Canyoneering Route Description

Scorpion Canyon - 3A II
Death Valley National Park, California.

Quick Facts

11-16-12, 6 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 5.4 hours)

Time Required - 3 to 6 hours
Distance - 4.6 miles Total, 1.9 miles Technical
Rappels - 7 Rappels, Longest Rappel 150 feet.
Elevation Range - 1845 - 50 Feet below sea level
Shuttle Required - Yes 10.9 Miles Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear.  Ropes and pull cords for rappels up to 150 feet and 60 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement.    Rap 5 can use up to 20 feet of webbing if you need to replace it which is why the amount of webbing recommended may sound high.

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!

Scorpion Canyon is a short easy route with good scenery on the approach and in the canyon.  Scorpion Canyon does require a car shuttle but it is short and simple.  If you are looking for a an easy fun day out, Scorpion Canyon is a great choice.

For a similar canyon in the area but with much better scenic views during the approach, check out Vinegaroon Canyon.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

From the Junction of highway 190 and highway 178, drive south east on highway 190 for 4.7 miles to the turn off for the Twenty Mule Team road (ext-20Mule-In) on the right (south) side of the highway.  The Twenty Mule Team road is a dirt road that runs for about 2.6 miles and comes back out to the highway a little south of where you entered.  Turn right (south) onto the Twenty Mule Team road and drive 1.7 miles to a parking turnout on the right (pkScorpion).   This turnout is just as you reach a sharp left hand bend in the road.  Park the entry vehicle here.  Remember to go set an exit vehicle as this route requires a shuttle.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

From the Junction of highway 190 and highway 178 (Badwater Road), drive south on highway 178 for 3.7 miles to a dirt road (extDesoltnCyn) on the left (east).  Turn left onto the Desolation Canyon road and drive 0.5 miles east to the end of the dirt road where there is a large parking area (tDesolationCyn).  Park the exit vehicle here.

Maps

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

Click the links for maps of the route. Map of the entire route.
Map of the approach.
Map of the technical section.
Map of the exit.

Details

The Approach:
From the parking spot (pkScorpion) walk about 350 feet north on the Twenty Mule Team road to a large wash (wScorpionRP01) leaving the road and traveling southwest.  Turn left and walk southwest up the large wide wash.  About 700 feet from the road the wash is wide and may seem to have forks coming in.  Just keep following straight up southwest of what feels like the main wash.

About 0.28 miles up the wash you may notice a doorway shaped hole (wScorpionRP02) in the hillside on the left (southeast) side.  There are a couple short tunnels here.  As a general rule it is best to do as the park says.... Stay Out - Stay Alive.

Another 650 feet southwest up the drainage is where the wash begins to get a little more narrow (wScorpionRP03).

About 400 feet farther the wash makes a left - right jog (wScorpionRP04) shortly before getting to a more wide open section of the wash.

About 350 to 400 feet farther will be a spot to scramble up about 15 feet.  Just after the scramble up will be a confluence of 3 forks (wScorpionRP05).  From the confluence travel southwest up the left most fork.  Travel from here gets steeper but is mostly an easy walk up with an occasional spot where you might want to use your hands for balance.

About 500 feet farther is a narrow spot where you need to scramble about 15 feet up a steep section (wScorpionRP06) that also has a lot of loose sand and gravel on it.

Continue light scrambling up a moderately steep section for about 200 feet until you get to a more wide open area (wScorpionRP07) and easy wash walking again.  There is a confluence here of a few forks. Travel up the left most fork going southeast then shortly after turning right to travel southwest again.

Note:
From this confluence you can see a white conglomerate cliff band ahead to the west.  What you will be trying to do from here is travel up to the left (south) side of the cliff band.

Follow the washes around the left side of the white conglomerate cliff band.

After turning up the leftmost fork (wScorpionRP07) it will veer right and begin traveling southwest again for about 200 feet to a short easy scramble up (wScorpionRP08).

After you get up the scramble you should be able to see an obvious saddle about 350 feet ahead to the southwest.  Note the water runnel traveling down from the saddle to the wash you are in.  Walk the wash over to the runnel then scramble your way up the water runnel to get up onto the saddle (wScorpionRP09).

Follow the wash and the water runnel up onto this saddle.

From the saddle follow down the water course on the other side running down to the west.  After about 300 feet you will drop into a VERY wide wash (wScorpionRP10) which is the Scorpion Canyon drainage running down to the northwest.

At this point the wash is very wide and flat providing easy walking for long way.  About 0.8 miles down the wash is another large wash (jVinegaroon) joining in from the right (north).

Note:
Stay in the main wash and travel down to the west to continue on the Scorpion Canyon route.  If you were going to Vinegaroon Canyon you would turn right and travel north up this wide side wash.

About 0.25 miles down the wash the walls close in a little with brown conglomerate rock giving a more narrow feel (yScorpionTp).  Since this is the first place the wash begins to feel like it might get more narrow it makes a good spot to label as the head of the canyon. 

