Ancient fossils still lie hidden in the bold and bronzen buttes of Badlands National Park, a protected wilderness penetrated by hiking and biking trails.
For the first 8 miles, the
road crosses Mesquite Flat and climbs
a broad alluvial fan before reaching the
canyon mouth. The road drops into the
wash and becomes rocky and rough.
One mile past the end of the first
narrows, a side road leads up to Marble
Canyon. Hikers can continue up the
canyon beyond road’s end to see some
of the finest canyon narrows in the
park. Two miles beyond road's end up
Cottonwood Canyon is a flowing
stream lined with cottonwood trees.
Details
Location:
Death Valley National Park
Length:
16 miles 13 miles Marble Canyon; 16 miles Cottonwood Canyon
Difficulty:
Intermediate Difficult
Camping Info
Camping available after first 8 miles
Additional Details:
Vehicle needed: high-clearance first
8 miles, 4x4 recommended beyond
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