Fall Canyon
not verifiedpermit verified 2026-08-20
ACA 2A
High flood risk
Beatty, NV
Long Grapevine Mountains canyon with sustained narrows above the standard turnaround, gained from the Titus Canyon Road trailhead via an unflashy pea-gravel wash hike.
The bypass at the dry fall is a class 4 move on loose conglomerate; treat it as expert-only. The mileage logged on most trip reports stops at the dry fall, which is why "3 mi each way" and "4.3 mi descent" both appear in the literature; they describe different turnarounds.
Logistics
| Manager | NPS Death Valley NP |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required for canyoneering. NPS states plainly that canyoneering does not currently require a permit, while noting that the park's Wilderness and Backcountry Management Plan envisages a permit system eventually, so recheck before a trip years from now. The park entrance fee applies. Two park-wide rules bind canyoneers: placing bolts, pitons or other fixed hardware is prohibited except to replace existing unsafe bolts, so every anchor is natural, and paying anyone to lead a canyon trip is prohibited because 93 percent of the park is designated Wilderness. |
| Distance | 6 RT to the 25 ft dry fall; 9 total for full canyon |
| Elevation | ~2460 ft gain to dry fall; ~3068 ft for full descent |
| Time | 3-4 hr standard; full day for upper canyon |
| Technical | Non-technical hike up the wash from Titus Canyon Road trailhead to a 25 ft dry fall that blocks further passage to most parties. Expert scramblers can bypass via a class 4 ledge on canyon-right. Upper canyon is graded 2A III with a single optional rappel and is a long day from the road. |
| Season | Nov-Mar. Dangerous heat May-Sep. |
| Flood risk | High. Grapevine Mountains drainage, sustained narrows above the dry fall. |
| Vehicle access | Passenger car. 2.7 mi unpaved Titus Canyon Road off Scotty's Castle Rd, normally fine for sedans. |
| Crowd | Moderate. Most parties turn around at the dry fall. |
| Coordinates | 36.8434, -117.1565 |