Tucki Bridge Canyon

The beginning of Tucki Bridge Canyon near the junction with Cottonball Marsh Canyon:

The canyon started out narrow and steep and it would stay that way most of the time:

The terrain leveled off slightly as we ran into boulders in the wash:

More large boulders which we would have to climb around:

Heading up through an area of polished rock:

The canyon floor alternated between solid rock and gravel:

Huge boulders wedged in between the canyon walls:

The canyon really narrowed down a lot more as we reached this area:

There were continuous small climbs that kept us busy:

Back to back small polished dry falls we easily hiked up:

In the next three pictures, notice how the climbing gets steeper as we progress through these narrows:

Then we walked into a small section of very tight narrows:

The tightest narrows ended in this small grotto to the upper left:

Walking into the grotto with very smooth gravel on the canyon floor:

This amazing picture shows how the canyon enters the grotto from the right and exits up the dry fall to the left:

A closer look at the grotto dry fall which shows the tricky spot at the bottom:

Looking out of the curved grotto at the sky above:

I was able to use my left hand to pull myself up and over the hard part of the grotto dry fall:

Standing at the top of the grotto dry fall:

Looking back down on Tobin who is standing in the grotto:

Once we cleared that small obstacle, we resumed hiking up the canyon:

A pretty bend in the canyon past some striped rock:

Another basic dry fall to climb up:

Check out the inaccessible slots that are visible in the distance up on the hillside:

Continuing on, we could see a huge obstacle approaching:

This 22 foot dry fall was the 1st major dry fall of Tucki Bridge Canyon:

Steve getting a picture in front of the 1st major dry fall:

One more picture of the 22 foot dry fall before heading back down canyon:

This is the turnoff for the 1st bypass. It is on the west side of the canyon (to the right going up canyon or to the left going down canyon):

Bypass 1A begins with a small climb that is not too difficult:

Above that, Bypass 1A continues as a side canyon that is much smaller than the main canyon:

Looking back down Bypass 1A after we were partway up it:

Turning off to the left onto Bypass 1B, which stays close to the canyon rim. Bypass 1A continues to the right here and goes up to the main ridge between the two canyons:

Charlie and Steve analyzing the bypass information which they had received from Kauri, a well known Death Valley hiker who made it to this point on an earlier trip:

Steve taking a break as he continues hiking up Bypass 1B:

Looking back down the bypass from near the top of the rim:

We could now see back down into the main canyon:

Here we have finally reached the canyon rim (or lower ridge line):

Looking into the upper canyon. We began sidehilling right here and working our way around looking for easier terrain that was going down:

Eventually, we just chose a spot and started slowly heading down:

The rocks were loose and the terrain was steep. Later, we realized that we should have gone farther around the hills on the sheep trails and the descent would have been easier:

But we made it and are now back down in Tucki Bridge Canyon:

This part of the canyon remained narrow but was more wide open above:

Spotting some vivid red colors on the canyon wall:

A closer look at the reds which caught our attention:

More very narrow passages that we encountered:

The right canyon wall seems to hang over at this spot above the wash:

This is the terrain that Tucki Bridge Canyon is known for, very narrow with lots of boulder jams:

There are some very nice looking sections in the canyon with high walls to the sides:

Ahead, we could see that our hike through the main canyon would be hindered:

The 2nd major dry fall of the canyon is a 75 foot massive one with no nearby bypasses:

Check out the polished rock where water pours down during rain and floods:

Two pictures with Steve at the base for a height comparison:

Here you can see Steve working his way up a bypass on the east side of the canyon. We had to backtrack and head back down the main canyon until we found a safe way to access Bypass 2 Main:

From the spot where we went up, we had a neat view of the 3rd major dry fall of Tucki Bridge Canyon:

Looking back down Tucki Bridge Canyon at the beautifully colored terrain. Keep in mind that when accessing this final part of the complex bypass, it is easier to do so near the area where you first drop back into the main canyon from Bypass 1C:

