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Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop

Inyo · Managed by Death Valley National Park (NPS) · Region: Death Valley National Park
Difficulty 33/100 · Moderateloop#desert#slot-canyon#loop#death-valley
Distance
26 mi
Total gain
3,882 ft
Net gain
3,882 ft
Net loss
3,882 ft
Days
2–3
Permit
Required
Campfires
Campfires prohibited

Overview

The Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop is Death Valley's signature backpack: 26 miles through polished slot canyons and open desert, linking Cottonwood's spring-fed upper reaches with Marble Canyon's narrows. A cool-season classic with 3,882 feet of climbing and no trails — just canyon bottom, compass, and quiet.

Highlights

  • Marble Canyon's polished slot narrows
  • Seasonal springs in upper Cottonwood and Deadhorse Canyons
  • A complete loop between two canyon systems — no shuttle
  • Some of the darkest night skies in the national park system

Logistics

  • Trailhead: Cottonwood Canyon Road · parking: Cottonwood Canyon Road, 8–10 miles from Stovepipe Wells; high-clearance to canyon mouth, 4x4 beyond
  • Water: Seasonal springs in upper Cottonwood and Deadhorse Canyons; carry or stash the rest — a gallon per person per day.
  • Resupply: None; Stovepipe Wells has services.
  • Shuttle: Not needed for a loop.
  • Stove required: yes — no fires possible on this route

Permits

  • Agency: Death Valley National Park (NPS)
  • Reserve or apply on recreation.gov
  • Quota: A backcountry permit is required for the Cottonwood-Marble Loop; other park areas recommend (but do not require) permits.
  • Reservation window: Obtain online, at Furnace Creek Visitor Center, or at the Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station drop box.

Campfires & stove regulations

Campfires prohibited. Campfires are not allowed in the Death Valley backcountry. Use a camp stove. Current fire restrictions. Rules change with conditions — always confirm with the managing agency before your trip.

Best time to go

Best months: October, November, March, April.

Snow: Year-round, but summer is dangerously hot.

Heat: Extreme heat from May through September — this is a cool-season route.

Bugs: Minimal.

Weather forecast

Know before you go

  • No campfires in the backcountry — stove only
  • Flash floods can strike any canyon, any month — check forecasts and exits
  • Carry or stash all water; a gallon per person per day
  • Summer attempts are genuinely dangerous

Sources & citations

Data compiled 2026 from public agency and reference sources. All descriptive text on this page is original; verify current conditions with the managing agency before your trip.

  1. Backpacking — Death Valley National Park. National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backpacking.htm. Accessed 2026-09-10. License: Public domain (US government work). Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop (26 mi, 3,882 ft gain, strenuous, permit required), route description, flash flood hazard, and springs; group limits, fire prohibition, and water guidance.
  2. Backcountry permit gateway. Recreation.gov / National Park Service. https://www.recreation.gov/gateways/2662. Accessed 2026-09-10. Online backcountry permits for Death Valley National Park.
  3. Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop. National Park Service. https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/cottonwood-marble-loop.htm. Accessed 2026-09-10. License: Public domain (US government work). Detailed loop description with GPS files and waypoints.