Parking area for the hike to Sand Canyon is along the Harry Wade Road just before the first bend in the road south of the Amargosa River crossing:
It's fairly difficult to figure out exactly where to hike to at the start. One of the keys is to head towards the ridge north of the Sand Canyon wash, as marked on the map above. The ridge (or small hillside) stretches out a long ways down so it is easy to spot. You can barely see it on the far right of this picture:
The red arrow marks the actual entrance to Sand Canyon, but the terrain is too difficult to head straight for it. You really have to circle around to the right:
Tortoise burrows were plentiful on the hike up the decomposing granite fan:
Looking straight across at the canyon entrance. At this point, I circled around to the right:
Two pictures of some old contraption that I found laying on the ground. I have no idea what this was once used for:
Now in the main wash of the canyon, which runs parallel to the ridge I was talking about earlier:
This is much better (and prettier) walking than trying to cut across endless drainages:
The two boulders sitting on top of the small hill kind of set the tone for what to expect in Sand Canyon:
Steve standing at the entrance to Sand Canyon. Welcome to the best canyon in the Owlshead Mountains:
When I look at this picture I almost feel like the rocks are growing out of the ground. This is a really pretty scene:
Look at the absolutely massive boulders perched high up on the mountainside. Now imagine an earthquake happening as you're walking by below them. You get the idea:
Easy walking in the early part of the canyon, as seen in the next three pictures:
The first appearance of sand in lower Sand Canyon:
Yep, that is really sand as I tested it out by writing the word into the sand with my finger. This is when I finally knew for sure I was in the correct canyon:
Next up is one of the coolest parts of Sand Canyon-- the bouldering section:
This part is a series of very large boulders which either have to be climbed or bypassed on the left side:
Steve getting ready to take on the challenge of getting past the boulders:
Getting up the first part and then looking back down the canyon:
These boulders are so huge that they almost look like they are forming two sides of a canyon wall:
I named this spot in the canyon Boulder Falls. It has such a beautiful contour and design. If you decide to climb it like I did, just make sure you do so very carefully:
Steve vs. the boulders as he climbs up the middle portion of Boulder Falls. This was a lot of fun:
Reaching the top of Boulder Falls and looking back towards the high ridges:
Up ahead the canyon leveled out and the rest of the hike was mostly easy:
I never get enough of this scenery which is so prevalent in the Owlsheads:
What a dramatic change after the steep bouldering section I had just conquered a few minutes earlier:
An abundance of sand starting to show up on the ground of the canyon:
The other thing which caught my attention was how the canyon was cutting a very straight, mostly direct path through the mountain range:
Notice how the sand has begun to take over the entire canyon wash:
From this point on, these tracks appeared on the sand, and I followed in the footsteps of this Death Valley native for the entire second half of the hike. What could it be? A mountain lion, a bighorn sheep, or something else? I'm not sure.
Another shelf of sand sitting inside of Sand Canyon:
This is such a pretty canyon to walk through. I can't stress enough how much I enjoyed this entire hike:
There were also lots of green plants growing out of the sand:
Look at these very neat slab-like boulders on the left side of the picture:
Another amazing sight in the canyon. This is like a giant boulder dome:
Getting closer to the end of the canyon. Progress on this hike was remarkably fast, with only the 90F heat slowing me down:
And this was the special moment when I walked around a bend and all of a sudden the two majestic sand dunes of Sand Canyon were in front of me:
There is also a canyon split at this point. The right canyon heads up to the upper dune, while taking the left fork and then continuing straight leads past the lower dune:
Zooming in on upper dune, but not heading in that direction just yet:
Zooming in on a small portion of lower dune:
I chose the left fork and followed below the lower dune. Soon the canyon splits again. When it does, the key is to continue straight by following below the lower dune and heading straight for the ridge. This is the view looking up to the right while passing by more of lower dune:
Heading straight up the very small canyon below lower dune. Notice the thick sand to walk on:
Looking back down Sand Canyon during the hike to the ridge:
And looking ahead to the final stretch leading to the ridge:
A picture of Steve while looking down Sand Canyon:
First view of the other side of the basin at the top of the ridge. What an incredible view:
Zooming in on the corner of Owl Lake which is visible from this spot. I was truly stunned when I first reached the top and looked over to see this:
Steve with Owl Lake in the background. Truly an unforgettable Death Valley moment for the ages:
One final look at the basin and Owl Lake before cutting across to upper dune. If it wasn't so hot and I wasn't almost out of water, I surely would have hiked out to Owl Lake:
Looking at the final goal for the day-- the upper dune of Sand Canyon. The next three pictures are a three shot panoramic moving from left to right. The last picture on this page shows the entire panoramic together:
Steve getting a picture in front of the crown jewel of Sand Canyon, the upper dune:
Looking down and out of Sand Canyon to the mountains far away:
Look closely down the middle of the picture and you can see my footprints in the sand as I walked over to upper dune:
The pristine upper dune of Sand Canyon in all its glory:
Two pictures of Steve relaxing on the sand of upper dune:
Looking back at upper dune as I prepared for the hike back out of Sand Canyon:
Same view from a little further away. Sand Canyon is one place where I will be returning to sooner rather than later. I love this place:
Sand Canyon upper dune full size panoramic (click to enlarge):
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