Grave Canyon was quietly planned as the featured hike of my Spring 2010 trip to Death Valley. I had kept the destination under wraps during most of the planning stages in an effort to surprise everyone with its existence after completing my hike. I had been told by a reliable source that it was an amazing canyon and that I should check it out. And Grave Canyon delivered... as the wonders contained within the canyon walls left me speechless in complete awe. How could such an incredible place be kept under wraps for so long? And how could a place of such beauty and majesty be unknown to just about everybody? Those were the questions I was left to ponder upon the conclusion of our hike through several miles of the South Fork of Grave Canyon. As you can see on the Google Earth map below (which you can click to enlarge for better viewing), Grave Canyon splits into two major forks a short distance in from the mouth. As of the time of this writing, the North Fork is considered to be unexplored, while our hike took place through the South Fork. On a future trip, I hope to go back and hike the North Fork. I must say though that hiking up to Grave Canyon from Scotty's Castle Road (the parking area is in between Red Wall Canyon and Moonlight Canyon) is tremendously difficult. Most of the time there is no clear, easy path. Instead, the hiking is across endless drainages and over painful rocks in the washes and on the hillsides. There was a small stretch of easy hiking that we found by trying our best to stay on the left hillside while going up towards the mouth. Because of the tremendous difficulty and effort to reach it, the best way to see Grave Canyon would probably be as a 1 or 2 night backpacking trip. However, while we did find flowing water in the 1st Narrows of the South Fork, I have been told that the water does at times dry up, so it is not a reliable source of water. That means bring enough water with you if you hike or backpack it.
If you're looking for it on a map, Grave Canyon is the next major canyon south of Bighorn Gorge and it is also north of Dry Bone Canyon. I was joined for the hike by Patrick, a professional climber who has accomplished great things in Yosemite. We ended up exploring some beautiful sets of narrows in the South Fork of Grave Canyon. Each of the narrows was unique in color and character, with high walls most of the time framing them. As for the highlights, in the 1st Narrows we found two gorgeous flowing waterfalls, one of them white and one red and grey. The 2nd Narrows were the longest and featured the highest walls and tightest narrows to walk through. The 3rd Narrows started off with a huge dryfall which is tricky to bypass and has some exposure. Most hikers would be wise to stop at the base of this dry fall and turn around for the day for the sake of safety.
If you're looking for it on a map, Grave Canyon is the next major canyon south of Bighorn Gorge and it is also north of Dry Bone Canyon. I was joined for the hike by Patrick, a professional climber who has accomplished great things in Yosemite. We ended up exploring some beautiful sets of narrows in the South Fork of Grave Canyon. Each of the narrows was unique in color and character, with high walls most of the time framing them. As for the highlights, in the 1st Narrows we found two gorgeous flowing waterfalls, one of them white and one red and grey. The 2nd Narrows were the longest and featured the highest walls and tightest narrows to walk through. The 3rd Narrows started off with a huge dryfall which is tricky to bypass and has some exposure. Most hikers would be wise to stop at the base of this dry fall and turn around for the day for the sake of safety.
SAFETY ALERT-- This hike contains sections of climbing, exposed bypasses and/or high dry falls and requires safety ropes & equipment in order to complete the entire hike. Those without the proper training, experience, and safety gear should not try to get past the major dry fall at the beginning of the 3rd narrows.
The pictures in this Trip Report are also available for viewing in a slideshow format. Click the button on the left to watch the slideshow. This allows for viewing larger images with an autoplay option and a full screen option. The pictures may also be viewed in the standard Trip Report format by scrolling down below.