We kept heading up toward the ridge which would overlook the expected location of Tucki Bridge:

Tobin reaching the ridge on the east side which divides Bypass 2 Main and Tucki Bridge Canyon's gorge:

Looking down into the gorge, we got our first breathtaking view of Tucki Bridge:

Zooming in, notice how the water flow in the canyon used to go in a semi-circle around to the right of the bridge. But now that area has been filling in by rockslides and so all the water flows underneath Tucki Bridge:

A nice close-up of Tucki Bridge from the ridge above it:

We hiked along the ridgeline, heading for an easier way to drop into the canyon above the bridge. Here we are looking down at Tucki Bridge from another location:

One more close-up of the bridge from a different angle:

Our hiker off in the distance walking along the ridge:

The rest of Bypass 2 Main was easy as we were able to drop back into the canyon safely above the gorge:

Heading down the gorge with great expectations:

Our only fear was running into an impassable dry fall. But there weren't any:

Tucki Bridge as seen on the approach from the upper gorge:

By my count, this is the 7th major natural bridge discovered in Death Valley. The others are Natural, Corkscrew, Little, Hidden, Tunnel, and Crescent:

Sunlight shining on part of the bridge in the early afternoon:

Looking straight up at Tucki Bridge from down underneath it:

You can see precarious rocks and boulders that are above the bridge and also part of it. It would be wise to stay off the top of the bridge for safety reasons:

Looking through Tucki Bridge at the blue sky and distant peaks in the background:

Now we are on the opposite side of the bridge, looking back at it:

View of the bridge from the top of the sloped dry fall:

A cool view of the bridge with the gorge walls rising high above it:

Notice how the water flows directly down canyon under the bridge. Centuries or millenniums ago, this must have been a solid wall until rockslides re-routed the water flow in the canyon:

One more view of the bridge from another angle:

Six pictures of Steve and friends at Tucki Bridge:

Time to move on. This is the sloped dry fall which is very close to Tucki Bridge heading down canyon:

Another angle showing the sloped dry fall and narrows down canyon:

There weren't many good handholds, but we all made it down:

Looking back at the sloped dry fall. This is a very pretty area:

Continuing to head down through the narrows of the gorge:

Looking back up at Tobin hiking behind me:

High framed narrows with the potential for many obstacles:

But we only found one more, this chockstone dry fall:

We didn't have any trouble getting down this:

More polished rock and colorful canyon walls:

Three more pictures as we hiked through the lower portion of the dramatic gorge:

Here is where we spotted Bypass 2 ALT. We could see a potential route heading to the right just underneath the grey colored rock in the middle of the picture:

But first we walked up to the edge of the 3rd major dry fall of the canyon:

This longer view shows the tops of both the 3rd and 2nd major dry falls of the canyon:

Tobin taking in the view from the top of the 3rd dry fall: Charlie up on Bypass 2 ALT. I think we headed to the right somewhere close to where he was standing:

Charlie up on Bypass 2 ALT. I think we headed to the right somewhere close to where he was standing:

Bypass 2 ALT led us along the west rim of the canyon. Here, I was taking a picture of the 3rd major dry fall:

This was the view I had looking back at the 3rd major dry fall and beginning of the gorge:

Zooming in on the 3rd major dry fall for a better view:

From a little farther down Bypass 2 ALT, we had this view of the 2nd major dry fall:

A wider view from the same spot:

Heading back along the west rim. Bypass 2 ALT stays close to the edge, but not too close:

Turning around and looking back toward the 2nd and 3rd dry falls (now out of view). Bypass 2 ALT continues around to the right on the obvious path:

And looking back once again as we got close to rejoining Bypass 1C. Here you can see the sheep trails which lead the way on the early part of Bypass 2 ALT:

From here, we also had a nice view across the canyon to the other side and Bypass 2 Main, which heads up the gully in the middle and to the right. This entire route with all these bypasses make this a very advanced hike not meant for casual hikers:

We leave you with my panoramic picture of Tucki Bridge: