Willow Canyon

Overview: This is a hike to a waterfall that generally flows year round in Death Valley. It's a moderately strenuous hike because it goes up a wash that has a lot of gravel and rocks over which to step. The name mystifies me, because there are no willow trees anywhere near here. This is a winter hike as summer temperatures in Death Valley make hiking very unwise!

To get to the trailhead, travel south on SR 178 past Badwater. About 15 miles south of Badwater, there's an unmarked dirt road that goes to the left. Turn here and drive into the parking lot, parking on the left side of this large area. If coming north on SR 178, the way I came, travel about two miles past the sign that says "Mormon Point." The dirt road is on your right. It's the only road for miles, but since it's unmarked, watch carefully for the turn.

There is a fairly good use trail through the gravel and across the rocks. Hike for about 1/2 mile north to the large wash coming from the mountains. Turn right into the wash. This wash leads into Willow Canyon. The end of the hike is about 2.35 miles from the trailhead.

You will pass some side washes. Ignore them and keep hiking up the canyon. You eventually come to a small waterfall that's easy to climb up, then a taller one, and finally you get to the two-tiered 50 foot waterfall. It's a lovely place to have a snack before hiking back.

Happy hiking!

Tips: For most of the hike, you'll be in full sun. Be prepared with plenty of water and use sunscreen liberally.

There is a good amount of bighorn scat in the canyon. Don't box them into the canyon. There's no way for them to climb the steep rocks walls at the waterfall.

Some of the elevation information and the end tracks from the GPS unit are wrong. The walls are so tall, the GPS unit had and lost satellites often at the large waterfall. The elevation change is a bit too much. You start below sea level (-242 + or -) and you go to about 600 feet above, but that doesn't equate to over 1,000 feet.

There is NO cellphone coverage in most of Death Valley so I recommend going to the Other Links and downloading the GPS coordinates for the hike if you're hesitant. The hike is straightforward as long as you follow the directions and GPS coordinates aren't needed.

The other side of the large parking area is for the Sidewinder Canyon hike, but I did that last year without my GPS unit so I have no tracks.