Canyoneering Route Description

Lower Natural Bridge Canyon - 3A III
Death Valley National Park, California.

Quick Facts

03-28-10, 4 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 11 hours) Pictures Icon

Time Required - 9 to 12 hours
Distance - 3.8 miles Total, 1.3 miles Technical
Rappels - 11 Rappels, Longest Rappel 105 feet.
Elevation Range - 390 - 2870 Feet
Shuttle Required - No  Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, one 200 foot rope, 200 foot pull cord and 50 feet of 1” webbing for sling placement.  The longest rap is 105 feet.  There is a sand pile at the bottom of that rap allowing one to walk off before the 105 foot point at the ground.  A 200 foot pull cord is recommended in case the sand pile moves or gets washed out.

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!

Natural Bridge Canyon offers great views on the ascent up and is an overall short day out unless you feel like taking your time as we did.  There is nothing that stands out as exceptional in Natural Bridge Canyon but everyone on our first trip through said it was a very enjoyable canyon.  I can not put my finger on exactly why but this canyon was just fun.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the junction of highways 178 (Bad Water Road) and 190, drive 13 miles south on highway 178 to the turn off for Natural Bridge.  From the turn off, drive 1.5 miles east along the dirt road to the parking area for the Natural Bridge trailhead (tNaturalBridge).

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

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

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 Natural Bridge parking area (tNaturalBridge) look for a small hill along the base of the mountain that is more of a chocolate brown color about 0.4 miles from the parking area.  On the north side (closest to the parking area) of the small chocolate colored hill is a gentle slope starting up the mountain.  Walk 0.4 miles over to the base of the gentle slope (wNatBrdgeRP-01).  

Go east up the gravel slope.  About 0.2 miles up the gravel slope the rock turns to an orange color and the slope gets a lot steeper (wNatBrdgeRP-02).  This steep grade will continue for much of the approach.  

Another 0.4 mile up is a vertical rock face that needs to be bypassed (wNatBrdgeRP-03).  Traverse left (north) along its base then climb up and around it.  

About 300 feet after the vertical rock face is another section that will need to be overcome (wNatBrdgeRP-04).  This is a wide area with near vertical sections.  Find one of a few routes up through here.  You will use your hands a little but the climb up through here is pretty easy scrambling if you find a good route through.  

About 0.3 miles above the wide vertical section is an orange patch of rock at the base of a blackish colored hill (wNatBrdgeRP-05).  

Another 0.2 miles up is the top of an orange colored hill (wNatBrdgeRP-06) along the ridge you are now following.  

After the orange hill, the ridge drops slightly to a saddle then back up the next hill.  Continue east up to the peak of the next hill (wNatBrdgeRP-07).  This hill top is the high point on the route and is labeled peak 2896 on some maps.  

From the peak continue down north to a saddle about 450 feet away (wNatBrdgeRP-08).  From this saddle veer left (northeast) and drop into the wash below (yNatBdgLwrSFTp).

The Canyon / Technical Section:
From the wash at the top entry to Natural Bridge Canyon (yNatBdgLwrSFTp) follow the wash down stream to the north west.  About 80 feet down canyon will be a down climb of about 12 feet.  

About 300 feet down canyon of the first down climb are a few wide open drops in the canyon.  The terrain makes it easy to bypass these either RDC or LDC but RDC seems a bit simpler.  

Just after bypassing the wide open drops, is a down climb of about 15 feet down a semi tight chute.  This down climb is the beginning of a series of short easy down climbs for about 250 along the canyon.  

After the series of down climbs is a short section of flat wash before reaching rap 1.  

Rap 1 (dNatlBridgR1) is about 0.2 miles down canyon of the top entry for the canyon.  Rap 1 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 30 feet down a slight slope.  

Down canyon of rap 1 is a mix of easy wash walking and a few easy down climbs mixed in.  The first is about 30 feet and the rest are 15 to 20 feet each.  

About 0.3 miles down canyon of rap 1 is a drop of about 60 feet (wNatlBridgRP-1).  This big drop is pretty simple to down climb.  Most of it is along a gentle slope with good traction.  There is a ledge near the bottom then more gently sloped rock to slide down.  

Shortly after the 60 foot drop is another drop of about 20 feet.  The down climb is made much easier if packs are lowered.  Some weaker down climbers may desire a meat anchor.  

