Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Elevation Gain
1,833.00 ft (558.70 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
9.61 mi (15.47 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

Discover a landscape of colorful hills, narrow canyons, and rocky ridgelines along the 9.5-mile Golden-Gower-Zabriskie Loop in Death Valley National Park. This route is located just south of Furnace Creek and takes you through one of the park's most popular areas, including Golden Canyon, Gower Gulch, Zabriskie Point, and Red Cathedral. Most people will drive from one trailhead to another, but few will walk between them. This moderately rated, scenic loop combines multiple trails so you spend less time driving and more time exploring.

From Golden Canyon Trailhead, follow signs for Zabriskie Point Trailhead via Gower Gulch. Travel up Gower Gulch to Zabriskie Point, the park's most popular viewpoint. Next, follow a scenic ridgeline up to Red Cathedral for spectacular views of Manly Beacon. Head back towards Zabriskie Point, pass beneath Red Cathedral's corrugated cliffs and then head west through a maze of colorful badlands. To finish the loop, descend a rocky corridor with towering golden walls as you make your way back to the Golden Canyon Trailhead.  

GOLDEN CANYON TRAILHEAD

The Golden Canyon Trailhead has a paved parking lot with large spaces for buses and RVs, as well as a vault toilet (there is also a vault toilet at Zabriskie Point, which can be accessed from mile 4 of this loop.).

BACKCOUNTRY CAMPING INFORMATION

Backcountry and dispersed camping is allowed in certain areas of Death Valley National Park, for more information about rules and regulations please visit, https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Death Valley National Park: https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/golden-canyon.htm

Furnace Creek Visitor Center: https://www.nps.gov/thingstodo/visit-the-furnace-creek-visitor-center.htm

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Winter
Fall

Congestion

High

Parking Pass

National Park Pass

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Badlands. Colorful Rocks. Scenic ridgelines.

Cons

Can get crowded.

Trailhead Elevation

-147.00 ft (-44.81 m)

Highest point

899.00 ft (274.02 m)

Features

Backcountry camping
Big vistas
Geologically significant

Typically multi-day

No

Permit required

No

Location

Nearby Adventures

Nearby Lodging + Camping

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