This was our favorite hike of 2017.  Sidewinder Canyon is a rugged barren, deep canyon penetrating into the hills above, but there are 6 side slot canyons, several natural bridges, and a number of side routes to explore, worth a whole day on the trail.

Sidewinder Canyon is in the Black Mountains in Death Valley National Park.   The trailhead is 50 km km south of Furnace Creek.   A short dirt road goes off the main road.   The Sidewinder Canyon trail starts on the right side of the parking area.   The trail bears south through the fan conglomerate wash before heading up the canyon.

 

Before heading into the narrow canyon there are fine views into Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North American.   We hiked over the hills and came down the canyon, but when we return we will go up the canyon, exploring as we go.

 

The highlight of this hike are 3 of the 6 slot canyons.   Each is different, but many sections are narrow passages, some dark, some with obstacles to bypass, some with arches or natural bridges, and all with opportunities to explore.

We hiked all the way to the upper end of the hike, which ended at a steep dry-fall, about 4.5 km one way.

All the way back down down were slots canyons, chimneys, bulges, alcoves, and dark nooks.

 

One side canyon was quite long, winding,  and narrow.   I scrambled to the top and emerged into the daylight in an upper side canyon.

Off the side canyons were more side canyons, arches, and bridges.

It was a warm, sunny day, but even so, some of the slot canyons were dark places, deep in the rock.

 

The rocky walls were mostly conglomerates with boulders wedged into the cemented materials.

Photography in the slots takes some practice.   If we get even one bright spot, the whole exposure can be ruined.   Other spots are too dark and require a tripod or a very steady hand.   The best light is reflected light.

One of the slot canyons was dark with some difficult, narrow passages, requiring climbing over or under obstacles.

These hikes and scrambles combine to provide a day of fun exploration.

On our way back down the wider wash, the hillsides were shaped and eroded by infrequent rain storms, mostly in a few days in late summer.

There are a number of fine hikes in the Black Mountains.   We are looking forward to a return visit to explore the canyons and ridges of Death Valley.