Once I had completed my exciting hike through Upper Rainbow Canyon, I knew that I would have to hike Lower Rainbow Canyon later in the trip. There was just no way I could wait another 8 months until my Fall 2010 trip to finish the canyon. So, 5 days after doing the other portion, I set out on my first ever hike that started at Panamint Springs Resort. After leaving my vehicle at the day parking area, I set out to the north and hiked past the first canyon opening (which is a shorter canyon that appears to head straight towards the highway off in the distance). I then met up with the next hillside and continued north until I found a short-cut through to the wash of Lower Rainbow Canyon. Once I dropped into the canyon, I found that the going was sometimes easy and sometimes rough. The key is to follow the burro footprints and try to stay in drainages as much as possible. Eventually, I made it to the point where the canyon closed in and became very narrow. One of the interesting aspects of Lower Rainbow Canyon is seeing all of the unique rocks and canyon walls on display. There is always something new and interesting to see every few minutes. And it was relatively easy to make it all the way through the lower canyon into the narrows. The narrows are the best part of the entire lower canyon, and they dead-end at the base of the 20 foot 4th dry fall (comprised of huge boulders or chockstones).
One thing I should probably include in this report is an experience which I had in Lower Rainbow Canyon. After I was about 2 hours into the hike, and there were no other people around obviously, I heard the loud sound of approaching aircraft. I looked back and saw a huge marine helicopter heading up the canyon towards me. It felt like I was in an action movie, or the middle of a war, or something. The helicopter flew overhead about 100 feet and the pilot waved to me as they continued up canyon on their training mission. Definitely a strange and surreal moment out in the middle of a seldom visited canyon in Death Valley.
One thing I should probably include in this report is an experience which I had in Lower Rainbow Canyon. After I was about 2 hours into the hike, and there were no other people around obviously, I heard the loud sound of approaching aircraft. I looked back and saw a huge marine helicopter heading up the canyon towards me. It felt like I was in an action movie, or the middle of a war, or something. The helicopter flew overhead about 100 feet and the pilot waved to me as they continued up canyon on their training mission. Definitely a strange and surreal moment out in the middle of a seldom visited canyon in Death Valley.
Day parking area at PSR (Panamint Springs Resort), which is the starting point for this hike. If you're doing this hike, you could also camp at the nice campgrounds located here and leave your vehicle at your site:
Crossing the highway and looking off to the east:
Passing by the PSR sign. To begin the hike, simply pass through the campground and start hiking north, while staying close to the hillsides:
After leaving the campground, this is the view looking north. The key is to head around the 2nd hillside which is seen in the distance. The first opening you pass by is not Rainbow Canyon, but another much smaller canyon that dead-ends:
The terrain is pretty much the same for this portion of the hike. Mainly crossing washes and walking in some of them if they are heading north:
Mill Canyon is far off in the distance in this picture:
Working my way around the 2nd hillside with the Panamint Dunes in the background:
This is where the 2nd hillside turns in. The 3rd hillside is a bit further. Rainbow Canyon actually begins around the 3rd hillside. But by turning here, it provides a short-cut that saves at least 20 minutes:
Heading into the short-cut, which I discovered while planning out my route on Google Earth:
Using this small side canyon allowed me to cut a diagonal straight into Rainbow Canyon instead of walking all the way around:
Looking back out the opening of the small side canyon into Panamint Valley:
Climbing up a very small cross-over to drop into the wash of Rainbow Canyon. On the ridge, there was a nice view of the Panamint Dunes:
Following a burro trail down into the wash of Rainbow Canyon:
Far off in the distance you can see where the canyon walls finally come together:
The key to this long portion of the hike is to stay in the main wash when you can find it and follow the tracks of burros:
This was quite a long stretch of hiking. It is actually about 5 miles from PSR to the spot up ahead where the canyon narrows down:
Walking by a very pretty wall that was a totally unexpected find. This would set the tone for the entire hike. I named this place the Zebra Wall:
Steve getting a picture by the Zebra Wall:
Finally heading into the constricted canyon after a fairly easy 5 miles:
Looking back out the mouth of Rainbow Canyon into Panamint Valley:
Notice the distinct coloring on the mountain to the right in comparison with the others:
The walking in Lower Rainbow Canyon was sometimes a bit rough over large rocks just like in the middle canyon:
The key was to search out the main wash close to the canyon walls, while at the same time looking to short-cut turns in the canyon:
And now it begins... a series of pristine, beautiful walls in Rainbow Canyon each made up of a unique composition and rock type. Enjoy these as they are shown in the next eight pictures:
Switching over to the scenery on the southern canyon wall for the next four pictures, which was on a much larger scale:
Heading further up canyon and still waiting for the first appearance of the famous rainbow bands:
Looking back down canyon and to the Cottonwood Mountains beyond:
Somewhere at the top of one of these next three pictures was Father Crowley Point:
Three more pictures heading up the lower canyon. It was very interesting to see how much the scenery would change on a regular basis:
First evidence of rainbow bands in Rainbow Canyon:
The canyon walls started coming together even more:
Looking up at some of the high cliffs 1,000 feet above the canyon floor:
And just around the next corner is the official start of the narrows of Lower Rainbow Canyon:
The narrows are definitely the highlight of Lower Rainbow Canyon. In order to make the hike worthwhile, the narrows must be reached. It's about 7 miles to this point from the starting point at PSR:
The narrows are very interesting and beautiful. The only drawback is they are somewhat short:
Continuing to walk up the narrows while being fascinated by all the rocks:
Spotting the dry fall which ends the hike through Lower Rainbow Canyon just ahead:
An absolutely massive boulder is the main feature of the 20 foot 4th dry fall of the canyon:
Getting a closer look at the other boulders and chockstones which comprise this dry fall, or to say it more accurately, this roadblock in the canyon:
The beautiful rainbow bands of the middle canyon show up just above this dry fall:
Another angle of the 20 foot dry fall:
Steve in front of the 20 foot 4th dry fall:
One final picture of the obstacle which puts a stop to hikers who might have dreams of reaching Middle Rainbow Canyon:
Looking back down the narrows and preparing for the return hike:
Steve in the narrows of Lower Rainbow Canyon:
Three final pictures taken in the narrows of Lower Rainbow Canyon: