Hiking the Titus Canyon Narrows Trail in Death Valley National Park
Distance: 3.0 miles / 4.8 km
Titus Canyon, more commonly known as the Titus Canyon Narrows, is one of the most stunning day hikes in all Death Valley National Park!
That said, Titus Canyon is a different adventure to different people, as the entirety of the 27.0-mile (43.3 km) canyon is drivable from east to west, but, the National Park Service will tell you that there is no better way to appreciate The Narrows than exploring the canyon on foot!
This is why the distance above reflects a much shorter round-trip hike, as the best, most beautiful, and, most importantly, narrowest part of the canyon is the final 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the western entrance.
This is where the on-foot adventure in this article begins, and it’s worth noting that a Death Valley native of many decades told me that the farther you hike past the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) mark, the higher your chances are of seeing bighorn sheep!
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!
Titus Canyon Narrows Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Titus Canyon Narrows is located at the end of a bumpy 2.8-mile (4.5 km) road that leads to this gravel parking lot.
Most two-wheel drive vehicles should be able to make the drive if you take it slow.
Google Maps Directions: Titus Canyon Narrows 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!
Hiking the Titus Canyon Narrows Trail
The Titus Canyon Narrows is one of the most self-explanatory hikes in Death Valley. As long as you enter the wash in the right place, there’s really nowhere that you can get lost. That being said, how far you go is really up to you.
For the best photos in Titus Canyon, hike mid to late morning or late afternoon for the best light. Coming from a photographer, canyons such as this are best shot using the shadows on the ground and the light against the canyon walls. Midday when there are no shadows to work with is about the worst time for photos in a place like Titus Canyon.
Initially, the canyon starts out wide at the mouth before narrowing within the first 0.25 miles (0.4 km).
If you’re starting to think that all these canyon walls look the same, I found it best to track my hike to figure out where the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) mark is.
Eventually, the wash will open up to a wider area shown in these next two photos before closing in once more before the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) mark.
This area is arguably one of the last stretches of narrows before Titus Canyon really begins to open up.
This photo below was taken at the 1.5-mile (2.4 km) mark. If you were to continue hiking further, you would see how Titus Canyon becomes much wider over the next 0.5 miles (0.8 km), but like I said earlier, the further you go, the more likely you are to find bighorn sheep.
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!
Disclaimer
All information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for information or advice from qualified professionals or managing agencies.
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