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
From where the wash got a little more narrow (yScorpionTp) walk about 375 feet to the top of a drop of about 25 feet (wScorpionRP12).  The drop is easily bypassed walking down the slope on the LDC side.  About 200 feet down canyon is a right - left jog in the canyon just before it opens up to more wide easy wash walking.

Walk the open wash about 0.6 miles to the top of rap 1.

Rap 1 (dScorpionR1) drops down through a doorway like hole into a narrow section.  Rap 1 is anchored from a large rock about 10 feet back from the drop and uses about 135 feet of rope travel to drop over two stages.  The first stage is about 25 feet with a long ledge to the second stage dropping about 30 feet.

Down canyon of rap 1 is a section with multiple easy downclimbs ranging in height from 6 to 20 feet.  The downclimbs are scattered over the next 500 feet of canyon before reaching a boulder debris pile (wScorpionRP13).

The boulder debris pile (wScorpionRP13) has a drop of about 20 feet going under a couple of the boulders.  The drop under the boulders looks like a rappel but can be downclimbed with moderate difficulty.  There are plenty of hand and foot holds but be aware of loose rock that can break away.

Just after the boulder debris downclimb is an easy scramble of about 10 feet then a wash walk of about 100 feet to the top of rap 2.

Rap 2 (dScorpionR2) anchored from a cairn anchor about 10 feet back from the drop and drops about 95 feet down a mostly vertical wall with some ledge like features to step over about mid way down.

Down canyon of rap 2 are a few short easy downclimbs spread out over about 600 feet of wash.  about 600 feet down canyon of rap 2 is a split in the watercourse (wScorpionRP14).

To get to rap 3 follow down the LDC (south) split and scramble through some pinkish boulder debris.  Rap 3 is about 150 feet after the split.  An anchor was also set in the right split but I gathered no information on that rappel.  Both routes will rejoin just down canyon of the rappel.

Rap 3 (dScorpionR3) is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 150 feet down a mostly vertical wall with a short portion of free hang near the end.  Be careful of placement of the cairn anchor since anything rolling off the anchor will go over the rappel.

After rap 3 walk a short distance to a confluence where the up canyon split in the watercourse rejoins then walk about 60 feet down canyon to the top of rap 4.

Rap 4 (dScorpionR4) is anchored from a large rock on the LDC side and drops about 25 feet down a vertical wall.

Down canyon of rap 4 is a scenic corridor like section.   Down canyon from rap 4 is a long wash walking section with great scenery.  The wash walk is about 0.8 miles long with a couple of spots of short easy scrambles to break up the walk a little. 

Just before reaching rap 5 is a downclimb of about 12 feet in a narrow chute.

Rap 5 (dScorpionR5) is anchored from a very large rock protrusion about 15 feet back from the drop and drops about 35 feet down a vertical wall using a total of 50 feet of rope travel.

Rap 6 (dScorpionR6) is about 180 feet down canyon of rap 5.   Rap 6 is anchored from a rock pile on the RDC wall about 8 feet back and drops about 60 feet down a vertical wall.

After rap 6 walk down canyon about 500 feet down canyon to the top of rap 7 where you can see the alluvial fan just down canyon where things open up.

Rap 7 (dScorpionR7) is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 60 feet down a mostly vertical wall.

After rap 7 walk about 80 feet out to where the canyon ends (yScorpionBt) and you are out on the alluvial fan.

The Exit:
From the end of Scorpion Canyon (yScorpionBt) walk 0.43 miles southwest on a bearing of 242 degrees (true) to get to the cars parked at the Desolation Canyon Trailhead (tDesolationCyn).

Note:
You can not see the cars from the exit of the canyon so use a compass GPS or just be good with direction to stay on course.  As you get closer to the cars you will start to notice you are walking toward a small blackish hill.  The trailhead is on the west side of that hill.

GPS Waypoint Information

Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........

Scorpion (1) - Drive for exit vehicle parking and trailhead

extDesoltnCyn          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39660   W -116.84746        Elev: -205 Feet Exit for the road to Desolation Canyon Trailhead. tDesolationCyn          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39565   W -116.83858        Elev: -50 Feet Parking area at the end of the Desolation Canyon road. Also parking for the exit vehicle for the Scorpion Canyon and Vinegaroon Canyon Routes. ext-20Mule-In          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.40941   W -116.79466        Elev: 840 Feet Entrance to the 20 Mule Team Rd. pkScorpion          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39146   W -116.77847        Elev: 1,205 Feet Parking spot to side of road in 20 Mule Team Road. 1 - 2 vehicles. This is the spot to park for the start of Scorpion Canyon or Vinegaroon Canyon.

