February 19, 2016
After experiencing the panoramic Death Valley view at Dante’s and seeing nature carved badlands at Zabriskie Point we headed through more of the wildflowers to hike into the Grapevine Mountains at Titus Canyon Narrows.
The 2.5 mile (4 km) road was much worse than I remember from visiting during October 2009, yet as I looked back at that I didn’t give the route a star rating then either. Supposedly two-lanes wide, I was grateful to many vehicles coming our way that were able to pull over for my lumbering truck with camper to pass by. It was a slow ride. Had I realized how bad running water had cut into the semi-graded road I might not have continued but there wasn’t any good spots to turn around. So on we went.
Titus Canyon is the largest and most diverse canyon in the park. From where we started walking at the mouth of the canyon a gravel road leads 1.5 miles (2.4 km) through Titus Canyon Narrows with 500 foot (152 m) walls of limestone and dolomite. And at my lollygag pace I’m sure we didn’t get that far. You can continue 5 miles (8 km) more to Klare Springs and Timbisha petroglyphs. Nice that this gravel road is dog friendly.
You can also drive 26 miles (49 km) on this one-way road starting just out of the park off Hwy 374 near the ghost town of Rhyolite, Nevada. High clearance vehicles are recommended for at least a three hour drive pavement to pavement. My truck may be high clearance but with the camper no way, although it actually seemed in better shape than the drive to the canyon.
Several jeeps passed, many rentals from the park’s concession, but we laughed like crazy when a sedan came through. I missed that shot. It wasn’t like rush-hour traffic and wide enough to get out of the way.
The rock here is amazingly diverse.
Titus Canyon is a deep, narrow gorge cut into the steep face of the Grapevine Mountains in a wine-glass shape. Although the mountains were only uplifted about 16mya (million years ago), most of the rocks that make up the range are over 560myo (million years old). The gray limestone lining the walls in the Narrows formed in a tropical sea.
These sediments have since been upturned, upfolded (anticlines), downfolded (synclines) and folded back onto themselves (recumbent folds). Between 65-30mya all was quiet then deposition resumed as sluggish streams migrated laterally over the surface, laying down cobbles, sand, and mud as seen in the Titus Canyon Formation.
About 27mya, 1200 feet (366 m) of volcanic ash covered what would later become the Grapevine Mountains. During mountain building stream gradient increased cutting true river valleys, canyons, and gorges that face Death Valley. Water, mud and debris flows originating from the broad, more open canyon above have scoured the limestone walls smooth in Titus Canyon Narrows and left a large alluvial fan which we still had to drive out on to return to pavement.
With the right rig I’d like to drive Titus Canyon, visit the ghost towns and Timbisha petroglyphs. Then maybe stop for fry bread or an Indian taco at the CCC built Timbisha Shoshone Indian Village near park headquarters at Furnace Creek. Has anybody stopped there? We didn’t so have another excuse to return.
Next stop Mesquite Sand Dunes just before sunset.
Sweet little Golden Evening Primrose seen in Titus Canyon Narrows.
The story of the building of mountains and canyons so so long ago is just amazing. So are your pictures of the beautiful rocks and the narrows. I love narrow places and small little nooks. No claustrophobia here. I also love your plan to visit the ghost towns, petroglyphs and have an Indian Taco. Sounds like a perfect day. Clearly I need to change toads if I’m ever to do that Wonder if the sedan that came through was as low to the ground as my Honda Accord Ruby.
Thanks Sherry. Geology is amazing. I too like narrow places. Don’t know when we’ll get back but I really want to drive that canyon road. I’d want to do it in a 4×4, just in case.
Another set of amazing photos with great information. Well done Gaelyn. Have a great week Diane.
Thanks Diane.
