We made it there last weekend ( April 12-16). While not quite a superbloom the valley and upper canyons are FULL of flowers.
Trip Report :
Echo Canyon, Trail Canyon, Hanaupah Canyon, Johnson Canyon
Best places : Echo Canyon and Johnson Canyon.
Arrived in Death Valley eve of the Weds 12th. Our plan was to head out to Trail Canyon and find a campground but since it was late already we opt'd for the first good dispersed camping area which was Echo Canyon. Left Sunday.
A few notes on Echo Canyon.
The Park map shows it is in the dispersed camping area, and when we arrived on the trail head there was a sign that was knocked over which I cavalierly drove by ( I figured it was a road closed or flooded sign ) when we got into the trail there were markers with camp site #s.
Checking the park map it said there was a voluntary registration and for most of the Primitive campgrounds they are First Come - First Served...
So we figured the next morning we would go down and register.
We did that, though I forgot what the campsite number was and when talking to the ranger he was like oh I think that is site E3. Good enough for us, we paid and went out to explore that day.
When we arrived later that afternoon we realized we had the wrong site # ( we were in E5 )
We figured no big deal as you need to actually be in a site to register it - you know the whole first come - first served...
Later that night 2 trucks drove up, said they had "reserved" the site and we had to vacate. I was like ??? ( our tent was set up and we had already been there a full day and night ) The ranger then came ( that is another story :)) and said we had to leave. And I was like what about dispersed camping and then he said this :
Echo Canyon is not an open dispersed camping area, you must "reserve" your campsite at the park office when you arrive and registration is not optional.
The current park mark does not show this and the sign may or may not be there. So in essence you can go to the park office when you arrive, tell them you want E8 and go up to it, and if someone is already parked there without a permit.... you see where that is going...
Echo Canyon
Echo Canyon itself is AWESOME! - I highly recommend camping here, though most of the camp sites are 2 rigs maybe 3. Any site E5, E6... puts you in the canyon which is beautiful. E1-E4 put you looking down into Death Valley, E3 is not a great campsite - a few beers and an open night sky and well it was epic - LOL!.
Echo Canyon has some good dirt tracks and the Inyo Mine is awesome - Take a flashlight with you when you hike the hill, the mine goes back a way!
There are lots of wildflowers and things to explore.
Right as you enter the canyon there is one petroglyph on the left side, we found it by accident, and it was very cool.
I would recommend spending at least 2 days exploring this area, there is lots to see and some good trails to check out.
Trail Canyon
The next day we headed to Trail Canyon, going up the alluvial fan is a long haul and the road washes out once you get to the arroyo ( big boulders ). I was in 4L most of the way just to keep the transmission cool. We stopped in the wash as we were getting knocked around pretty good, but for those who are braver or with other rigs you maybe able to get father.
Good hiking and again the flowers were very abundant. We didn't see anyone else the entire trip up and back through this canyon.
Hanaupah Canyon
Same as Trail Canyon, long alluvial fan with a steep graded ascent. Once you get the Canyon entrance it gets rougher in the arroyo, we stopped about ½ up it before the spring. The valley is filled with flowers and you have a great view of Telescope peak and the snow trimmed mountains. A few good camping spots. Lots of wildflowers and old mines. We met 1 group of people camping in the canyon. The snow melt from Telescope peak flows through this canyon, so there is water here year round.
Johnson Canyon
This one is we will go back to and camp. I would figure you could explore this canyon for a few days, and if feeling good hike up to Hungry Bills Ranch, which used to be an older ranch before.
It is beautiful in this canyon!!! At one point the road used to go through to Panamint, though that was long ago!
There are lots of mines, a few springs, and the flowers were everywhere.
Long alluvial fan ascent, rocky at the canyon entrance, and then you hit a few gate keepers ( mostly large boulders ) we made it up though 2 sets of these gate keepers before my bravery left me. We met 1 other rig while there.
There is an epic campsite just at the entrance of the canyon, could fit at least 4-7 rigs with an old 1930s car as a marker.
Other Stuff
Unlike Striped Butte Valley we saw very few rigs. You are well off the normal tracks here.
GPX tracks below.
Driving the main road to the canyons we saw in total 4 cars along this route in all 4 days. ( this is excluding Echo Canyon, which did have a lot of traffic )
Along the route there are other interesting landmarks to check out ( Borax works, old grave markers, old wells )
Need Ice, beer, snacks or a T-Shirt?
In Furnace Creek at the Ranch of Death Valley, there is a store tucked behind the Inn buildings. Nicely stocked with firewood, propane, ice and beer, plus a lot of other things.
There is no sign at the Ranch that there is a store, so I figure it is to keep out the riff-raff.
And because I am a flower nut, a few pictures of those, a coyote and a chuckwalla.
Trip video to follow later.
GPX
Echo Canyon is
here
3 Canyon is
here
From my trail map you may be able to go further than where my tracks end.
Since I was solo, still a newbie and not wanting to break down and hike back out leaving my husband and my dog with the rig, I opted for safety over excitement.