Scorpion (2) - Approach

pkScorpion          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39146   W -116.77847        Elev: 1,205 Feet Parking spot to side of road in 20 Mule Team Road. 1 - 2 vehicles. This is the spot to park for the start of Scorpion Canyon or Vinegaroon Canyon. wScorpionRP01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39231   W -116.77876        Elev: 1,195 Feet To go up to Scorpion Canyon leave the Twenty Mule Team road here and start up the wash going southwest. wScorpionRP02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38916   W -116.78129        Elev: NaN Feet Small doorway shapped hole on the hillside. There is a tunnel here going through the hill to the otherside with a T part way in to a deadend tunnel part way into the hill. wScorpionRP03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38779   W -116.78265        Elev: 1,360 Feet The wash begins to get a little more narrow here. wScorpionRP04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38702   W -116.78346        Elev: NaN Feet Wash does a left - right jog here shortly before reaching a more wide open section of the wash. wScorpionRP05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38700   W -116.78518        Elev: 1,450 Feet Confluence of 3 forks. Follow the left most fork running up to the southwest. wScorpionRP06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38624   W -116.78669        Elev: 1,660 Feet A narrow spot to scramble up about 15 feet that is a little difficult since it is steep and has a lot of loose sand and gravel. wScorpionRP07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38598   W -116.78724        Elev: NaN Feet Top of a moderately steep section of scrambling and where the wash widens out again with easy wash walking. There is a confluence here of a few forks. Travel up the left most fork going southeast then shortly after turning right to travel southwest again. wScorpionRP08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38552   W -116.78724        Elev: NaN Feet Short easy scramble up in the wash. From here you can see an obvious saddle to the southwest about 350 feet away. Note the water runnel traveling up to the saddle. Continue up the wash then up the runnel to get up onto the saddle. wScorpionRP09          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38500   W -116.78812        Elev: 1,845 Feet On top of a saddle after scrambling up a water runnel out of the wash. To drop into the Scorpion Drainage follow the water course running down the west side of the saddle for about 300 feet. wScorpionRP10          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38475   W -116.78913        Elev: 1,785 Feet Route drops into the main water course for Scorpion Canyon. jVinegaroon          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.38937   W -116.80203        Elev: 1,565 Feet Large wash joining in from the right (north). Continue west down the wash to continue to Scorpion. Or Travel north up the side wash to follow the route to Vinegaroon Canyon. yScorpionTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39049   W -116.80677        Elev: 1,475 Feet The wash gets a little more narrow and has brown conglomerate rock on the sides.

Scorpion (3) - The Canyon and Exit

yScorpionTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39049   W -116.80677        Elev: 1,475 Feet The wash gets a little more narrow and has brown conglomerate rock on the sides. wScorpionRP12          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39121   W -116.80760        Elev: NaN Feet Drop of about 25 feet with a sloped hands free bypass to walk down on the LDC side. About 200 feet down canyon is a left - right jog just as the canyon opens to more wide open wash walking for over half mile. dScorpionR1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39465   W -116.81551        Elev: 1,226 Feet Rap 1 - Scorpion Canyon. Anchored from a large rock about 10 feet back from a door way like opening and uses about 135 feet of rope travel to drop over two stages. The next 50o feet of canyon has multiple easy downclimbs ranging from 6 to 20 feet before reaching a boulder debris pile. wScorpionRP13          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39574   W -116.81667        Elev: NaN Feet Boulder debris pile has a drop of about 20 feet going under a couple of the boulders. The drop under the boulders looks like a rappel but can be downclimbed with moderate difficulty. There are plenty of hand and foot holds but be aware of loose rock that can break away. dScorpionR2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39599   W -116.81704        Elev: NaN Feet Rap 2 - Scorpion Canyon. Anchored from a cairn anchor about 10 feet back from the drop and drops about 95 feet down a mostly vertical wall with some ledge like features to step over about mid way down. wScorpionRP14          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39668   W -116.81884        Elev: NaN Feet Split in the water course. Rap 3 is down the LDC (south) fork about 150 feet away through some boulder debris to scramble through. A rappel can also be set by dropping down the the RDC side of the split but I have no information on that rap. Both routes will rejoin just below the rappels. dScorpionR3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39677   W -116.81939        Elev: NaN Feet Rap 3 - Scorpion Canyon. Down the LDC side of a split in the water course just up canyon. Anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 150 feet down a mostly vertical wall with a short portion of free hang near the end. Be careful of placement of the cairn anchor since anything rolling off the anchor will go over the rappel. dScorpionR4          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39708   W -116.81948        Elev: 720 Feet Rap 4 - Scorpion Canyon. Anchored from a large rock on the LDC side and drops about 25 feet down a vertical wall. dScorpionR5          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39883   W -116.82980        Elev: 245 Feet Rap 5 - Scorpion Canyon. Anchored from a very large rock protrusion about 15 feet back from the drop and drops about 35 feet down a vertical wall using a total of 50 feet of rope travel. dScorpionR6          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39856   W -116.83000        Elev: NaN Feet Rap 6 - Scorpion Canyon. Anchored from a rock pile on the RDC wall about 8 feet back and drops about 60 feet down a vertical wall. dScorpionR7          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39865   W -116.83153        Elev: NaN Feet Rap 7 - Scorpion Canyon. Anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 60 feet down a mostly vertical wall. yScorpionBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39860   W -116.83178        Elev: 90 Feet Bottom of Scorpion Canyon where it drops out to the alluvial fan. tDesolationCyn          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 36.39565   W -116.83858        Elev: -50 Feet Parking area at the end of the Desolation Canyon road. Also parking for the exit vehicle for the Scorpion Canyon and Vinegaroon Canyon Routes.