Go Together Life

📍 Circular Route | 11 km | 324m Elevation | ~ 3.5 hours
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Trail of Heat, History & Star Wars Magic

We kicked off our very first day in Death Valley National Park with a bang, and a lot of sweat, on the Golden Canyon Trail and Gower Gulch Loop. The scenery was jaw-dropping, the heat was relentless, and the experience? Unforgettable.

For context: Death Valley isn’t named lightly. It currently holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded in North America: 56.7°C (134°F). Average annual rainfall? A mere 6 cm. Translation: if you’re hiking here during the day, expect it to be hot, dry, and exposed.

Oh, and it doesn’t look much like Earth either. Unsurprisingly, it doubled as Tatooine in Star Wars: Episodes IV and VI. Golden Canyon was even the filming location where R2-D2 was captured by Jawas, cue peak excitement from our Star Wars-loving Daniel, and total shrugs from the other tweens.

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The Trail

We started mid-morning from the Golden Canyon Trailhead off Badwater Road. (If you can, start earlier to avoid the worst of the heat, we were driving in from Vegas, so mid-morning it was.)

The trail climbs steadily through:

• Golden Canyon – glowing walls of yellow rock.
  
• Red Cathedral – towering red formations that are as dramatic as they sound.
  
• Zabriskie Point – panoramic views back across the valley that feel almost unreal.

The first stretch through Golden Canyon was fairly busy, but once we pushed out of the canyon, the crowds disappeared. That may have been because all the sensible hikers had finished before the sun really started to bake.

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Trail Tips

• Water is everything. Hydration packs saved us. Bring more than you think you’ll need.
  
• Exposure: There is little to no shade. Hats, sunscreen, and light clothing are your best friends.
  
• Route finding: The trail is well-marked, with plenty of side canyons to explore if you’re feeling adventurous.
  
• Options: Don’t want to commit to the full 11 km? You can do an out-and-back of any length or cut down into Golden Gulch before the final push to Zabriskie Point.
  

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Mid-Hike Picnic

Just below Zabriskie Point, we found a flat spot to throw down our travel picnic blanket (pro tip: bring one to keep the dust off your food). Sandwiches never taste as good as when eaten halfway up a mountain in the desert.

In a cultural twist, the South Africans introduced the Americans in our group to Marmite. The verdict: still mixed. Let’s just say not everyone was converted.

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The Loop Down

The second half of the loop down through Gower Gulch was quieter, dotted with remnants of old mining shafts from the late 1800s. Parts of the descent required a bit of scrambling, and there were a few airy drop-offs, but nothing too technical.

We hiked clockwise (Golden Canyon first, Gower Gulch second) and liked the challenge. Some hikers recommend counter-clockwise for an easier experience, but knowing us, we’d probably still stick with clockwise.

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Final Thoughts

By the time we staggered back to the car, we were hot, dusty, and sweaty beyond belief. A plunge in the pool at The Ranch where we stayed that night never felt so good.

If your idea of hiking is shady forests and babbling brooks, this might not be your trail. But if you love dramatic desert landscapes, wild geology, and colors ranging from gold to crimson to deep chocolate brown, the Golden Canyon–Gower Gulch loop will blow you away.

Trailhead note: There’s a vault toilet at the Golden Canyon parking lot. Use it. You won’t get another chance on this very exposed trail.

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