The dominant feature when a hiker first walks into Cresent Bridge's Main Side Canyon is the white cliffs:
Looking into the early part of the canyon, it is evident that the white cliffs will extend for quite a while:
A closer look at the conglomerate texture of the face of the cliffs:
Check out the dramatic jump in wall height that is seen here:
This is truly a majestic area which feels like walking next to a long series of rock cathedrals:
Completely enclosed in the canyon by high white walls on both sides:
The early part of the canyon is very easy walking with no obstacles:
This picture shows a gigantic white boulder which broke off from the cliffs and rolled into the wash:
The canyon narrows down considerably while still enclosed by white cliffs:
The sunlight really brings out the white color of the canyon walls:
A picture of Steve in Crescent Bridge MSC in front of a section of vertical white cliffs:
One of several junctions in the canyon which look confusing from a distance but more obvious once you get closer:
The left turnoff at the junction turned out to have this beautifully sculpted dry fall:
Back in the main canyon, the wash got a little bit steeper to hike in:
The presence of a large amount of fallen boulders in the wash made things slightly more challenging:
A rock window high on the canyon wall which reminded me a bit of the rock windows in Bryce Canyon:
A close-up of the spectacular rock window which was a couple hundred feet above the ground:
Approaching a massive rockslide area with small and large rocks:
Arriving at the major dry fall of Crescent Bridge MSC:
A closer look at the major dry fall which is made of conglomerate rock layers. There is no way to climb this one:
The bypass starts on the right side of the dry fall. Here is a view looking back down at the dry fall:
Reaching the end of the bypass and looking back at the final crossing. It's not as easy as it looks here:
Looking down from the major dry fall at the wash below:
This side view of the bypass shows why it is rated as medium difficulty. The final crossing (middle of picture) has some exposure and requires caution:
Continuing up canyon beyond the dry fall into an area that was more enclosed:
The walls were closer together and the wash was much narrower past the dry fall:
A beautiful spot of odd shapes and rugged narrows:
White cliffs continue to be the dominant feature throughout the lower canyon:
This is the 1st false natural bridge. The canyon walls are not naturally connected here:
Portrait view of the front of the 1st false natural bridge:
Looking up from underneath, you can see where the two sides of the canyon are touching in one spot:
The backside of the 1st false natural bridge looks even more impressive:
Notice how the canyon walls touch at the mid-point of this photo:
Some of my favorite narrows of this canyon are just past this spot because they are composed of the white conglomerate:
Two more pictures showing the extremely beautiful narrows through this area:
The canyon then opens up just enough to appreciate the height of the cliffs once again:
Two pictures showing interesting formations along the canyon rim:
There were several beautiful panels of mud drip structures:
A close-up of some of the mud drip structures. Even better examples can be seen in neighboring Crescent Bridge Canyon:
There weren't a whole lot of escape routes to reach the rim from the beginning to this point in the middle canyon:
Passing through a brief area where the hillsides finally slope down into the wash, thus allowing for potential exit points:
The wash had quite a few large rock nettle plants in it:
The middle canyon transitions into the upper canyon with majestic formations high on the walls:
The formations include mini pinnacles and tilted layers of rock with diagonal lines:
Tremendous height to the walls which seem to contain sentinels made of stone:
There is such tremendous beauty in the upper portions of Crescent Bridge Main Side Canyon:
Reaching the 2nd false natural bridge:
The 2nd false natural bridge is a place where a gigantic car-sized boulder has collapsed from one wall and is now leaning against the wall on the other side:
Looking back at the opposite angle after walking underneath the false bridge:
One more picture showing the full backside of the 2nd false natural bridge:
Just beyond is this spot where it is necessary to get down on the ground and crawl through a passage:
After crawling through, you enter a section of narrows created by more fallen boulders:
The narrows are gorgeous through here, even though they weren't created fully by canyon walls:
Soon, the entire canyon begins narrowing down considerably:
Looking back, you can see how several giant fallen boulders have created a series of obstacles which have to be navigated through:
The walls of the upper canyon narrows had some serious height to them:
Seeing so many large fallen boulders in the wash provides a fine reminder of one of the inherent dangers of canyon hiking -- rockfall from above:
Looking high up the walls and admiring the series of layers and horizontal lines:
Notice how on both sides of the canyon the upper parts of the walls are overhanging:
