Sidewinder Canyon - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

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Mountain Peaks

About Sidewinder Canyon

Sidewinder Canyon is located at the base of the Black Mountains on the east side of Death Valley National Park south of Badwater Basin. The canyon is fairly wide with a gravel bottom and forty-foot stone walls on both side. The trailhead is unmarked and the trail only has occasional cairns along the way for guidance, creating a remote trek in a Death Valley canyon. The mouth of the canyon is difficult to spot from the trailhead. Begin hiking south toward the gravel fan exiting the canyon.

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Attractions Near Sidewinder Canyon

Dante’s View

Dante’s View

17.42km from Sidewinder Canyon

Dante's View offers a dramatic panoramic view of Death Valley from a very brink of an edge. It is also an excellent venue for night time star viewing with telescopes.

Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin

18.52km from Sidewinder Canyon

An endorheic basin noted as the lowest point in North America, with a depth of 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. Consisists of a small spring-fed pool of "bad water" next to the road in a sink; the accumulated salts of the surrounding basin make it undrinkable, thus giving it the name. Significant rainstorms flood the valley bottom periodically, covering the salt pan with a thin sheet of standing water. When the basin is flooded, some of the salt is dissolved; it is redeposited as clean crystals w

Devils Golf Course

Devils Golf Course

31.09km from Sidewinder Canyon

Devils Golf Course is a scenic viewpoint in Inyo County. It is a large salt pan on the floor of the Death Valley, located in the Mojave Desert, within the Death Valley National Park in eastern California. Although its exact boundaries are poorly defined, it extends from the vicinity of the Ashford Mill site to the Salt Creek Hills, covering a distance of about 40 miles.

Telescope Peak

Telescope Peak

33.08km from Sidewinder Canyon

Telescope Peak is the highest point within Death Valley National Park. From atop this desert mountain one can see for over one hundred miles in many directions, including west to Mount Whitney, and east to Charleston Peak. It is also notable for having one of the greatest vertical rises above local terrain of any mountain in the contiguous United States. Hiking Telescope Peak by the normal route involves a 14 miles round trip hike.

Mengel Pass

Mengel Pass

35.41km from Sidewinder Canyon

Mengel Pass is a long and moderately difficult trail located in the Death Valley area. This Pass, is unpaved. It’s called Coyote Canyon Road. Road conditions are always changing. Experienced 4WD drivers only. Section over both sides of Mengel Pass is challenging, steep and rutted. Its harsh weather and terrain can be challenging, but its reward of solitude and spectacular scenery warrants the trip.

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

35.99km from Sidewinder Canyon

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns would probably be one of the most visited attractions in Death Valley if they were not in such a remote location.The kilns were built 7 miles out on Wildrose Rd which is mostly paved with a well maintained gravel stretch at the end of this adventurous trip. These kilns produced charcoal for the Modock Mine smelter about 20 miles to the west.The kilns closed after only three years of use. This may be the best-preserved examples of charcoal kilns in the West.

Discover More Attractions in Inyo County, Home of Sidewinder Canyon

Inyo County

Inyo County

72 attractions

Almost one-half of Inyo Country is within Death Valley National Park. With a population density of 1.8 people per square mile, it also has the second-lowest population density in California, after Alpine County.

Location of Sidewinder Canyon

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For more information about Sidewinder Canyon, visit: https://www.bivy.com/adventures/us/California/sidewinder-canyon-1990005