Manly Beacon via Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop in Death Valley National Park, CA

Hike Manly Beacon via Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop Death Valley National Park, CA

Class 3 5.5 miles 1200 gain 2-4 hrs Loop Feb 26, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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The Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop is a popular Death Valley hike, but it's really pretty and worth doing, specifically the badlands section about halfway through the loop. It's a well-marked trail and shows off quite a bit of the majesty of Death Valley's colors in a relatively short distance. Matt and I had decided to do this loop, but wanted to tack on a massive muddy feature called Manly Beacon. I did this loop almost five years ago (wtf time flies), so it was nice to return with a new mindset, my purpose on bagging a peak. I'd seen Manly Beacon back then and thought it was impressive, but didn't even think to try to get to the top of it. I feel I should note that a week or so after we hiked Manly Beacon, someone fell off and died, so be careful. Just because this is a popular area doesn't mean the peak is safe.

We started off at the Golden Canyon trailhead and followed the wash through bright yellow hills until a junction pointed us to the right out of the wash and into the badlands. A really gorgeous trail led up one of the big yellow mounds and along the base of Many Beacon's sheer eroded cliff. The trail continued gaining elevation as we continued south, well past the peak, and then dropped us down toward the Gower Gulch Trail. However, before reaching Gower Gulch we turned left up a wash that led us to the east side of Manly Beacon, where a social trail led up a dirt finger that brought us to the northeast ridge of Manly Beacon. To the north was Red Cathedral, another lovely-looking eroded formation. We could see many people up there who had gotten to it from a social trail from Zabriskie Point.

The crumbly ridgeline leading to Manly Beacon's summit is eroded enough from footprints to be not super treacherous as it likely was years ago, but I'd still call it Class 3 due to a short section that requires you to hold onto conglomerate-esque rocks lodges into the crumbly ridge. Otherwise it just takes a little bit of care to ascend safely. The sunset views we got on the summit toward the eastern badlands and Zabriskie Point were really amazing.

We got back to the trail and followed it to Gower Gulch, which was mostly just a wide wash until we reached a short narrow section. The trail spit us out to the south of the parking lot, and a trail led through the desert back. We had no light, so I included a few photos from my last visit into Gower Gulch.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Manly Beacon
800 ft
120 rise

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Starting up Golden Canyon.
Starting up Golden Canyon.
Narrows within Golden Canyon.
Narrows within Golden Canyon.
Golden Canyon's well-traveled trail.
Golden Canyon's well-traveled trail.
Continuing up Golden Canyon, Red Cathedral coming into view in the distance.
Continuing up Golden Canyon, Red Cathedral coming into view in the distance.
Image 4 from gallery
Image 5 from gallery
The Golden Canyon trail heads to the right out of the wash.
The Golden Canyon trail heads to the right out of the wash.
Looking back before we leave Golden Canyon.
Looking back before we leave Golden Canyon.
Along the Golden Canyon Trail, Manly Beacon in view ahead. We would rap around the opposite side of the feature and approach from the left ridge in this photo.
Along the Golden Canyon Trail, Manly Beacon in view ahead. We would rap around the opposite side of the feature and approach from the left ridge in this photo.
Looking back as we continue along the Golden Canyon Trail.
Looking back as we continue along the Golden Canyon Trail.
Golden Canyon Trail.
Golden Canyon Trail.
Image 11 from gallery
The Golden Canyon Trail crests a minor ridge, then drops down the opposite side.
The Golden Canyon Trail crests a minor ridge, then drops down the opposite side.
View back toward Manly Beacon.
View back toward Manly Beacon.
Manly Beacon as we head toward Gower Gulch.
Manly Beacon as we head toward Gower Gulch.
We headed left into a wash, away from Gower Gulch, in order to get to Manly Beacon. Red Cathedral visible ahead.
We headed left into a wash, away from Gower Gulch, in order to get to Manly Beacon. Red Cathedral visible ahead.
A social trail led up one of the dirty fingers. It was eroded enough to be obvious if paying attention.
A social trail led up one of the dirty fingers. It was eroded enough to be obvious if paying attention.
Looking back down the finger as we ascended to Manly Beacon. Zabriskie Point in behind Matt somewhere.
Looking back down the finger as we ascended to Manly Beacon. Zabriskie Point in behind Matt somewhere.
Along the ridge leading to Manly Beacon.
Along the ridge leading to Manly Beacon.
Looking back as we ascend the ridge.
Looking back as we ascend the ridge.
Wide shot of the ridge. Red Cathedral visible behind Matt.
Wide shot of the ridge. Red Cathedral visible behind Matt.
Image 21 from gallery
Manly Beacon summit, view toward the badlands leading to Death Valley.
Manly Beacon summit, view toward the badlands leading to Death Valley.
View down at the trail system. We took that trail earlier when wrapping around Manly Beacon.
View down at the trail system. We took that trail earlier when wrapping around Manly Beacon.
A shot of Matt coming down the crux of Manly Beacon (Class 3). I took this on the way down from the summit.
A shot of Matt coming down the crux of Manly Beacon (Class 3). I took this on the way down from the summit.
Within Gower Gulch.
Within Gower Gulch.
Feb 2015: Some beautiful colors on the Gower Gulch Trail
Feb 2015: Some beautiful colors on the Gower Gulch Trail
Feb 2015: Gower Gulch Trail
Feb 2015: Gower Gulch Trail
Feb 2015: Gower Gulch Trail
Feb 2015: Gower Gulch Trail

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!