Death Valley National Park Copper Canyon Closure
Copper Canyon Closure
The area of Copper Canyon in Death Valley National Park is home to a
paleontological site. Hikers or anyone exploring the area
might damage things before archeologists are able to find them.
People that like to hunt for fossils may also visit areas like
Copper Canyon to look for stuff they want to take. In order to
protect the area from both groups of people, the entire Copper
Canyon area has been closed.
The area closed is much larger than the area they are trying to
protect. This gives a buffer zone to the sensitive area.
The closure covers a large enough area that rangers can monitor
specific spots where access would be most likely. Like the top
and bottom of specific canyons.
Since the closure area is so large it encompasses some canyons that
are adjacent to Copper Canyon. Coffin Canyon (one drainage
north) is one example.
Closure Effects some Canyoneering Routes
Coffin Canyon happens to be a fun canyoneering route that is affected by
this closure. There
are 3 ways to enter the Coffin Canyon route that I am aware of.
One drops in from just below Dantes View, another drops into the
main Coffin Wash near Styx Canyon and the last route simply starts
from the highway and enter Lower Coffin Canyon by traversing from
Copper Canyon.
With the Copper Canyon closure being so large all of these routes to
Coffin Canyon are technically closed. This blocks access to
Coffin Canyon and Styx Canyon as well.
Gaining Access
I have talked to some of the rangers in Death Valley and have been told the rangers have no problem with canyoneers traveling all three of these routes. They just want
to be sure the canyoneers stay on those routes and not
wander further into the closure area.
If you want to do any of the 3 routes to Coffin Canyon or do the
Styx Canyon route, they ask that you stop by the visitor center to
let them know you will be in the area. This is not required
but is a courtesy to keep things friendly.
Issues with a Permit System
There are
many sides of the argument for or against a permit system. It
is not the intent of this page to take any side on this issue
whatsoever! I am not for or against a permit system. I
understand and agree with issues for and against a permit system.
I am trying to do the right thing by giving any information I have
on issues regarding the routes described on my web site. The
area for some routes are affected by this closure. Gaining
legal access is free, and while no permit system is in place it is
recommended you let rangers know when you plan to be near Copper
Canyon.
What's in the Copper Canyon Closure Area?
If you really want to know contact the rangers in Death Valley.
They can help set up
a guided tour of the area including looking over some fossil mammal
tracks. I have not yet taken the tour but would like to some
time in the future. It would be nice to at least know what the
fuss is all about.
Map of the Closure Area
I do not have a map yet. I am working on getting one. It
would be a bit odd to tell everyone there is a closure but not be
able to tell them exactly where it is. But this does seem to
be the case. No map of a specific boundary seems to exist.