Near this area, I began to encounter a number of side passages which seemed to create a maze of endless possibilities:
A beautiful overhanging wall with high cliffs in the background:
Walking through a section of towering narrows:
A nice contrast of light and shadows within the upper narrows:
A very impressive spot within the canyon narrows:
Up ahead, I spotted the 3rd false natural bridge of the canyon. This one spreads all the way across the canyon:
The 3rd false natural bridge is simply another giant boulder which is leaning on the left side canyon wall:
A high dark overhang on the right side and bright sunshine on the upper left side canyon wall:
It's amazing how much height there continued to be to the walls of the upper narrows:
Because I was on a solo hike and there weren't many good camera placement spots, I couldn't get any pictures of myself for perspective of how high the walls really were:
The upper narrows got so tight in some places that it's a wonder that there were no major obstacles:
Note how the wash is undercutting the canyon wall on the right side:
As mentioned earlier, there were a maze of side slots branching off from the main canyon. One of those side slots ended with this huge dry fall:
I think this is another picture of one of the side slots, but I just can't remember for sure. The point is, there is a lot to explore in this area if you've got the time:
Panoramic of a pretty bend in Crescent Bridge Main Side Canyon:
Check out this stunning crescent-shaped overhang that is similar to the curves which form part of Crescent Bridge:
Yet another huge overhang block with tons of rock seemingly supported over thin air:
The lighting in Crescent Bridge MSC was perfect for taking excellent photographs:
Another beautiful passage to walk through with stunning walls:
The far reaches of the upper canyon had continuous turns:
I thought the circular shapes to the walls were interesting through here:
Last section of narrows before Crescent Bridge MSC turned shallow and the narrows came to an end:
I began climbing up a steep ridge to escape the end of the canyon. Here I am looking over at the head of two of the forks of Crescent Bridge MSC:
Pictures along the ridge are not included as it would give away the location of this canyon too easily. After attaining the ridge, I dropped down the other side and entered into the upper portion of Crescent Bridge 2nd side canyon (or 2SC as I like to shorten it):
As I mentioned in my introductory comments, there were no known previous hikes of this canyon so I had high hopes for great narrows and potential spots for natural bridges:
The narrows of Crescent Bridge 2SC started by navigating around several giant fallen boulders:
The narrows were quite shallow at the start of the upper end:
There were quite a few sharp bends and quick turns in the upper narrows:
I could never see very far ahead so I kept fearing I would run into a dry fall around every corner:
And that became even more concerning as the walls grew in height and there were no bypass options:
Crescent Bridge 2SC soon became quite beautiful in appearance:
Notice how the passage which cuts through the canyon is extremely narrow:
This is what it feels like to be fully immersed in conglomerate rock slot narrows:
Many times throughout the canyon I could easily touch both walls at the same time:
A simply gorgeous view looking down the canyon:
The canyon rim wasn't very high at this spot. But it would have been impossible to climb up to it:
The canyon walls grew back up in height once again:
It's amazing what water and erosion have done in Crescent Bridge 2SC:
Check out this very sharp bend in the canyon where sunlight is shining in:
Crescent Bridge 2SC was quite different in many ways from Crescent Bridge MSC. So it was quite interesting to see both on one hike:
For one thing, Crescent Bridge 2SC was much narrower the entire way:
Although high at many times as seen here, the walls of Crescent Bridge 2SC could not compare with the majestic height of the walls in CB MSC:
Also, there was no sign of the white cliffs and conglomerate rock that was found in CB MSC. The walls here were mostly tan and would glow a shade of yellow with assistance from the sun:
Reaching what can nearly be described as a major dry fall in Crescent Bridge 2SC:
Looking down the dry fall. There were no holds anywhere as the rock was very loose. And the height down was too great to jump or slide:
To get down the dry fall, I used counter-pressure with my feet pressed firmly against both walls. It wasn't easy but it worked:
A couple of massively high walls in the lower narrows can be seen in the next two pictures:
Check out the erosion lines on the left side canyon wall. It's almost like a big chunk is ready to break off and fall into the wash someday:
Looking back at a very steep section which is located near the end of CB 2SC:
A few minutes later, I exited Crescent Bridge 2SC and entered Crescent Bridge Canyon. A short time after that, I arrived at the backside of Crescent Bridge:
Looking through the incredible front entrance of Crescent Bridge:
Crescent Bridge is definitely one of my favorite major natural bridges in Death Valley. Its location remains unpublished heading into 2015:
