Canyon Point from Cottonwood Canyon in Death Valley National Park, CA

Hike Canyon Point from Cottonwood Canyon Death Valley National Park, CA

Class 2 5.8 miles 3200 gain 3-5 hrs Loop Apr 18, 2021
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Canyon Point from Cottonwood Canyon GPX Track

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Canyon Point is the high point of the mountains separating Marble Canyon and Cottonwood Canyon. These two canyons, when done as a loop, form a popular Death Valley backpacking trip, but it's never had much appeal to me because almost half of it follows the Cottonwood Canyon dirt road. Instead of the loop, simply reaching the high point seemed more my speed. We accessed the trailhead by driving Cottonwood Canyon Road. Head up Cottonwood Canyon Road here (36.63184, -117.29498). The road is great until about a mile before that point, and then it's overall not bad (some short sections where high clearance would be required) except for the last mile, which deteriorated significantly. You may have to hike an extra mile or two each way to reach the end of Cottonwood Canyon Road, depending on driving comfort level.

From the trailhead, we spent a few minutes poking around the pretty cottonwoods before starting up the route to Canyon Point. I recommend taking this extra time to enjoy the area since it's rare to find this much vegetation in Death Valley. The hike starts on the west side of Cottonwood Canyon at the end of the road, heading up a Class 2 set of easy switchbacks to get into a drainage. Once within the drainage, we continued west on lightly sandy and pleasant terrain. Canyon Point came into view after a mile or so, but we wouldn't be ascending directly to it. Instead, we headed south up the slope to reach the ridge. While steep, I think it's likely the best option for reaching Canyon Point from here. Continuing up the approach drainage would result in having to ascend steeper, sandier, or rockier terrain.

Once on the ridge, we headed west up easy Class 2 terrain on a somewhat steep slope, which brought us to the traverse to the summit. Significantly less steep than the lat half mile, the rest of the route to the summit was scenic and pleasant. A hump along the ridge is worth just going over rather than side-hilling. Large boulders near the summit add some fun Class 2. A Class 2+ summit block gave us some awesome views into Death Valley and toward the sweeping valley around Towne Benchmark.

The most fun part of the day came next. We dropped east off Canyon Point and desended the sandy and fun slope back into the main drainage we used to approach the peak. I highly recommend not ascending this way, but the descent was fast and exciting.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Canyon Point
5890 ft
1090 rise

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Depending on how you feel about driving, you may have to hike Cottonwood Canyon Road for a bit before reaching the trailhead.
Depending on how you feel about driving, you may have to hike Cottonwood Canyon Road for a bit before reaching the trailhead.
Cottonwood Canyon Trailhead, view into the canyon. Just to my right is the start of the route to Canyon Point.
Cottonwood Canyon Trailhead, view into the canyon. Just to my right is the start of the route to Canyon Point.
Class 2 up the drainage. I'm at the trailhead, looking west. The switchbacks are difficult to see, but start up on the left in this photo.
Class 2 up the drainage. I'm at the trailhead, looking west. The switchbacks are difficult to see, but start up on the left in this photo.
View back toward the trailhead and Cottonwood Canyon as we head up the Class 2 switchbacks.
View back toward the trailhead and Cottonwood Canyon as we head up the Class 2 switchbacks.
Within the sandy, pleasant drainage.
Within the sandy, pleasant drainage.
View back as we make progress up the drainage.
View back as we make progress up the drainage.
Canyon Point comes into view.
Canyon Point comes into view.
Another shot back.
Another shot back.
Canyon Point visible on the right. We would gain its summit by first heading to the darker-colored bump on the left.
Canyon Point visible on the right. We would gain its summit by first heading to the darker-colored bump on the left.
A minor side-drainage that led to the slope and up to the ridge seen on the left. From the ridge, we'd continue to the darker-colored bump.
A minor side-drainage that led to the slope and up to the ridge seen on the left. From the ridge, we'd continue to the darker-colored bump.
Looking back into the main drainage as we continue up the slope.
Looking back into the main drainage as we continue up the slope.
On the ridge heading up to the darker-colored bump.
On the ridge heading up to the darker-colored bump.
Class 2 as we make our way up.
Class 2 as we make our way up.
View back down, the drainage we came out of visible on the left.
View back down, the drainage we came out of visible on the left.
Close-up into the drainage we came out of.
Close-up into the drainage we came out of.
Once we reached the top of the steep section, we got this view of the route to come. Canyon Point visible top right. We would follow the ridge on the left, over the small inconvenient hump on the left.
Once we reached the top of the steep section, we got this view of the route to come. Canyon Point visible top right. We would follow the ridge on the left, over the small inconvenient hump on the left.
Approaching the lump.
Approaching the lump.
Past the lump, continuing along the ridge to the summit.
Past the lump, continuing along the ridge to the summit.
View back, Towne Benchmark visible top center.
View back, Towne Benchmark visible top center.
Making our way up along the ridge.
Making our way up along the ridge.
View back, the drainage we approached within is visible on the left. The black hump we ascended to visible center and runs to the right.
View back, the drainage we approached within is visible on the left. The black hump we ascended to visible center and runs to the right.
Class 2 summit of Canyon Point.
Class 2 summit of Canyon Point.
View back from just below the summit of Canyon Point.
View back from just below the summit of Canyon Point.
On the Class 2+ summit block, view into Death Valley and north toward more of the Panamint Range.
On the Class 2+ summit block, view into Death Valley and north toward more of the Panamint Range.
View east into the drainage, Tucki Mountain visible top.
View east into the drainage, Tucki Mountain visible top.
Super fun, fast, steep descend off the east face of Canyon Point.
Super fun, fast, steep descend off the east face of Canyon Point.
View back up toward Canyon Point as we made our way back into the drainage we approached in.
View back up toward Canyon Point as we made our way back into the drainage we approached in.

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