Mosaic Canyon Hikes

Mosaic Canyon is one of the most beautiful canyons in all of Death Valley and is one of our favorites! There are two hikes to choose from in this canyon.  The Mosaic Canyon Hike is the only one we know of that any class of vehicle can get to and where you are surrounded by spectacular canyon scenery after just a short walk from the parking lot!  Also, you can hike for as long or as short a distance as you like with interesting things to see all along the way.  This hike is also one of the most popular in the Park so expect to have plenty of company. 

The second hike we describe, the Upper Mosaic Canyon Hike, is much more physically challenging and most people don't even know it exists.  There are some great views from along this trail as it climbs up the left side of Mosaic Canyon itself but it is steep going and the trail is non-existent in places. 

Regardless of which hike you take, Mosaic Canyon is one of Death Valley's treasures and should be high on your list of places to see!

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Start the Hikes Mosaic Canyon Hike Upper Mosaic Canyon Hike

  Getting There:
See Mosaic Canyon Area for detailed directions.

The Hikes:
As mentioned above, the Mosaic Canyon Hike is the most popular of the two hikes for this canyon and is one of the most popular hikes in the entire Park.  If you are a first-time visitor to Mosaic Canyon, we recommend that you take this hike first.  The striking beauty of Mosaic Canyon should not be missed.  Those of you who are interested in taking on the demanding Upper Mosaic Canyon Hike will have the opportunity to see some of the Mosaic Canyon Hike as the trailhead for you begins about half way through that hike.  The fact that most visitors to Mosaic Canyon don't even know that this hike exists can be an added feature for those of you who are physically up to the challenge.

Mosaic Canyon Hike:

Hiking Mosaic Canyon is relatively easy.  The level 3 rating is due to a few rock scrambles you have to get over, depending on how far up the canyon you go, and the steady incline of the hike overall.  This is one of our favorite hikes because you are rewarded for your journey almost immediately.  There is a lot of interesting geology and beautiful canyon scenery within the first quarter mile.  As you head south, up the canyon, it's sandy and flat walking but there is a gradual elevation gain.  At the end of that first quarter mile, the canyon makes a 90° turn to the left and, in that turn, you come to the first set of narrows (dry waterfalls).  These narrows have steep, smooth surfaces that might be difficult for some people to get over. For some, this will mean doing some minor scrambling [glossary] and for others this will mean just taking some big steps.  If your shoes have some decent tread and you use your hands, you will have no trouble getting through this section. 

The canyon flattens out again after each set of narrows so you are now back to flat, sandy walking and are headed due east.  Just after the first set of narrows, there is a ridge that separates the main floor of the canyon from a pretty side-canyon to the right.  The side canyon is slightly more difficult to hike than the main canyon because there are several small, rocky, dry falls and cascades but is an interesting addition to the main canyon hike. 

As you exit the first narrows, you can continue up-canyon be either staying on the main canyon floor or you can walk on top of the small 10-20 foot high ridge that separates the main floor from the side canyon mentioned above.  Both routes are nice but the ridge, because it lifts you up and out of the canyon,  will give you a good look at the surrounding area and into the neighboring side canyon on the right.  Why not take one route up and the other route back down?

This open area [see picture] of the canyon lasts for a little over 0.5 miles and then the canyon narrows again.  For those of you taking the Upper Mosaic Canyon Hike (below), be sure to look for the trail you need on the left (east) side of the canyon before you get to the second set of narrows.

In this second set of narrows, there are more dry falls [glossary] and cascades to scramble up.  After making more 90° left and right turns, you will come upon a boulder jam that is about 15 feet high.  You can have fun trying your rock climbing skills here or use the easier bypass trail.  Hike back about 100 feet and look for the well defined path on the west side of the canyon (right side, facing up-canyon).  The view from the top [see picture] of the trail looks down into the canyon below the boulder jam.

