Hiking the Grotto Canyon Trail in Death Valley National Park: Updated 2025
Distance: 2.2 miles / 3.5 km
The Grotto Canyon Trail in Death Valley National Park is one of the more advanced day hikes in the park, due entirely to a number of Class 3/ 4 scrambles required to navigate up the narrow, windy canyon.
However, following the historic Death Valley floods that occurred in August 2022, Grotto Canyon is now more of an advanced trail than ever because of one 'new' and quite significant rockfall caused by the floodwaters right at the beginning of the hike.
That said, I didn’t feel comfortable making the required moves as a solo hiker when I first encountered the rockfall—especially since I knew there was no chance of seeing another hiker on any given day due to the washed-out road.
I will be back to complete the canyon in the future, but I hope this serves as a reminder for everyone to make smart decisions!
If you’re experience on the Grotto Canyon Trail is different from mine, please leave a comment below!
U.S. National Park Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
Grotto Canyon Trailhead Parking
As a result of the August 2022 floods, parking for the Grotto Canyon Trail is located just outside of Grotto Canyon Road, alongside of Highway 190.
This information will change when the road is repaired.
Google Maps Directions: Grotto Canyon Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Death Valley
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Death Valley National Park.
Osprey 3L Water Bladder - The Osprey 3L water bladder is the most universal hiking and backpacking water bladder on the market, and it’s my go-to because of the slide-off seal that allows it to be quickly filled from the top. Additionally, individual parts are easily replaceable, such as the bite valve.
Blister / Heel Protectors - I swear by these cheap, amazing heel protectors to prevent blisters for nearly every kind of hiking and backpacking that I do!
Black Diamond Headlamp - Personally, I recommend the Black Diamond Storm because it is one of the brightest, lightest, and longest-lasting headlamps on the market—and trust me, the weight-to-battery-life ratio really does matter!
Hiking / Trail Running Shoes - Depending on the type of trail, I prefer to use either the Keen Targhee for longer, more rugged hiking or the HOKA Zinal Trail-Running Shoe for lighter, less intense trails. In either case, both have been amazing to me for many years across countless environments, and both can be found in men’s and women’s sizes. - (Men’s Keen / Women’s Keen) (Men’s HOKA / Women’s HOKA)
Waterproof Rain Shell - You never know when it may rain, and I’ve learned over the years that a rain shell is far better than a rain jacket. By this, I mean that it’s best to have something that the water will roll right off of, which is why I recommend the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
Sun Shirt w/ Hood - A quality sun shirt can be your best friend on a trail with minimal shade, which can be found in both men’s and women’s sizes.
High SPF Sunscreen - Packing high-SPF sunscreen is a must for long days outside!
Walking to the Trailhead
Following this historic 2022 flods, Grotto Canyon is now only accessible by hiking from Highway 190, as the road to access the canyon is washed out.
For this reason, I decided to begin the hike well before sunrise to avoid the exposure on the long road.
This is where the road washed out.
Hiking the Grotto Canyon Trail
As far as I could tell, the original trailhead used to here at the federal wilderness boundary.
From the boundary, it’s only about 0.25 miles (0.4 km) of hiking to reach the Grotto.
The Grotto
This is the entrance for the Grotto, and it’s a small tight section that I imagine will get very busy once the road reopens.
That is, unless the Park Service does something about the rock that fell or installs a ladder. However, wilderness areas are designed to be preserved in their natural condition, so I doubt that would happen.
Grotto Canyon Rockfall
Following the August 2022 floods, this large boulder fell, making this second climb significantly more difficult.
Whenever the road is fixed, I have to imagine that this climb will be the end of the hike for most people, which might make the Grotto much more crowded because it’s so short and narrow.
On a different note, know that this photo does a pretty bad job at showing how challenging and awkward this climb is, which is why I chose to save it for another day when I come back with friends.
I’m 6’ 4”, and getting up on that first ledge from the rock on the ground is a small challenge on its own. From there, the only way up is through the gap to the left of the boulder, which is much more challenging than it looks.
If I was with friends, one of us would have to lay flat somehow on the upper ledge beneath the boulder and then contort our body from the ledge to get through the gap without falling. Trust me, it’s much more difficult than it looks, and it’s not something that I could have done with a backpack on.
I didn’t want to leave it behind nor put myself in that awkward position 10-15 ft. (3-4.6 m) above the ground without support, so truly hiking further wasn’t worth it for me.
More Death Valley Adventures
If you’re interested in reading about some more amazing adventures within Death Valley National Park, check out my separate posts below!
Best Way to Find Places to Stay!
Wherever I travel, I love to start my search for places to stay on VRBO.
Even if I don’t end up booking through them, I think it’s one of the best ways to see what’s in the area!
Washington
Best Way to Book Rental Cars!
I travel quite a bit, and I know firsthand that finding a good rental car deal can be a challenge, but that’s why I recommend comparing all of your options with Discover Cars.
In short, Discover Cars is a well-known, reputable business that allows you to search for the best deal across companies, and they have the best full-refund cancellation policy I’ve ever seen, valid up to 72, or sometimes even 48, hours prior to your reservation!
Book Here: Discover Cars
Discover Cars!
Safety
For obvious reasons, Death Valley National Park is widely known for its extreme temperatures and extreme temperature swings, as the park spans from -282 ft. (-86 m) at Badwater Basin to just over 11,000 ft. (3,353 m) atop Telescope Peak.
That being said, the National Park Service recommends visiting in October - April, but even then, exposed hiking during October and April can be pushing it. However, November - February are easily the most desirable months to hike in Death Valley, with the best spring flowers peaking from late March to early April.
Additionally, there are three venomous snakes in Death Valley, as well as scorpions and black widow spiders, meaning it’s important to be mindful where you place your hands and feet—especially when scrambing in the canyons.
In all, always hike with 2-3L of water per person and never take the extreme weather conditions lightly, as the heat has claimed many lives over the years!
As always, find the most up-to-date information and conditions on the official National Park website.
National Park Service: Death Valley National Park
U.S. National Parks Pass
Did you know that the same America the Beautiful Pass that grants access to all 63 U.S. National Parks can be purchased in advance at REI?
Yes, you can save time when you arrive by purchasing your National Park pass, along with your other outdoor gear, at REI before traveling to the park!
More U.S. National Parks
If you’d like to read more about some of my best recommendations when visiting other U.S. National Parks, check out some of my other posts below!
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