Upper Monarch Canyon

Death Valley National Park, CA Northern Death Valley + White Mountains

Distance: 3.0 mi
Net Gain: 1,000 ft
Time: 2-4 hrs
YDS Rating: Class 1
Route: Out/Back

Effort: 1.8/10
Personality: 5/10
Beauty: 6/10
Solitude: 3.7/10

What do these mean? →

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

36.729725, -116.916478

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions

Trip report

Notes

Rather than walk through the plants and water in the canyon, I took the high road and scrambled up on the rock ridges to traverse the canyon and get to the falls. I rated this hike based on hiking through the canyon, though the way I went was more difficult (but kept me dry and without critters).

Oct 29, 2015 — Beautiful waterfall in the middle of the desert with Death Valley backdrop. All-year Monarch natural spring. This is the route for Upper Monarch Canyon, click here for Lower Monarch Canyon.

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