Darwin Falls (Death Valley)

Darwin Falls is a 18-foot waterfall in Darwin Canyon in Inyo County, California.  The waterfall is located in Death Valley National Park.

Hike Length: 2.0 miles
Estimated Time: 1 to 2 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Location: Death Valley National Park
Trail Users: Hiking
Dogs: No
Features: Waterfalls (1)
Crowds: Moderate
Warnings: The rocks around the waterfalls are very slippery.  Swimming and wading in the water is prohibited.  The road to the trailhead may be difficult without high clearance.
Trailhead GPS: 36.32775,-117.51465
Waterfall GPS: 36.32079,-117.52409

Directions:

From Lone Pine, head east on CA-136 for 18 miles and go straight to continue on CA-190.  Drive 30 miles and turn right on Darwin Falls Road/Old Toll Road.  The gravel road is washed out at the beginning and may be difficult for vehicles with low clearance.  Go 2.4 miles to a small parking area on the right.

Map:

Hike Description:

From the trailhead, hike past the gate on the old road into Darwin Wash.  It is initially dry and looks like the desert.

In about 0.4 miles, the route turns right and starts to see some water.  The trail is washed out in a few places but easy to follow.

The canyon narrows and there is more water, supporting willow trees and lots of greenery.  There are some scenic little cascades on the creek.

The path ends in 1 mile at Darwin Falls, a spring-fed waterfall that flows year-round.

The constant water creates a beautiful little oasis of ferns and green plants.

I climbed on the rocks to get an upper view of the falls.  I think there is an upper section but I didn't climb up any further.

Here's a video of the falls.

Blog Entries:

08-Jan-2023: Mosaic Canyon

External Links:

National Park Service website: https://www.nps.gov/places/darwin-falls.htm