. A trusty pocket knife will come in handy for both the ordinary and the unexpected. For more popular CleverHiker content, check out the following links: Some of the links on this page are affiliate links, which means we may receive a modest commission if purchases are made through those links. Still very much a backpacking frontier, Death Valley National Park, at 3.4 million acres, is the largest national park in the US south of Alaska. TRAILHEAD Start/Finish: Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Junction, Day 1 - Hike clockwise to Cottonwood Springs (about 12 miles), Day 2 - Get an early start for a long day continuing clockwise back to your starting trailhead through Marble Canyon (about 14.3 miles). A 26 mile loop (longer if your car can’t make it all the way up the rough approach road) with route finding challenges and sparse water sources, it’s not for the inexperienced hiker. GPS Files (Full Trip): GPX (98 KB download). Then head uphill to a saddle the north for a big view over Deadhorse Canyon and a large cottonwood tree in the valley below. For the confident and experienced hiker, this trail is quite navigable, but beginners and anyone unfamiliar with desert hiking should skip this one, or go with experienced hikers. Joining a Death Valley backpacking tour is a worry-free, adventurous way to experience Death Valley National Park. You need the toughness and the ankle support and the water protection, right? Death Valley National Park is huge and it can take hours to drive from one side to the other, so working out a plan before you go will make it a lot easier to do all the trails you want. The majority of Death Valley hikes are split between the two major areas in the National Park: Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek. Whether you’re heading out for a picnic or a full-blown expedition, a quality cooler makes all the difference. Down jackets are lightweight, packable, and highly efficient at trapping body heat. Things nature and cross-country ; some brushy areas reach Marble Canyon starts, this and. 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