Grotto Canyon
verified
ACA 3A
High flood risk
Stovepipe Wells, CA
Technical Tucki Mountains descent of eight natural-anchor rappels, all rigged from chockstones and horns because no bolts are allowed park-wide.
Park policy bans new bolts, so anchor knowledge is the entire game. Plan for a long approach scramble and bring enough cordage for the rigging you find. Lower canyon scramble from the standard parking is fine as a day outing on its own.
Logistics
| Manager | NPS Death Valley NP |
|---|---|
| Permit | No permit required. Park entrance fee applies. Note: bolting is prohibited park-wide, so all anchors are natural. |
| Distance | 7 RT for the technical descent |
| Elevation | ~3300 ft gain on the approach loop |
| Time | Full day, ~8.5 hr |
| Technical | Technical descent rated 3A IV with eight rappels, longest about 100 ft. All anchors are natural since bolting is prohibited park-wide. Lower section is a popular non-technical scramble from the standard approach parking; the technical drops live up-canyon. |
| Season | Dec-Mar. Avoid heat May-Sep. |
| Flood risk | High. Tucki Mountain drainage, narrow and committing. |
| Vehicle access | Passenger car to the road end; the approach road is rough but usually graded. |
| Crowd | Low on the technical descent; moderate on the lower scramble. |
| Coordinates | 36.5565, -117.1153 |
Sources
- bolting rule: https://ropewiki.com/Death_Valley
- ropewiki: https://ropewiki.com/Grotto_Canyon_(Death_Valley_National_Park)