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Canyoneering Route Description

Brimstone Canyon North Fork 2 - 3A IV
Death Valley National Park, California. 

Pictures 01-09-11

Quick Facts

01-09-11, 5 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 11.4 hours)

Time Required - 10 to 13 hours
Distance - 7.9 miles Total, 2.6 miles Technical
Rappels - 14 Rappels, Longest Rappel 100 feet.
Elevation Range - 4025 thru -200 feet below sea level
Shuttle Required -Yes 20.9 Miles Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - No

See the Canyoneer Trip Report Explanation Notes page for an explanation of how the technical mileage or the gear used list is determined.

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 100 feet and 80 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement.

General Comments

This route goes up and over the north end of the black mountain range.  Starts from highway 190 and goes up and over dropping back down to highway 170 near the turn off for the Devil’s Golf Course.

Brimstone Canyon is not a good route for beginners who are not confident down climbers.  The down climbs are not overly difficult.  The problem is beginners will likely need or want assistance with down climbs especially in the loose rock.  Providing adequate assistance to others on down climbs would be difficult in the upper section of the canyon due to poor rock quality.  

This route is for the middle of three possible forks of the North Fork of Brimstone Canyon.  Rather than use confusing names I went with North Fork 2.  

Most of the South Fork of Brimstone I found to be full of loose chossy rock making the route not very fun.  The top of the North fork starts out the same way but part way through the canyon the rock quality improves greatly and the canyon becomes fun and scenic.  I prefer the North Fork over the South Fork of Brimstone.  

Hiking up from the bottom would present you with a beautiful portion of canyon in the lower part of North Fork of Brimstone.  But you would need to hike 2.4 miles of alluvial fan just to enter the canyon.  To make it a good scenic hike you would also need to be able to up climb the last drop in the North Fork of Brimstone.  Doing so will give you access to a long section of pretty canyon.   This climb is chimney style and about 15 feet and moderately challenging.

Getting to the Trailhead and Exit Vehicle (Escape Pod) Parking

To get to the Trailhead

From the Junction of highway 190 and highway 178, drive south east on highway 190 for 9.9 miles and pull off to the side of the road at the parking spot (pBrimstoneNFtp).  There is no pull out or markings of any kind.  Just pull off the side of the road where it feels comfortable.  This is the spot to park that keep the hiking distance to a minimum.  It may help to know this parking space is 0.9 miles west of the turn off for the Dante’s View Road.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

From the junction of highway 190 and highway 178, drive south on highway 178 for 11 miles to the turn off for the Devil’s Golf Course (extDevilsGolf).  Pull over and park near the exit any where it feel comfortable.  There is no designated parking area just pull off the side of the road.

Maps

Map showing entire route.

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Map showing mostly the technical section and part of the approach.

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GPS Waypoint Information

Details

The Approach:
From the parking spot to start the route (pBrimstoneNFtp), walk south west across the open desert at a bearing of 216 degrees (true).   

1.3 miles from the parking spot will be the start of a ridge that will be used to start the climb up the side of the mountain from the desert floor (wBrimNF-RP-01).   

Note:
A picture is worth a thousand words on trying to describe which ridge to choose but I will try.  As you walk across the desert look at the mountain range ahead.  Near the center of the range are two of the highest peaks you can see and both appear of about equal height from your vantage point.  Look down at the base of the mountain range and to the right of the peaks.  You should be able to see a small patch of white dirt tucked back in a canyon then a much larger area of white dirt farther right.  Choose the smaller patch of white.  The ridge just left of the smaller patch is the ridge line to start the hike up out of the desert floor.

A view walking across the desert toward the ridge to start up.

Once at the base of the ridge (wBrimNF-RP-01) start up the very gentle slope.  About 500 feet farther the ridge goes from a gentle slope to a steeper grade (wBrimNF-RP-02).  

About 800 feet farther up the ridge is a short section that requires scrambling before being able to walk along the ridge again (wBrimNF-RP-03).  This is an easy scramble and is only noted for a land mark.  

About 1300 feet farther up the ridge is a highpoint along the ridge (wBrimNF-RP-04).  Just before reaching this high point there is a section of that you will need to scramble / up climb to get up.  The up climb is relatively easy but care should be taken since the rock is crumbly and brittle.  This high point is just above a white section of rock.  The white section of rock makes a good land mark and can be seen on the right before scrambling up to the high point.  

We are going to that saddle.

From this area you have a good view of the saddle you are trying to reach.  It is just right (north west) of the high pointy peak ahead of you.

A little more than 100 feet after the high point on the ridge will be a notch in the ridge that you need to cross.  The down climb into the notch is about 15 feet and full of more loose crumbly rock.  Not a difficult down climb but care needs to be taken here as well.  After crossing the notch travel up the ridge becomes a walk up a slope again starting with a gentle grade and slowly getting a little steeper.

A view of the route to traverse over to the saddle.

About 0.5 miles up the ridge after crossing the notch you will get to a the base of a section of with a lot of yellowish out croppings on the ridge (wBrimNF-RP-05).  To continue directly up the ridge you would need to climb the yellow out croppings.   Instead veer right (west) and traverse along the steep scree slope.  Traversing this section is a bit annoying since you are travel sideways across the mountain side in loose rock.  

As you traverse here you are trying to get to the wide saddle about 0.2 miles west of the yellow out croppings.  To the right of the saddle you can see a deep notch.  That notch is where you will begin the descent down into the canyon.

After going to the wide saddle, go up and over the peak and down climb into the notch.  Dropping down the other side of the notch begins the descent down into the North Fork of Brimstone.

About 0.2 miles of the traverse gets you to a saddle (wBrimNF-RP-06).  This saddle has great views down into parts of Brimstone and back toward the Dante’s View road.  

From the saddle (wBrimNF-RP-06) walk up the slope to the west about 400 feet to the top of a peak (wBrimNF-RP-07).  This peak is the high point on the route.  More good views with a good look down into parts of the complex area of the North Fork of Brimstone.  

From the peak that was the high point of the route, continue over the other side of the peak.  As you continue west over the peak start veering to the right (north) to get over to the deep notch you could see from the saddle.  The notch is about 375 feet from the peak.  

When you get to the notch route find your way down into the notch.  You will need to do some scrambling down rock to get down the short drop.  Down in the notch is where the head of the canyon is marked (yBlkSmthNF2-Tp).

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
From the notch marking the head of the canyon (yBlkSmthNF2-Tp),  travel down the slope on the north west side of the notch.  

As you drop down the slope from the notch you will have two options to go down.  There are two drainages forming.  Stay to the right and descend the drainage on the right not the one on the left.   

Soon you should be able to see a point sticking up between the two drainages about 450 feet down canyon of the notch where you dropped in.  Travel down the right drainage to get down canyon of this point.   

When you get just under the point you will get to the top of a dry fall (wBrimNF-RP-08).  When you get to this dry fall, scramble up and over to the left (south).  The scramble up and over will be just below the point used as a land mark when dropping from the notch.  Drop down to the drainage on the other side of the point where you will find rap 1.  

This upper section of the canyon is full of loose chossy crumbly rock.  The rock quality does improve a little ways down canyon and travel becomes a lot more fun.  

Rap 1 (dBrimNF2-R1-2) is about 600 feet down canyon of the drop in from the notch.  Rap 1 is anchored form a large boulder and drops about 55 feet down a sloped section of loose rock.  

Rap 2 is about 40 feet down canyon of rap 1.  Rap 2 is anchored from a boulder about 23 feet back from the top of the drop and drops about 30 feet.  The first part is sloped then goes vertical.  

Shortly down canyon of rap 2 is a down climb of about 15 or 20 feet.  The down climb is down a chute with lots of loose crumbly rock.  The down climb is not difficult but the rock quality demands attention.  

Shortly down canyon is another down climb of about 30 feet.  The bottom 6 or 8 feet of this down climb has an overhang and will be a bit challenging.  

Continuing down canyon the route is steep and full of loose rock and debris with a few light scrambles.  

Rap 3 (dBrimNF2-R3-4) is about 350 feet down canyon of rap 2.  Rap 3 is anchored from a cairn anchor about 10 feet back from the drop.  Rap 2 drops down a sloped wall with a ledge about half way down.  Rap 2 is about 95 feet from anchor to ground at the bottom.  Again more loose rock.  

Rap 4 is a short distance down canyon of rap 3 in a narrow section and is anchored from a cairn anchor about 30 feet back from the drop.  Rap 4 drops about 35 feet down a vertical wall with a little bit of free hang at the bottom.  It is about 65 feet from anchor to the ground at the bottom of the rap.  

Down canyon of rap 4 the canyon has a narrow feel and provides a three down climbs ranging from 6 to feet.  

Rap 5 (dBrimNF2R-5-6) is about 300 feet down canyon of rap 4 and is anchored from a large rock laying in the wash about 15 feet back from the top of the drop.  Rap 5 drops about 20 feet giving a total rope travel from anchor to ground of about 35 feet.  

Just after rap 5 is a down climb of about 15 feet.  The better down climber of the group should provide a meat anchor for everyone at this drop then down climb last.  The down climb will be challenging due to loose rock.  Rap 6 is near the bottom of the down climb.  

Rap 6 is anchored from a cairn anchor about 8 feet back from the top of the drop.  About the first 50 feet of rap 6 is just and easy scramble down climb.  Then there is a vertical drop of about 20 feet.  Total rope travel is about 70 feet for a vertical drop of about 20 feet.  

Down canyon of rap 6 the grade gets gentler and the canyon opens up a bit.  Travel starts to get a little easier with a mix of wash walking and multiple easy down climb scrambles.  

About 0.3 miles down canyon of rap 6 is a drop of about 25 feet (wBrimNF-RP-09).  This drop is bypassed by climbing up and over LDC then sliding down a scree slope back to the canyon floor.  

Rap 7 (dBrimNF2-R7) is about 150 feet down canyon of the drop that was bypassed by the scree pile with a drop of about 5 feet before getting down to it.  Rap 7 is anchored from a rock jug about 15 feet back from the drop then drops about 40 feet down a mostly sloped wall.  Rap 7 is likely down climbable.  

