Canyoneering Route Description

Helios Canyon - 3A I
Death Valley National Park, California.

Quick Facts

05-16-11, 8 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 6.2 hours) Pictures Icon

Time Required - 5 to 6 hours
Distance - 2.0 miles Total, 0.7 miles Technical
Rappels - 9 Rappels, Longest Rappel 170 feet.
Elevation Range - -250 feet below sea level thru 1695 Feet
Shuttle Required -No Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - No
SHORT ROUTE OPTION...... See General Comments for a shorter more bang for the buck version
Route would be about 4 hours, 6 raps to 160 feet and cover the best part of the canyon.

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 170 feet and 100 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement.

General Comments

ATTENTION!!
Death Valley is considering a new permit system in response to the impact of the growing popularity of Canyoneering.
Lets continue to show the park just how respectful we can be to our environment.

Specific issues the park is concerned about:
1. Anchors: Bolting is Illegal in Death Valley National Park! Do Not Add Bolts. Natural anchor options are abundant.
Recent illegal bolts have popped up in Helios and Rainbow Canyons.
2. Poop: Dig a cathole at least 6 inches deep and 200 yards from any water source or campsite. Pack out all toilet paper.
3. Collecting fire wood is illegal, just don't do it!

Other basics:
Avoid walking in water when possible (Willow Canyon, etc). Hike on durable surfaces and previously worn paths (avoid trampling vegetation or fragile soil crusts). Pack out all trash including organic material (including seed shells, apple cores, orange peels, etc). More info can be found here: http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm

Lets keep this wonderful resource pristine so that we may continue to enjoy the canyons with limited regulations!

The final rap sequence of raps 5 through 9 is a fun section right near the end of the canyon.  The views down the canyon and out over the salt flats and to the exit vehicles is very dramatic here and makes this a worthwhile route.  This last part is where all the fun is.

The total route should take about 5 to 6 hours.  There are a couple of points to drop down off the ridge do do only lower portions of the canyon.  The lines of the approximate routes are drawn on the map.  The first is between rout point 5 and down to the canyon floor between raps 3 and 4.  The second is between route points 6 and 9.

The scenic and technically fun portion of the canyon is the lower portion near the end of the route.  If you desire a quick fun run of only 3 hours or so consider dropping down to the canyon floor from rout point 05 down to above rap 4.  This will provide a shorter route and take your through the more enjoyable portion of the canyon giving a higher bang for the buck.

Note on the Short Route Option:
If doing the first bypass you can shave about 2 hours off the expected time to do the canyon.  Technical distance would then be 0.3 miles and the total route distance would be 1.4 miles with 6 rappels to 160 feet.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

You will need to park alongside the road near the alluvial fan for Hades Canyon. From the junction of highways 178 (Bad Water Road) and 190, drive 16.5 miles south on highway 178 to Bad Water. From the Bad Water Parking lot on Bad Water road, drive 2.7 miles south and find a place to pull off the road (pkHeliosBt).  The parking spot is about 0.15 miles almost due west of the mouth of Helios and at the southern end of the alluvial fan of Hades Canyon.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

No exit vehicle is needed.  This is done as a loop route.

Maps

GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom.  For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the Glossary page.

Map Link Icon
Click the links for maps of the route. Map of the entire route.

Details

The Approach:
From the parking spot look east to the mouth of the canyon.  Look at the base of the of the mountain and note an obvious scree pile (wHelios-RP-01) about 750 feet to the left (north) of the mouth of the canyon.  Walk about 0.2 miles across the open desert to the base of the scree pile.

From the base of the scree pile veer left and walk north along the base of the mountain for about 700 feet to where a small drainage like spot starts up the side of the slope (wHelios-RP-02).  Find a suitable point to start climbing east up the slope.

Route find your way east up the steep slope working toward the ridge line above.  About 600 feet up will be a small cliff band running along the slope which you will need to route find your way up on top of.

Once on top of the small cliff band (wHelios-RP-03) continue up the slope and route find your way east up the slope.  Shortly before reaching the ridge there will be some light scrambling to get over some larger rocks before topping out on the crest of the ridge.  The crest of the ridge (wHelios-RP-04) is about 0.2 miles after getting to the top of the small cliff band.  When you get up onto the ridge you will have views down into most of Helios Canyon.

Once on the crest of the ridge (wHelios-RP-04) travel north up the ridge line.  Travel up  the ridge line above this point will have a few spots that feel almost knife edge like and require some definite scrambling to get over.

About 700 feet up the ridge from here is the top of a gully (wHelios-RP-05) that can be scrambled down to get to the canyon floor between raps 3 and 4 in the canyon below.

0.25 miles up the ridge will be the top of a gully (wHelios-RP-06) on the right (east) leading down to the floor of the canyon.  This gully is about 250 feet before reaching an obvious colorful band of dirt on the ridge with yellow, pink and orange dirt.  From this point on the ridge you have a good view over to the head of the canyon and the cliff of rap 1.  The cliff above the obvious crack low on the head wall is rap 1.