Rap 2 (dNatlBridgR2) is about 400 feet down canyon of the 60 foot drop.  Rap 2 is anchored from a rock horn that looks like there may be a potential to slip off.  A back up for the anchor is a small choke stone placed in a crack.  The anchor is about 20 feet back from the top of the rap RDC.  Rap 2 drops about 85 feet so with the 20 feet back to the anchor the total rope travel is 105 feet.  A single 200 foot rope can be used if the sand pile at the bottom of the rappel is still there.  If not you may want to use a pull cord or another 200 foot rope.  Sending a person down with plenty of rope left over to survey the situation is a good idea.  

After rap 2 are a few down climbs the first is drop is a bit slick and is easily bypassed RDC.  A couple more easy down climbs follow of about 15 feet each.  

Rap 3 (dNatlBridgR3-4) is almost 300 feet down canyon of rap 2.  Rap 3 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 55 feet.  The first part of rap 3 is easily down climbed.  The second half of rap 2 drops down a crevice that may be down climbed by some but is much safer to simply rappel.  

Rap 4 is just around the corner at the bottom of rap 3.  Rap 4 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 65 feet down a sloped rough wall.  

About 150 feet down canyon of rap 4 is a drop of about 30 feet.  Bypass the drop RDC.  

Rap 5 (dNatlBridgR5) is about 500 feet down canyon of rap 4.  Rap 5 is anchored from a rock embedded in the wash and drops about 75 feet down a sloped wall with the last short section going vertical.  

Shortly after rap 5 is a rock island in the middle of the canyon.  To the left of the island is a big drop to continue down canyon.  Instead stay RDC of the island and follow a few easy down climbs to get to the canyon floor below the rock island.  

About 100 feet down canyon after the island is a 20 foot down climb.  

Another 150 feet down canyon is a drop of about 30 feet.  Bypass this drop by traversing the ledge RDC of the drop about 50 feet then go down the sloped rock after the traverse.  

Rap 6 (dNatlBridgR6) is about 500 feet down canyon of rap 5.  Rap 6 is anchored from a rock embedded in the wash then drops RDC of a huge boulder.  The start of the rap is a bit awkward with an overhang to start over and drops about 30 feet.  It is a bit sketchy but possible to down climb LDC of the huge boulder rather than rappel.  

Rap 7 (dNatlBridgR7) is about 650 feet down canyon of rap 6 with easy wash walking between.  Rap 7 is anchored from a large rock sitting in the wash just above the rap and drops about 20 feet.  

Rap 8 (dNatlBridgR8) is about 200 feet down canyon of rap 7 with a few easy down climbs along the way.  Rap 8 is anchored from a cairn anchor about 15 feet back and drops about 45 feet.  The bottom of rap 8 has a grotto like feel.  

Rap 9 (dNatlBridgR9) is about 200 feet down canyon of rap 8.  Rap 9 is anchored from a large rock in the wash about 25 feet back.  Rap 9 drops about 60 feet giving a total rope distance back up to the anchor of about 85 feet.  

Rap 10 (dNatlBridgR10) is a little over 700 feet down canyon of rap 9.  Rap 10 is anchored from a cairn anchor about 20 feet back.  Rap 10 has an awkward start with an overhang at the top of the rap and drops about 25 feet RDC of a huge boulder.   

Rap 10 can be down climbed LDC of the boulder instead of rapping.  Hanging the pack from your harness is recommended if down climbing or lowering your pack would be a good option.  The down climb is along a crevice formed between the huge boulder and the canyon wall which allows easy stemming while down climbing.  

Rap 11 (dNatlBridgR11) is about 600 feet down canyon of rap 10 with easy wash walking along the way.  Rap 11 is anchored from some choke stones placed in a crack about 15 feet back.  Rap 11 drops about 20 feet.  There is also an old single bolted hanger LDC about 20 feet back from the top of the rap.

Rap 11 is the last rappel and is where hikers can get to when exploring from the bottom.  

After rap 11 are a couple very easy down climbs before travel is only easy wash walking (yNatBdgLwrBt).

The Exit:
From where the canyon is only wash walking (yNatBdgLwrBt), continue down canyon about 0.6 miles back to the Natural Bridge trailhead (tNaturalBridge).