Less then a few hundred feet past this boulder jam, you will see what seems to be the end of the canyon: a 25-foot dry waterfall [see picture].  Although this is not, technically, the end of the canyon, it is the place where most people turn around.  Since we are not rock climbers, we turned around here, too, and hiked the 1.5 miles back to the parking lot.  For more information about hiking the rest of Mosaic Canyon, we recommend reading Hiking Death Valley [references].

Upper Mosaic Canyon Hike:
For most people, the 1.5 mile hike up to the 25-foot dry waterfall through Mosaic Canyon is enough.  But if you want to explore the canyon further, this hike will take you up onto the eastern ridge of the canyon.  This hike is very strenuous, rated a 5 (most difficult) on our scale and only for the most physically fit.

The hike up to the upper section of Mosaic Canyon begins about halfway through the Mosaic Canyon Hike (above).  After exiting the first narrows, the canyon begins to widen and then makes a 45º right turn.  After this turn, look for an unmarked trail climbing out of the canyon [see picture] on the left (east) side.  Follow this trail to begin your ascent.

This trail climbs steeply up to a ridge [see picture].  You'll see other trails along the way that head off in various directions but stay on the main trail.  At the top of this ridge, the trail seems to go straight ahead and down a very steep and difficult route.  This is not the correct trail.  Turn left and follow the trail along that ridgeline for about 100 feet.  Then look for a trail that leads to the right, down the other side of the steep ridge, and into a side canyon.

There is no trail once you're in the wash of this side canyon so just make your way up-canyon for about 500 feet.  At this point, look for another side canyon that comes in from the right.  There is a small rock cairn here to mark the route but it is easy to miss [see picture].  Once you've made this right turn, the trail is obvious and easy to follow for the rest of the route.  The trail continues up the canyon and makes a series of steep ascents. 

After reaching a high ridge, look over to the right and you can see the second narrows of Mosaic Canyon.  Also turn around and take in the sweeping view of the valley to the north.  The trail does continue on from here [see picture] but we decided to turn around at this point.  It was late in the afternoon and the steep edge of the trail in front of us along with the distance that we still had to go added up to making the choice for safety and we turned back.  For those of you enjoy this level of hiking and want more, we recommend reading Hiking Death Valley [references].

Photo Tours:

Mosaic Canyon

Click on picture to enlarge
Pictures taken: December 2000

	Mosaic Canyon and its large alluvial fan as seen from the bottom of the valley.
	Driving up the road to Mosaic Canyon from Stovepipe Wells.
	Looking down the road from the parking lot (north).  The white buildings at the end of the road is Stovepipe Wells.
	View of the Mesquite Sand Dunes (now known as the Ansel Adams Dunes).  The Grapevine Mountains are in the distance.
	A look at Mosaic and Grotto Canyons in relation to Stovepipe Wells and the sand dunes.
	Starting the hike up Mosaic Canyon from the parking lot.
	The beginning of the first narrows.  This is about 500 feet from the parking lot.
	Looking north, again, out of the entrance of the canyon. You can also see the east wall of the canyon with its many sedimentary layers.
	The west wall of the canyon near the entrance.  A fine example of breccia [glossary] - the polished rock encased in natural cement that occurs in this canyon. Notice the different types of material at different levels that were laid down during the different mud flows over the years.
	A similar view of the west wall; looking north.
	Layers of different mudflows, looking like multi-colored steps, on the east wall near the beginning of the canyon.
	Looking down-canyon near the beginning of the first narrows.
	One of the many highlights in Mosaic Canyon are these beautifully polished layers of marble.
	The marble is polished by one of Mother Nature's most powerful forces - erosion [glossary]).
	In some spots, the trail squeezes through the marble.
	Some of the marble has grooves etched into it.
	And narrower still.  As you can see, there are some step-ups required to continue the hike.  None are too difficult.  Notice that some of the polished rock has re-appeared.
	Look for the rusted remnants of a metal railing and metal steps in this area. This dry waterfall was once much steeper and the railing/steps were added some time ago to help hikers make it over this section.  A mud flow that happened around 1970, however, filled the falls to the point that the "extra help" is no longer needed.
	This is about halfway through the first narrows.
	Looking back, down-canyon, at the first narrows.
	Another view of the first narrows of the canyon.  Notice that the polished rock layers are not as visible in this section.
	At 0.25 miles from the parking lot, Mosaic Canyon makes a 90º left turn.  Take care as you find the best path up this steep and slick section of the hike.
	Looking back, down-canyon at the 90º turn.
	Heading up the canyon just after the 90º turn.
	A close-up look at the two dominant materials found in Mosaic Canyon: on top is a solidified mudflow that has created a mosaic of small rocks (breccia) and below is a layer of polished marble.
	These rocks were picked up by a mudflow many years ago and then solidified.  Later, as more flows and water rushed down the canyon, the surface was polished and created the "mosaics" we see today.
	Some of the contorted rock formations in the canyon walls.
	More of the rocky walls.
	In many areas of Mosaic Canyon you can see where the layers of different solidified mudflows, made of different materials, were laid down and are now part of the very colorful canyon walls.
	More of the colorful walls.
	This view is looking up-canyon near the end of the first set of narrows.
	Just after the picture above there is a small, 8-foot dry waterfall to climb over.
	After the first narrows, the canyon begins widen.
	A short distance past the first narrows, you'll see the first side canyon branching off to the right at a shallow angle.  There is a trail on the ridge between the two canyons that is fun to take because you can see both canyons from it.
	If you are taking the Upper Canyon Hike, look for this intersection with that trail.
	This is a view looking north, down-canyon, just after exiting the first narrows. Where the canyon bottom meets the east wall at the back of this picture, you can see part of the Mosaic Canyon fault.
	Looking northwest here.  View of the open area of the canyon about ⅔ mile from the parking lot.  The  Cottonwood Mountains are in the distance and as are part of the Panamint Range.
	Another view of the open area of the canyon (looking north, down-canyon).
	Approaching the second narrows.  Notice how sharp and "young" Tucki Mountain (in the background) looks.  Time has not smoothed its rough edges yet.
	This view is looking down-canyon (north) from the entrance of the second narrows
	Walking through the second narrows will include some scrambling over small dry waterfalls.
	In the second narrows, there are more steps to climb.  Notice the smooth, dry falls and cascades.  There is not as much breccia in this area of the canyon.
	Looking down into the canyon from the bypass trail on the west side of the canyon.  Use this trail to go around the 15-foot boulder-jam in the canyon. Look for the trail about 100 feet before the jam or try your climbing skills by scrambling up the boulder jam itself.
	On the other side of the boulder jam, you will come to this 25-foot dry waterfall.  This is the end of the hike for most people, including us.  Take your time as you hike the 1½ miles back to the parking lot and enjoy the scenery from a different perspective.

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Upper Mosaic Canyon

Click on picture to enlarge
Pictures taken: February 2005

	Look for the start of the Upper Canyon Hike trail here, halfway between the first and second narrows.
	The trail climbs immediately and gives you a little sample of what is to come.
	Looking back down the trail towards the bottom of Mosaic Canyon.
	After climbing the first grade and turning left along the ridge, you will be looking down into this canyon. Follow the trail down the ridge and hike up the canyon.
	Here is where you will make a right turn and the trail becomes very obvious again.  Look for the small rock cairn in the lower left side of the picture.
	The trail begins a serious ascent.
	Just as the last climb levels out a little, another ascent of almost equal grade begins.
	At the top of this ridge and after a lot of climbing, you will be rewarded with an outstanding view.
	Be sure to hike, cautiously, to the west a little and look down into the second narrows of Mosaic Canyon - but don't get too close to the edge!
	See a 360º Animated Panorama [Instructions] overlooking the central part of Mosaic Canyon.
	See the same Animated Panorama with callouts [glossary].
	Beyond this ridge, the trail continues along a steep edge but we did not go any further.
	The Desert Holly we say along the trail.

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Last updated March 03, 2007.

June 2005 Version
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