We did the 26 mile drive and what an amazing day it was!! We really enjoyed Rhyolite and that drive to the Narrows was beyond words. At the time, two years ago, the road was fine for any vehicle except about a two mile stretch. I can’t imagine what it is like now after all the rain. I said that Titus Canyon was a slot for cars:) What a fun drive!! Of course, hiking it would be a different fun because you could examine the rock walls so much closer. It is a nice hike up into one of the canyons from the parking, as well. We did that when we finished. Needless to say, it was dusk when finished our long day and hike. You had so much fun visiting Death Valley during the bloom. I am so glad you are taking us along for the journey:)
Because of all the road damage from fall’s rain I was very surprised to see a sedan driving through. We’ll have to return with Bill’s 4×4. But the short walk up canyon was amazing and I loved looking closely at the rock.
This, like so many roads we’ve followed in Greece, are the kind that often have me terrified of the what-if’s while we were on it, but then when I look back I think how incredibly fantastic it was. It is always the ‘what if we meet another car?” that usually has me on the edge of my seat. I love these photos and narrative and would love to explore this road but perhaps in a small sized 4-wheel drive vehicle.
I love these kinds of roads. No sense worrying about what hasn’t happened. If in doubt, take a rental. 😉
When we were there in Jan 2010 we had a small sedan, so just walked the road in Titus Canyon. Maybe this time our Subaru will take us farther in. We’ll be in DV tomorrow. So looking forward to it after seeing all of your great photos!
I’m thinking the Suby will do fine. Look forward to seeing your photos of the drive.
More awesome pictures almost like being there.
Thanks George, but never really like being there.
That’s definitely our kind of drive! The canyon walls are beautiful, you photos capture all the nuances of their shaping. Any trip that has frybread in it is one for my favorites list!!
I believe it is. Does your rig fit two more people and another dog? 😉 It’s a tough canyon to photograph in, without the tripod. Funny, I never saw any cars on the road to the tribal land and no hours of operation on a sign. But then “Indian” time is, different.
Wow/ you always have great adventures and you document them well, I love your geological briefings also.
Thanks Yogi. I am a geo-nerd.
Loved reading your blog and seeing your lovely photos. Another place to put on my bucket list 🙂 At least this place is about 275 miles south of my location. You were close to getting to see me, Cuz 🙂 Please let me know, next time you’ll be going back to here and I’ll try and meet you there. I do want to check out those ‘ghost statues’ things in Rhyolite, Nevada. Your photos of the narrow road between the tall mountains, reminded me of my bicycle trips up Carson River Canyon Road trips. I had one spot that looked just like the one you photographed. Beautiful and Fun to get out, and explore what God has given us to see.
Thanks Rick. You’re close enough to go now but I probably won’t be back until fall at the earliest.
I just Googled Titus Canyon. It’s 311 miles away via Hwy 95 (5 hr 6 mins) or 347 miles away via 395 (5 hrs 47 mins). More to see via Hwy 395. The roads looks good for bicycling the 5 miles.
It would be close to 6 hours from here also. Yet as the temps increase at DV my desire to be there drops. Have to be a mt bike for Titus Canyon. No thanks I’d rather walk, or drive.
I have a 21 speed Mountain bike 🙂 We are close in distances, but we are in different directions 🙁 At least when we do, go there to meet next fall. We’ll know that we both traveled almost equal distances, lol. I’m thinking about checking into how much it would be to rent an RV. I checked motels that are 75 +/- miles aways from Titus. They range from $38 up. Mostly in the $70 to $80. I figure if RV rental cost $100 +/-, that’ll be close to the same as a motel. Besides, if something goes wrong with the RV, they’ll have to fix it, lol. I know they’ll be mileage to add to the cost too. Just something for me to think about.
Renting an RV for a trip like this would be a good way to test the waters. Or desert in this case. 😉
Checking rates in Reno, costs for 2 days $488 + 32 cents a mile. Heck at that rate. I’ll drive my SUV and rent a motel, lol. I’ll keep looking around and see what else I can find 🙂 Looking forward to checking out Titus Canyon and starting to explore 🙂
I just calculated driving my ’96 Oldsmobile, Bravada AWD at 16 mpg. Round trip 1000 miles = 62 gals x $2 = $124 + $80 motel = $204 vs $488 + $320 mileage + unknown amount of gas = ‘No Deal’, lol. Unless someone down the street with an RV lets me borrow their RV 🙂