Frommer's National Parks of the American West - Don Laine [140]
You get to the crater on a steep but plain trail that leads from the parking area, up to the crater's lip, around some of the contours, and past several lesser craters. Black cinders and volcanic fragments cover the desolate countryside surrounding Ubehebe Crater, which erupted as recently as 1,000 years ago. Fierce winds can hamper your progress, but you'll get an exhilarating feeling, as though you're visiting another planet. High-top boots or shoes are recommended for the pebbly path.
LONGER TRAILS
Gower Gulch Loop
4.6 miles RT. Easy to moderate. Access: Golden Canyon parking lot along Calif. 178, about 2 miles south of Furnace Creek Inn.
This trail's proximity to Furnace Creek, plus its varying degrees of difficulty, make it especially popular. Start by hiking along the once-paved route that allowed cars to drive into the canyon but was destroyed by flash flooding. Soon you'll be scrambling around the "badlands," yellowed hills of mud and silt deposited by ancient lakes. Those with more stamina can continue past towering Manly Beacon (a sandstone formation), across gullies and washes, and then steeply up to Zabriskie Point for panoramic views of the forbidding badlands. Note: If you hike beyond Manly Beacon, be sure to pick up a map at one of the park's visitor centers—it is extremely easy to lose your bearings in this area.
Grotto Canyon
4 miles RT. Moderate to strenuous. Access: 2½ miles east of Stovepipe Wells on Calif. 190.
This route is marked by deep "grottos" (smooth hollows formed by erosive floodwaters) in the rocks. The first mile follows a rugged gravel road up the canyon's alluvial fan; if you have an off-road vehicle, drive this portion as far as the wash. Continue on foot from there, as the canyon narrows and you begin to encounter the grottos, beyond which waterfalls occasionally trickle. The cool hidden grottos are a nice place to stop for a snack, sheltered from the sun.
Jayhawker Canyon
4.2 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Off Calif. 190, just west of Emigrant Ranger Station.
This obscure, out-of-the-way route follows the path of a desperate group of pioneers who attempted to find a way out of Death Valley in 1849. The footing in the debris-filled canyon is treacherous, and several forks and tributaries can distract you from staying in the main wash. At the end of the route lies a spring marking the Jayhawkers' camp, also a popular stopping place for the native Shoshone. Boulders in the area are marked with petroglyphs depicting bighorn sheep, along with the initials of several pioneers scratched into the rocks.
Telescope Peak Trail
14 miles RT. 8,130 ft.–11,049 ft. Strenuous. Access: Mahogany Flat Campground, past Wildrose Charcoal Kilns (4WD vehicles only ).
A grueling 3,000-foot climb ultimately leads to the 11,049-foot summit, where you'll be rewarded with the view described thusly by one pioneer: "You can see so far, it's just like looking through a telescope." Snow-covered in winter, the peak is best climbed from May to November. Consult park rangers for current conditions and detailed advice—and never attempt this climb alone.
Wildrose Peak Trail
8.4 miles RT. 6,890 ft.–9,060 ft. Strenuous. Access: Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, usually accessible by passenger vehicles (check with park rangers for road conditions).
Consisting mostly of steady and unrelenting ascents, this steep hike has several level portions for rest stops. And you'll need them because you'll be climbing over 2,000 feet on the way to the 9,060-foot summit. Marvelous views along the way present the stark Panamint Range, a bird's-eye view of Death Valley, and panoramas of the Sierras on the western horizon. It's unwise to attempt this hike in winter or without obtaining a topographical map from the ranger station.
Other Sports & Activities
Biking. Because 94% of the park is federally designated wilderness, cycling is allowed only on roads used by motor vehicles, and not on hiking trails