Good as Golden

Hike a Classic Loop in Golden Canyon at Death Valley National Park

Woman hiking the Badlands Trail in Golden Canyon Death Valley National Park

We’re not talking silver or bronze; we’re talking pure gold! Golden Canyon in Death Valley has a variety of trails, from easygoing to moderately strenuous adventure hikes. We recommend doing the complete circuit. It’s a 5.5-mile loop exploring a labyrinth of marbled gold colored hills, badlands, narrow canyons, and tremendous vistas. Many hikers do this in a clockwise navigation but we recommend counter-clockwise to minimize strenuous climbs.

From the main parking lot, head south toward Gower Gulch rather than going straight into Golden Canyon (you’ll exit through the Golden Canyon Trail on this loop). Within about a mile you’ll enter Gower Gulch. Keep your eyes peeled as you walk the rocky canyon: Abandoned mine shafts can be spied from the 1880s mining days.

Woman hiking in Gower Gulch in Golden Canyon in Death Valley National Park

Follow the signs and continue on a section of the Badlands Loop heading toward Zabriskie Point. You can hike all the way up to Zabriskie, which adds an extra 1.4 miles. But for this adventure we recommend sticking to the Badlands Loop so that you have the requisite time to savor the exquisite vistas as you climb to glorious views.

As you hike up into the swirled orange sherbet hills, you’ll see the impressive Manly Beacon, a towering spire rising above the badlands (you may even see some intrepid hikers at the top of it). The high point is a premier panorama, and otherworldly (we kept expecting baby Yoda to pop up!). If you’ve timed your hike for early morning or late afternoon, the light here is incredible, washing over the sandstone and igniting its orange and yellow and red shades.

Hiker in Gold Canyon at Death Valley National Park

It’s a bit of a steep descent but manageable and you won’t mind taking your time on it as the canyon continues to impress. Make your way back to the canyon floor and follow the signs out. All that glitters is golden.

The Golden Canyon trailhead is 2 miles south of Hwy. 190 on Badwater Rd. The parking lot can fill up on weekends. Time your hike to finish 30 to 60 minutes before sunset for maximum “golden hour” in the canyon.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: In the episode "Life and Death Experience" Weekend Sherpa co-founders Brad and Holly talk about their favorite adventures in Death Valley, including this hike in Golden Canyon.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Serene Las Gallinas

    A serene stroll alongside marshland, passing ponds and grasses frilled in seasonal wildflowers, with Mount Tam a beacon in the background … how nice. As part of the esteemed Bay Trail, San Rafael’s Las Gallinas Valley Birding Loop and Wildlife Ponds comprises about 3.5 miles of wide-open trail.

    View
  2. Paint Brushy

    This time of year you’ll have good reason to head for the hills—the electric-green rolling hills of Brushy Peak Regional Preserve in Livermore. This 4.5-mile loop hike is like stepping into a plein air painting.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    2025 POST Wildflower Walks

    Get flower empowered! POST’s complimentary 2025 Wildflower Walks guide blooms with the best places to see a variety of florals across the Peninsula and South Bay this spring.

    View
  4. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Weekend in Reno Tahoe

    Weekend plans? Reno Tahoe! Just a few hours by car or a short flight away, Reno Tahoe springs to the moment with great ways to combine adventure and relaxation in its beautiful mountains-meets-desert setting.

    View
  2. Hiker walking along the North Bluff Trail on Santa Cruz Island, Channel Islands National Park

    Purely Wild

    Channel Islands National Park lives up to its nickname as “North America’s Galapagos.” This less-traveled national park is an undeveloped and isolated series of five dramatic and distinct islands reached by boat. Hike the largest of the islands, Santa Cruz.

    View
  3. Woman hiking the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon

    Truly Grand Day Hike

    One of the best spring day hikes in the Grand Canyon? See layer upon layer of the park’s grandeur—including the river—on this 3-mile (one-way) journey to Skeleton Point via the South Kaibab Trail.

    View
  4. A woman stands amid an array of yellow and purple flowers at Descanso Gardens in Los Angeles

    Petal Paradise

    Tulips, lilacs, and daffodils—flower power is in full bloom at Descanso Gardens in La Cañada Flintridge. Sprawling across 150 acres surrounded by mountains, the gardens are putting on their best show right now.

    View