Down canyon of rap 7 the canyon rock starts to take on a concrete like feel.  The rock starts to become more conglomerate like and feels like you are navigating a big messy pour of concrete.  

Rap 8 (dBrimNF2-R8) is about 450 feet down canyon of rap 7 and is anchored from rocks in a rock fall debris area about 50 feet back from the drop.  Rap 8 drops about 40 feet down a sloped wall with parts of it feeling almost down climb like.  The total rope travel needed from anchor to the ground at the bottom of the rappel is about 90 feet.  

After rap 8 is a drop of about 25 to 30 feet down some boulders.  

Rap 9 (dBrimNF2-R9) is about 150 feet down canyon of rap 8 and is anchored from rock embedded in the wash along with lots of other rock debris.  Rap 9 looks big from the top and has a view of a long section of wash below it to walk after.  Rap 9 drops 95 feet down a vertical wall.  It feels like you might get some free hang along the way but your feet are able to touch the wall all the way down.  

Down canyon of rap 9 is easy wash walking with a few easy down climbs.  One area has a lot of small flat rocks stacked to make up the RDC wall of the canyon.  This section is very pretty and catches your eye.  Shortly after is where another drainage joins in from RDC (wBrimNF-RP-10).  Where the drainage joins in is about 500 feet down canyon of rap 9.  

About 300 feet down canyon after the drainage joining in is rap 10.  

Rap 10 (dBrimNF2-R10) is anchored from a medium size bush about 25 feet back from the top of the drop.  Rap 10 drops over the edge of a wide rim pour off in the wash about 80 feet down a vertical wall.  The total rope travel needed will be 100 feet with 80 feet of it being the rappel and 20 feet back to the anchor.  

Down canyon of rap 10 is a section with a lot of boulder and rock debris to scramble over and through, nothing difficult.  

Rap 11 (dBrimNF2-R11) is anchored from one of many rocks in the boulder debris.  Rap 11 drops about 75 feet starting over boulders then down an almost vertical wall.  

After rap 11 is a big rock fall to scramble down in a semi steep section.  Just after the rock fall debris area the wash levels out and gives way to easy wash walking and the occasional easy scramble.  

About 0.2 miles down canyon of rap 11 another drainage joins in from LDC (wBrimNF-RP-11).  Continuing down canyon is still easy wash walking.  The canyon has gotten a lot more casual and scenic along this area.  

Rap 12 (dBrimNF2-R12) is about 0.2 miles down canyon of the confluence with the last drainage.  Rap 12 is anchored from a large rock in the wash.  The first 30 feet of the drop from the anchor is down climbable then another 30 feet of vertical wall.  Rap 12 drops alongside and partially under a huge boulder in the wash.  

Rap 12 can be bypassed by climbing up and around LDC.  Down climb in a chute then scurry down a rock slope.  

Rap 13 (dBrimNF2-R13) is a little over 200 feet down canyon of rap 12.  Rap 13 is anchored about 20 feet back from the drop from a cairn anchor.  Rap 13 drops over two stages about 95 on the LDC side of the canyon.  Rap 13 looks like a creative down climber could get down this rap.   

Rap 14 (dBrimNF2-R14) is about 100 feet down canyon of rap 13.  Rap 14 is anchored LDC from a boulder in the wash.  The shape of this rock looks like the webbing could slip off if pulled the wrong way so the anchor is redirected through a small hole under other boulders near the top of the drop.  Rap 14 drops about 75 feet with the top part almost gently sloped enough to down climb.  

Down canyon of rap 14 is easy wash walking with some pretty corridor sections.  This lower part of the canyon is very scenic.  The variety of colors in the walls along the corridors is interesting.  There are a couple easy down climbs along the way but most is just peaceful feeling wash walking.   0.3 miles down canyon of rap 14 another drainage joins in from RDC (wBrimNF-RP-12).  

About 0.3 miles down canyon of the last drainage joining in is a drop of about 15 feet (wBrimNF-RP-13).  This drop is a moderately challenging chimney style down climb.  Weaker down climbers may want a meat anchor here.  

Note:
If you decide to hike up from the bottom to see this area you will need to up climb this to continue up canyon.  Doing so will reward you with a long beautiful section to walk.  

A few hundred feet down canyon of the junction with the south fork is a small pile of boulders in the wash with space large enough for you to walk under as you continue down canyon.  There are a couple minor down climbs a little further down canyon.    

About 0.4 miles down canyon of the fork the canyon walls get lower and the canyon comes to an end (yBRimStoneBt).  The grooves in the alluvial fan are pretty deep here and it still feels like you are still IN the canyon.

The Exit:
After exiting Brimstone canyon, walk about 2.4 miles southwest across the alluvial fan to Bad Water Road were you left your exit vehicle parked at the turn off for the Devil’s Golf Course (extDevilsGolf).  

Another 0.2 miles down canyon is the confluence of the South and North Forks of Brimstone Canyon.

GPS Waypoint Information

Back to the Canyoneering Trip Report List page.

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