Kaleidoscope Canyon to Overlook in Death Valley National Park, CA

Hike Kaleidoscope Canyon to Overlook Death Valley National Park, CA

Class 2 7.3 miles 2200 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Nov 13, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Kaleidoscope Canyon to Overlook GPX Track

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A long walk through an alluvial fan leads to the ridiculously coorful Kaleidoscope Canyon. Continue up the canyon past a small section of easy Class 3, and up to the overlook (or farther, where the canyon seems to be less interesting). The overlook provides a nice view of Kaleidoscope Canyon from above, and you an maybe see your car far away. I tried to head down the west fork of Kaleidoscope Canyon to make this a loop, but there was a maybe 60 foot or so dryfall preventing me from doing so. The west fork wasn't colorful anyway, so I turned back the way I came.

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Heading up the alluvial fan forever.
Heading up the alluvial fan forever.
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Colors starting a bit up Kaleidoscope Canyon.
Colors starting a bit up Kaleidoscope Canyon.
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Purple and orange everywhere in Kaleidoscope Canyon.
Purple and orange everywhere in Kaleidoscope Canyon.
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Wide show of a hairpin turn within Kaleidoscope Canyon.
Wide show of a hairpin turn within Kaleidoscope Canyon.
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Looking up Kaleidoscope Canyon after the colors end.
Looking up Kaleidoscope Canyon after the colors end.
Looking back the way I came toward the colorful section.
Looking back the way I came toward the colorful section.
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Kaleidoscope Canyon gets more narrow, but loses its color toward the top.
Kaleidoscope Canyon gets more narrow, but loses its color toward the top.
Some mini scrambles.
Some mini scrambles.
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Exiting Kaleidoscope Canyon.
Exiting Kaleidoscope Canyon.
The wash above the narrows.
The wash above the narrows.
Looking back down Kaleidoscope Canyon.
Looking back down Kaleidoscope Canyon.
Heading up the overlook.
Heading up the overlook.
Kaleidoscope Canyon overlook ahead.
Kaleidoscope Canyon overlook ahead.
Along the ridge to the overlook.
Along the ridge to the overlook.
Looking back. The way I came up was on the right. The left side is the technical west fork.
Looking back. The way I came up was on the right. The left side is the technical west fork.
Overlooking Kaleidoscope Canyon. You can see the colors toward the center.
Overlooking Kaleidoscope Canyon. You can see the colors toward the center.
Close-up from the overlook. The colorful section is Kaleidoscope Canyon.
Close-up from the overlook. The colorful section is Kaleidoscope Canyon.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!