Parking area for Grave Canyon along Scotty's Castle Road:
Looking up into the Cottonwoods at the mouth of Grave Canyon. It's a long and grueling 5 miles to reach the canyon entrance:
Crossing the wide Death Valley Wash before heading uphill towards Grave:
Looking ahead to Grave Canyon. There were some interesting things to check out on the hike up but be prepared for rough terrain:
Finally reaching the mouth of Grave Canyon. Notice the wide wash of gravel and small rocks that we were walking on:
Taking a short break inside the canyon now that the formality of getting here has been taken care of:
Looking ahead to the Grave Canyon split. To the left is the South Fork and to the right is the North Fork. We left the North Fork for a future trip:
This was an old water cache that somebody had left inside Grave Canyon for a few years. We emptied the old bottles and packed them out for disposal:
Looking out the mouth of Grave Canyon towards the Grapevine Mountains:
Now officially entering the South Fork of Grave Canyon:
Early on this massive slab was standing tall in the canyon:
Looking back down canyon as things started to narrow down quite a bit:
Steve taking a break after going around a bend in the canyon:
This canyon wall had cracks going through it in several directions:
The early part of the canyon featured high walls, constrictions, and jagged dark rocks:
Because it took so much effort to get this far, we were really hoping there would be some kind of major pay off with great scenery ahead. But that was the great unknown:
It wasn't long before we spotted a great looking section of narrows ahead. Later we would realize that this was just the 1st of four narrows:
The 1st Narrows opens with this dry fall which has a gradual slope and was relatively easy to climb up. However, somebody who can't handle minor climbing and/or scrambling probably couldn't get very far in Grave Canyon's South Fork:
Just beyond the 1st dry fall, we were stunned to arrive at an actual flowing waterfall in the narrows! A waterfall was the last thing we were expecting to find here. The spring has obviously been flowing down the fall for some time because it has left a dark stain on the rock:
The next two pictures show the water flowing over the 1st waterfall in Grave Canyon:
Next up was the 1st of many chockstones that we would have to contend with. All of them were fairly easy to get around:
Continuing through the 1st Narrows into a section that briefly opens up:
The reddish colors stood out vibrantly along this wall:
Turning the corner into the final section of the 1st Narrows:
And we were surprised to find a 2nd waterfall with flowing water, emptying into a pool at its base:
Steve getting a picture at Grave Canyon's beautiful 2nd waterfall:
Zooming in on the middle portion of the 2nd waterfall, where water is slowly flowing into another pool:
Looking towards the upper part of the 2nd waterfall. As you can see, the water flow is much smaller in comparison to the 1st waterfall, but it is still flowing and keeping the rock wet:
Red criss-cross design in the middle of the 2nd waterfall:
Walking along a shelf in the canyon and then climbing some natural stairs:
Towards the end of the 1st Narrows, the block-like rocks and canyon walls really caught our attention, as seen in the next three photos:
Heading out of the 1st Narrows after being extremely impressed. Little did we know that better things were yet to come:
Steve doing a basic dry fall climb in order to continue:
Up ahead there was a really dark area. We had a feeling that it was going to be a second set of narrows and we were right:
Walking into the 2nd Narrows of Grave Canyon's South Fork:
The walls started growing on each side of us with every step we would take:
Looking back down the entrance passageway into the 2nd Narrows:
Steve near the beginning of the long and spectacular 2nd Narrows:
Walking around a dramatic bend in the narrows:
Check out the overhanging rock on the left side of the canyon wall:
Things got even more narrower and interesting just ahead:
Steve feeling very small as he entered the most incredible part of the 2nd Narrows:
A beautiful contrast of blue and golden colors with high walls all around:
This is one incredibly awesome area to walk through:
Fellow hiker Patrick has conquered many great mountains in Yosemite, yet he was extremely impressed with the majestic walls dwarfing him in Grave Canyon:
You, too, should feel dwarfed as you look through the next seven pictures of towering walls in the midst of very tight and colorful narrows:
Heading out of the 2nd Narrows after one spectacular and unforgettable experience:
The canyon would briefly open up for a short distance just ahead:
Check out these spires sticking out into the sky up on the ridge:
Up ahead is the beginning of the 3rd Narrows. Entrance to these narrows is guarded by an impassable dry fall:
This 25 foot dry fall was quite pretty and had a polished surface where the water once flowed:
That dry fall is a great place to turn around for purposes of safety. Heading back now, here is my final farewell to the outstanding 2nd Narrows:
And passing by the 1st waterfall of the 1st Narrows:
Reaching the mouth of Grave Canyon and looking across the valley to the mouth of Moonlight Canyon. Next trip? Yeah, probably: