Lower Monarch Canyon in Death Valley National Park, CA

Hike Lower Monarch Canyon Death Valley National Park, CA

Class 1 6.2 miles 800 gain 2-4 hrs Out + Back Dec 13, 2017
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Lower Monarch Canyon GPX Track

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A couple of years ago, I checked out Upper Monarch Canyon, which felt a bit more adventurous due to overgrowth and running water. This route through Lower Monarch Canyon instead has a long approach through an alluvial fan leading to the mouth of Monarch Canyon, and then quickly narrows into the base of the waterfall. It's a really pretty area and the falls are gorgeous, especially because it's so rare to see a waterfall in a place as desolate as Death Valley National Park. Despite being the same canyon, the Upper and Lower Monarch Canyon routes are very different and are each worth a visit for their own reasons, but you can't really go wrong with either.

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Long walk through the alluvial fan leading to the mouth of Monarch Canyon.
Long walk through the alluvial fan leading to the mouth of Monarch Canyon.
Looking back toward the Death Valley Buttes. You can see my car if you look closely.
Looking back toward the Death Valley Buttes. You can see my car if you look closely.
Getting closer.
Getting closer.
At the mouth of Monarch Canyon, looking back toward the Death Valley Buttes.
At the mouth of Monarch Canyon, looking back toward the Death Valley Buttes.
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A short narrows section just before the falls.
A short narrows section just before the falls.
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Running water!
Running water!
 Monarch Falls.
Monarch Falls.
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I climbed a little higher to get a different view - this is looking down from that spot.
I climbed a little higher to get a different view - this is looking down from that spot.
Looking up toward the top of Monarch Canyon Falls. Maybe you could climb up - it looks like some easy class 5 stuff, but I had already been up to Upper Monarch Canyon from the other direction, so I didn't bother putting too much thought into it.
Looking up toward the top of Monarch Canyon Falls. Maybe you could climb up - it looks like some easy class 5 stuff, but I had already been up to Upper Monarch Canyon from the other direction, so I didn't bother putting too much thought into it.
Looking down Lower Monarch Canyon from the view point next to Monarch Falls.
Looking down Lower Monarch Canyon from the view point next to Monarch Falls.

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!