Darwin, California
The best Trails and Outdoor Activities in Darwin, California offer a range of outdoor adventures. The top pick is the Darwin Falls trail, a must-visit for its unique desert waterfall. This 2-mile round trip is moderately challenging with uneven terrain and rock scrambling. It offers scenic views of the waterfall and lush vegetation, a stark contrast to the surrounding desert. Another popular trail is the China Garden Spring trail, known for its historic mining sites and rock formations. For those interested in bird-watching, the Coso Range Wilderness area is a great choice with its diverse bird species. Near Darwin, the Death Valley National Park offers a range of activities including hiking, camping, and star gazing. It's home to the famous Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. All these places offer the best of Darwin's outdoor attractions.
Top Spots in and near Darwin
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Inyo County, California
Summit of Mt. Whitney
5.020.85 mi / 6100 ft gainMt. Whitney is the highest peak in the contiguous United States. It stands over 14,500ft high at its peak (elevation gain of 6100') and it sure feels like it when you are up there. Getting There Located just West of Lone Pine, CA you take Whitney Portal Road West for 13 miles all the way to its...Read more -
Inyo County, California
Lone Pine Lake via Mount Whitney Trail
5.05.88 mi / 1883 ft gainFrom the parking lot at the end of Whitney Portal Road, look for the trailhead, which is marked with a wooden "gate" that shows the map and description of the trail. Starting out at 8,350 ft in elevation, the trail begins a series of switchbacks that lead you into the Sierra Nevada. Take more br...Read more -
Inyo County, California
Summit Mount Whitney via the Mountaineers Route
5.05 mi / 6600 ft gainWith over 6,600 feet of elevation gain and class 4 climbing, this is not for the casual hiker, but can provide an excellent challenge to a budding mountaineer.Park your car at Whitney Portal, 12 miles west of the town of Lone Pine, and start up the main Whitney Trail. After 1 mile you will encou...Read more -
Inyo County, California
Scramble up Mt. Muir
5.018.5 mi / 6200 ft gainFrom the Whitney Trail - beyond trail crest - you will see a big cairn (right side). If you make it to the first "window of Mt. Whitney" you have gone too far. The cairn marks the start of an class 2 use trail up to the Mt. Muir headwall.The headwall is a fun climb with good handholds and has lit...Read more -
Inyo County, California
Winter Summit Mt. Whitney
22 mi / 6500 ft gainDay 1: We arrived at the Lone Pine Visitors Center at the intersection of HWY 395 and HWY 136 just south of Lone Pine, CA. We issued ourselves our overnight permits to climb Mt. Whitney and picked up our Wag Bags. You can self issue yourself the free permit Nov. 2 through Apr 30. Climbing during ...Read more -
Furnace Creek, California
Hike Golden Canyon, Death Valley
5.01.5 mi / 685 ft gainGolden Canyon is located about 10 minutes south of Furnace Creek in Death Valley NP, on Badwater Road. Entering "Golden Canyon, Death Valley" into your phone or GPS will take you to the Golden Canyon parking area. The trail starts right off the parking lot and goes for about 1.5 miles to Red Cath...Read more -
Inyo County, California
Texas Spring Campground
This is one of the best campgrounds in Death Valley that gives you the true experience of camping in the middle of a desert. The campground is surrounded with badlands and hills where you can climb to explore and see a panoramic view of mountains all around. Texas Spring campground offers 92 sit...Read more -
Inyo County, California
Backpack Fall Canyon
8 miThe trail head is north of Furnace Creek at the Titus Canyon parking lot which is clearly marked on any park map. On a busy weekend cars are lined up along the road leading to the parking lot which has a restroom. Note that there is no water source here. To begin the hike in, take the trail on th...Read more -
Inyo County, California
Devil's Golf Course, Death Valley
4.02.54 mi / 115 ft gainIt is said that "only the devil could play golf on such rough links." Just off Badwater Road you will find an immense field of eroded rock salt that bore small jagged spires in the Earth. What was once Lake Manly is now a surreal sight - one that makes you wonder what planet you are on. Devil's G...Read more -
Furnace Creek, California
Artist's Palette
4.00.4 mi / 89 ft gainLet’s just start this off by saying, PREPARE FOR THE HEAT. Death Valley has the highest recorded temperature on earth at over 130 degrees Fahrenheit. If you are planning to visit in the summer…be ready. Luckily, Artist’s Palette is not far from the parking the area and the saving grace of Ai...Read more -
Independence, California
Manzanar Japanese Relocation Site: Manzanar Trail
5.02.22 mi / 112 ft gainManzanar Japanese Relocation Site: Manzanar Trail is a loop trail that takes you past scenic surroundings located near Independence, California.Read more -
Inyokern, California
Five Fingers Trail
4.02.34 mi / 1234 ft gainFive Fingers Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you past scenic surroundings located near Onyx, California.Read more -
Inyo County, California
Drive into a Rainbow: Titus Canyon
4.5Get ready to drive through the center of a rainbow.Titus canyon road winds 27 gorgeous miles through the Death Valley backcountry, twisting sharply around steep rock walls and over small passes. This is an adventure for both you and your vehicle. Consider the dust accumulation on your rear window...Read more -
Inyo County, California
Hike into Titus Canyon
8 miIn total its about 22 miles from Stovepipe Wells. From Stovepipe, head east on the 190 and make the left for Scotty's Castle Rd. Continue another 19 miles down until you can turn off onto the dirt track that leads to Titus Canyon. When you arrive in the parking lot, you'll see Do Not Enter signs,...Read more -
Furnace Creek, California
Zabriskie Point
4.70.29 mi / 7 ft gainZabriskie Point is a unique viewpoint in Death Valley National Park located just east of Furnace Creek on Hwy 190. The viewpoint is just a short stroll from the parking lot, so it’s great for groups and families. When you reach the viewpoint, you’ll be overlooking the epic maze of finely ridged b...Read more -
DEATH VALLEY, California
Badlands Loop in Death Valley
4.62.56 mi / 463 ft gainThe Badlands Loop is a surreal 2.5 mile walk down into the gullies and gulches below Zabriskie Point in Death Valley. The loop takes you past distinct rock formations, through mud tiled washes, past old abandoned borax mines and finally up above the eroded arteries to a fantastic view of an other...Read more
