Overview

Darwin Falls Trail is a pleasant, fairly easy trail that starts out in a desert wash, runs up through a rocky canyon with high cliffs on both sides, and ends at a perennial waterfall. Along the way, hikers are introduced to desert wash vegetation, desert cliffside vegetation, and desert oasis riparian vegetation.

In the narrow upper canyon, hikers must navigate wet rocks, stream crossings, sand-covered smooth rocks, perhaps a little bit of easy scrambling, and perhaps wet feet. During spring and early summer, the riparian corridor provides habitat for lots of birds. Western toads and various species of lizards are also common in the riparian area.

Darwin Creek provides drinking water to Panamint Springs Resort. Therefore, swimming and dogs are prohibited on this trail. These rules are intended to safeguard the quality of the water provided to downstream humans.

Link to trail map.

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ... this hike is fairly safe. In the narrow upper canyon, hikers must navigate various minor obstacles. When the water is high, expect to have wet feet. Hiking poles would be helpful at water crossings.

Late spring and early summer are probably the best times to do this hike because the trees are leafed out and provide lots of shade. However, only the upper end of the trail has shade, so hikers can do this trail in moderately hot temperatures, but the lower 1/2-mile is in the full sun. On the way down, consider resting in the last shade before making the final, full-sun, 1/2-mile to the trailhead.

While hiking, please respect the land and the other people out there, and try to Leave No Trace of your passage. Also, this hike is wild and remote, so be sure to bring the 10 Essentials. Cell phones don't work in the canyon.

Getting to the Trailhead

This hike is located on the far west side of Death Valley National Park, about 3 hours northwest of Las Vegas.

From town, drive out to Death Valley. From the Furnace Creek Visitor Center (Table 1, Site 0712), drive north and then west on Highway 190 for about 55 miles to Panamint Springs Resort. Continue west on Hwy 190 for 1.0 miles to Darwin Falls Road (Site 0977). Turn left onto Darwin Falls Road and drive generally southwest for 2.4 bumpy miles to the Darwin Falls Trailhead parking area (Site 0978), on the right. Park here; this is the trailhead.

The Hike

From the trailhead (Table 1, Waypoint 01), the trail follows an old road as it drops into Darwin Wash and runs southward up the wash. The low cliffs on the east side of the wash show ancient, layered limestone rocks with interesting dikes cutting through the layers. The dikes probably formed when the area was wracked with volcanic activity that covered the landscape with lava (basalt). The mountains along the north side of Darwin Wash Road were volcanic, but here the basalt has eroded away to re-expose the limestone bedrock.

The area above the wash on the right, but below the hillside, provides a good example of hardy desert vegetation. Creosote bushes dominate, but Mojave Rabbitbrush and Cheesebush are common. During spring after wet years, this area harbors lots of annual wildflowers. Also watch for Side-blotched Lizards and Desert Iguanas.

At about 0.23 miles out, the trail passes an old well head and the remains of an old fence. This was the trailhead parking in the old days. Notice how flashflood debris catch in the fence. When hot and dry, it is hard to imagine so much water flowing here.

Near the old fence, hikers begin to see a 4-inch-diameter, white PVC pipe running along the base of the hill. This is the pipe that brings drinking water to Panamint Springs Resort. Fortunately for the environment, there are a few leaks in the pipe that drip water to plants and animals. Keep an eye out in these areas for desert birds and lizards.

In the broad, sandy wash, the trail runs south-southwest for 0.51 miles. The trail then turns a corner (Wpt. 02) to run more westerly. At this point, the canyon begins to narrow.

Heading west, the canyon walls rise steeply, especially on the north side of the canyon. Shortly, hikers arrive at the first Gooding's Willow Trees, which provide welcome shade. Seep Willow and Brittlebush are also common in this area, as are Common Chuckwalla Lizards. Also in this area, the water pipe is metal, but it still leaks here and there.

As the canyon narrows, the walls get even higher, and the trail starts to wind around boulders and trees. Growing on the cliffs, Engelmann's Hedgehog Cactus and a few small shrub species seem to defy gravity. Listen for sounds of flowing water, a rare sound in this arid land.

At about 0.78 miles out, the trail bends hard to the right and for about 50 yards runs straight north. When the trail turns back to the west, it passes a concrete structure (gaging station) which is probably where stream water is captured and directed into the pipe.

The canyon continues to narrow, and hikers wind more and more around trees and other obstacles, including walking in the stream (0.88 miles out), but mostly just following along the north side of the stream.

At about 0.93 miles out, hikers encounter a huge boulder blocking easy passage along the stream. The step-up is quite high, and the rock is covered with loose sand (deposited from wet hiking boots). Upstream hikers can bypass the boulder to the right on a steep route that climbs up and over the boulders, but it is easy for downstream hikers to slide down the face of the boulder.

Shortly thereafter, at about 0.98 miles out, hikers arrive at Darwin Falls (Wpt. 03). During the summer of 2021, the plunge pool was fairly shallow and choked with aquatic vegetation (Narrowleaf Cattail, Watercress, rushes, sedges, and even Stream Orchids), especially against the base of the falls. This made the area somewhat less scenic than the advertised photos, but a good flashflood would clear it all out, so maybe next season will be better.

The area below the falls is thick with Gooding's Willow trees that provide cool, moist shade and habitat for lots of birds. Watch for Wilson's Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Lincoln's Sparrows, and other songbirds, and don't overlook the dragonflies and damselflies. The rustling sounds in the leaves on the ground could be birds scratching for bugs, or perhaps Western Whiptail Lizards and Yellow-backed Spiny Lizards.

When ready, return to the trailhead (Wpt. 01) by following your muddy footprints back down the canyon. Be sure to cool off in the last shade before hiking the 1/2-miles of full sun back to the trailhead.