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........
Natural Bridge Lower 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. tNaturalBridge          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28127   W -116.76980        Elev: 390 Feet
    Trailhead for Natural Bridge.
Natural Bridge Lower 2 - Approach
  1. tNaturalBridge          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28127   W -116.76980        Elev: 390 Feet
    Trailhead for Natural Bridge.
  2. wNatBrdgeRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27538   W -116.76820        Elev: 200 Feet
    Start of a gentle slope up on the north side of a chocolate brown hill along the base of the mountain.
  3. wNatBrdgeRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27598   W -116.76562        Elev: NaN Feet
    Top of gravel section where it meets the orange colored rock and gets much steeper.
  4. wNatBrdgeRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27579   W -116.75955        Elev: NaN Feet
    Vertical rock wall that needs to be bypassed. Travers left (north) along its base then climb up and around it.
  5. wNatBrdgeRP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27587   W -116.75858        Elev: 1,650 Feet
    Wide area of near vertical that can be navigated through in a couple different ways.
  6. wNatBrdgeRP-05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27723   W -116.75392        Elev: NaN Feet
    Orange patch of rock near the base of a blackish color hill.
  7. wNatBrdgeRP-06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27669   W -116.75033        Elev: 2,644 Feet
    On the peak of an orange hill along the ridge.
  8. wNatBrdgeRP-07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27744   W -116.74804        Elev: 2,870 Feet
    Highpoint on route at the top of peak 2896.
  9. wNatBrdgeRP-08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27775   W -116.74652        Elev: NaN Feet
    Saddle just before getting down to the top of Natural Bridge Canyon.
  10. yNatBdgLwrSFTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27826   W -116.74495        Elev: 2,770 Feet
    Top Entry for South Fork of Lower Natural Bridge Canyon
Natural Bridge Lower 3 - The Canyon and Exit
  1. yNatBdgLwrSFTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.27826   W -116.74495        Elev: 2,770 Feet
    Top Entry for South Fork of Lower Natural Bridge Canyon
  2. dNatlBridgR1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28015   W -116.74717        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 1 - Natural Bridge. Anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 30 feet down slight slope.
  3. wNatlBridgRP-1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28301   W -116.74986        Elev: NaN Feet
    Drop of about 60 feet. Easy to down climb because it has a gentle slope over 2 stages.
  4. dNatlBridgR2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28357   W -116.75088        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 2 - Natural Bridge. Anchored from a rock horn and and backed up with a small choke stone wedged in a crack. Drops about 105 feet.
  5. dNatlBridgR3-4          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28433   W -116.75161        Elev: NaN Feet
    Raps 3-4 - Natural Bridge. Rap 3 anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 55 feet. Rap 4 anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 65 feet.
  6. dNatlBridgR5          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28508   W -116.75220        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 5 - Natural Bridge. Anchored from large rock embedded in wash and drops about 75 feet.
  7. dNatlBridgR6          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28562   W -116.75388        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 6 - Natural Bridge. Anchored from rock embedded in wash and drops about 30 feet RDC of a huge boulder.
  8. dNatlBridgR7          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28629   W -116.75554        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 7 - Natural Bridge. Anchored from large rock sitting in wash and drops about 20 feet.
  9. dNatlBridgR8          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28646   W -116.75620        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 8 - Natural Bridge. Anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 45 feet.
  10. dNatlBridgR9          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28671   W -116.75677        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 9 - Natural Bridge. Anchored from large rock in wash about 20 feet back and drops about 25 feet.
  11. dNatlBridgR10          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28733   W -116.75899        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 10 - Natural Bridge. Anchored from a cairn anchor about 20 feet back and drops about 25 feet RDC of a huge boulder.
  12. dNatlBridgR11          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28657   W -116.76103        Elev: NaN Feet
    Rap 11 - Natural Bridge. Anchored from choke stones and drops about 20 feet. There is also a an old single bolted hanger LDC about 20 feet back from the top of the rap.
  13. yNatBdgLwrBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28643   W -116.76211        Elev: 810 Feet
    Bottom exit of natural bridge canyon.
  14. sNatBridge          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28471   W -116.76586        Elev: 570 Feet
    Natural Bridge
  15. tNaturalBridge          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.28127   W -116.76980        Elev: 390 Feet
    Trailhead for Natural Bridge.

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