Note:
This is an optional drop in point if you wish to skip some of the upper part of the canyon.

About 250 feet up the ridge is the colorful band of dirt with yellow, pink and orange dirt (wHelios-RP-07).

About 450 feet up the ridge after the colorful band of dirt is where you will leave the crest of the ridge (wHelios-RP-08).  Look over to the obvious crack low on the head wall of the canyon.  Traverse about 200 feet from the ridge over to the top of the cliff above the obvious crack to get to the top of rap 1 (yHeliosTp).

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
The head of the canyon is the top of rap 1 (yHeliosTp).  The views from the top of rap 1 are good as you look over most of the canyon and the salt flats in the distance.

Rap 1 (yHeliosTp) is right at the head of the canyon, is anchored from large rock about 6 feet back from the drop and drops about 170 feet down a mostly vertical wall to a large shelf.  The shelf at the bottom of rap 1 (dHelios-R1) is large and sits above the obvious crack that could be seen from the ridge during the approach.

Drop down off of the shelf at the bottom of rap 1 by walking LDC (south) to the top of a long scree pile.  Slide your way down the scree pile to the canyon floor.

A little over 500 feet down canyon will be three down climbs of 10 to 15 feet each.  The 3rd down climb drops under a boulder through a rabbit hole.

Just after the down climb under the boulder is the bottom of a gully (wHelios-RP-09) on the RDC (north) side of the canyon.  The bottom of the gully is where you would drop down into the canyon, if you followed down the gully from the ridge above as the alternate drop in noted in for the approach.

Continuing down canyon is a series of drops ranging from 10 to 30 feet.  Each of these are gently sloped and are easy to scramble down.  One of the drops part way down this series will be about 40 feet down a steeper slope which is bypassed on the LDC side to a ramp about 200 feet down canyon.

Rap 2 (dHelios-R2) is about 400 feet down canyon from the bottom of the side gully of the optional drop in.  Rap 2 is anchored from LDC from rock horn about 15 feet back from the drop and drops over two stages about 80 feet.  The first stage is about 15 feet and easily down climbable.

A little over 15 feet down canyon of rap 2 is a drop of about 15 feet and moderately difficult.  About 40 feet after that drop is another drop of about 60 feet and is an easy scramble.  About 200 feet farther down canyon is rap 3.

Rap 3 (dHelios-R3) is a little over 500 feet down canyon of rap 2.  Rap 3 is anchored LDC from two small choke stones wedged in cracks and webbing slung between the the two.  Rap 3 drops about 80 feet down a gently sloped wall.

Rap 4 (dHelios-R4) is about 100 feet down canyon of rap 3, is anchored LDC from an interesting rock feature on the wall and drops about 60 feet down a vertical wall.

Optionally rap 4 can be quickly bypassed up and over LDC then scrambling the side of the canyon back to the floor.

About 400 feet down canyon is the start (wHelios-RP-10) of a section that drops fast and is easily scrambled and down climbed.  The drop down this section is about 450 feet over about 0.2 miles.  This section is all easy scrambling with the exception of a few short (6 to 15 feet) moderately difficult down climbs.

Rap 5 (dHelios-R5-6) is about 0.3miles down canyon of rap 4, is anchored LDC from a choke stone in a crack and drops about 35 feet down a vertical wall. 

From the top of rap 5 you can see that the remainder of the canyon will be a quick succession of rappels down to the exit a short distance from the road.  You can also see the vehicles parked on the road waiting for you.

Rap 6 is about 30 feet down canyon of rap 5, is anchored from a large rock about 8 feet back from the drop and drops about 55 feet.

Rap 7 (dHelios-R7) is about 50 feet down canyon of rap 6, is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 160 feet down staring out sloped then going down a vertical wall in an alcove like area.

Rap 8 (dHelios-R8) is about 70 feet down canyon of rap 7, is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 25 feet down sloped semi fluted wall.

 Rap 9 (dHelios-R8) ) is about 90 feet down canyon of rap 8 with two 10 foot down climbs between.  Rap 9 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops over two stages for about 60 feet.

The canyon opens up to open desert about 100 feet after rap 9 (yHeliosBt).

The Exit:
From exit of the canyon (yHeliosBt) walk west about 500 feet to the road, turn left and walk about 400 feet to the vehicles.

GPS Waypoint Information

Downloadable GPX files available at BG-Gear Store (easier than manual entry and a great way to support Bluugnome).
Waypoint naming convention and map symbol information can be found on the Glossary page.  Elevations are approximate.
BEFORE manually entering coordinates set your system to WGS84 datum and Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd° coordinate format. 
Inconsistent datum's and coordinate formats will result in location errors.

Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........
Helios 1 - Drive to Trailhead
  1. extBadWatr-190          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.44835   W -116.85247        Elev: 10 Feet
    Junction of highway 190 and Badwater Road (178).
  2. extDesoltnCyn          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39642   W -116.84753        Elev: -186 Feet
    Exit for the road to Desolation Canyon.
  3. extDevilsGolf          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.29845   W -116.81171        Elev: -200 Feet
    Turn off for the Devil's Golf Course. Park here to leave an exit vehicle when doing Brimstone Canyon.
  4. extNatBridge          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27404   W -116.79292        Elev: -241 Feet
    Exit for the road to the Natural Bridge trailhead.
  5. sBadWater282          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.23001   W -116.76791        Elev: -282 Feet
    Sign at Bad Water Stating 282 feet below sea level
  6. pkHeliosBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20162   W -116.77004        Elev: -250 Feet
    Park here to start and finish the route for Helios Canyon.
Helios 2 - Approach
  1. pkHeliosBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20162   W -116.77004        Elev: -250 Feet
    Park here to start and finish the route for Helios Canyon.
  2. wHelios-RP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20372   W -116.76854        Elev: NaN Feet
    Obvious scree pile at the base of the mountain about 750 feet north of the mouth of the canyon.
  3. wHelios-RP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20567   W -116.76811        Elev: -90 Feet
    One of a few small drainage like spots starting up the slope toward teh ridge above.
  4. wHelios-RP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20580   W -116.76564        Elev: NaN Feet
    Up on top of a small cliff band aolng the slope.
  5. wHelios-RP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20502   W -116.76298        Elev: 835 Feet
    Route up the slope tops out on the crest of the ridge.
  6. wHelios-RP-05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20536   W -116.76113        Elev: NaN Feet
    Aproximate top of a gully that can be descended to get to the canyon floor between raps 3 and 4.
  7. wHelios-RP-06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20583   W -116.75948        Elev: 1,370 Feet
    Top of a gully on the right (east) leading down to the canyon floor. This is just before reaching an obvious colorful band of yellow, pink and orange dirt on the ridge. THis is an optional drop in point for the canyon if you want to skip some of the upper portions of the route.
  8. wHelios-RP-07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20632   W -116.75888        Elev: 1,490 Feet
    Colorful band of dirt with yellow, pink and orange dirt.
  9. wHelios-RP-08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20662   W -116.75740        Elev: 1,695 Feet
    Leave the crest of the ridge here and traverse over to teh top of rap 1.
  10. yHeliosTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20622   W -116.75688        Elev: 1,715 Feet
    Top entry on the head wall for Helios Canyon. THis is also the top of rap 1.
Helios 3 - The Canyon and Exit
  1. yHeliosTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20622   W -116.75688        Elev: 1,715 Feet
    Top entry on the head wall for Helios Canyon. THis is also the top of rap 1.
  2. dHelios-R1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20603   W -116.75697        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 1 - Helios Canyon. Bottom of rap 1 on a shelf. Rap 1 anchored from a large rock about 6 feet back and drops about 170 feet to a large shelf.
  3. wHelios-RP-09          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20521   W -116.75948        Elev: NaN Feet
    A couple of down climbs of about 10 then 12 feet.
  4. dHelios-R2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20466   W -116.76064        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 2 - Helios Canyon. Anchored from a rock horn about 15 feet back and drops about 80 feet over two stages. The first stage is about 15 feet and can be down climbed.
  5. dHelios-R3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20407   W -116.76209        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 3 - Helios Canyon. Anchored from webbing slung between two small choke stones in cracks and drops about 80 feet down a gentley sloped wall.
  6. dHelios-R4          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20411   W -116.76249        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 4 - Helios Canyon. Anchored from an interesting rock feature in the wall LDC and drops about 60 feet down a vertical wall. Rap 4 is easily bypassed LDC by climbing up and over LDC then down a long ramp.
  7. wHelios-RP-10          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20357   W -116.76358        Elev: NaN Feet
    Start of a section of the canyon that drops fast but is easily scrambled and down climbed.
  8. dHelios-R5-6          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20207   W -116.76598        Elev: NaN Feet
    Raps 5 and 6 - Helios Canyon. Rap 5 anchored from a choke stone in a crack and drops about 35 feet down a vertical wall. Rap 6 about 30 feet down canyon of rap 5, anchored from a large rock and drops about 55 feet.
  9. dHelios-R7          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20195   W -116.76640        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 7 - Helios Canyon. Anchored from cairn anchor and drops about 160 feet down a sloped then vertical walll.
  10. dHelios-R8          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20190   W -116.76675        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 8 - Helios Canyon. Anchored from cairn anchor and drops about 25 feet down a sloped semi fluted wall.
  11. dHelios-R9          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20186   W -116.76709        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 9 - Helios Canyon. Anchored from cairn anchor and drops about 60 feet over 2 stages.
  12. yHeliosBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20172   W -116.76743        Elev: -180 Feet
    Bottom exit of Helios Canyon.
  13. pkHeliosBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.20162   W -116.77004        Elev: -250 Feet
    Park here to start and finish the route for Helios Canyon.

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