Titus Canyon Road — Daylight Pass Road to Death Valley via Leadfield and the Narrows
One-way ghost town and slot canyon in Death Valley.
Titus Canyon starts out as a dusty climb from the Nevada side, up through the Grapevine Mountains to Red Pass at about 5,250 feet. Then it gets interesting. You pass Leadfield, a 1900s mining ghost town that was basically a stock swindle in the desert, with tilted cabins and mine adits still hanging off the hillsides. From there the road drops into Titus Canyon proper. Klare Spring has petroglyphs and a rare year-round trickle, and the Narrows is where the walls pinch in to barely a rig’s width. Rock shoulders towering a few hundred feet overhead make for the best 3 miles of driving in the park. The road is one-way, east to west, and then spits you out on the Death Valley alluvial fan.
Don’t let the one-way status fool you. It’s a 27-mile high-clearance dirt road with washboard, a few rocky shelves, and one steep descent from Red Pass. No technical skills are needed, but sedans take a beating. Stock 4WD or any high-clearance rig with decent tires is plenty. Go in October through April to avoid heat, and check NPS road conditions first, because flash floods close it with no warning. Carry all your water and fuel, and expect no cell service. The road isn’t a camping spot, so book a campground at Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells. Plan on 3 to 4 hours with stops. Have a dirty day.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 27 mi / 43.5 km |
| Duration | 3-4 hours |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5250 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD high-clearance |
| Nearest town | Beatty, Nevada |
| Land manager | National Park Service, Death Valley National Park |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | Death Valley NPS NPS road conditions |
| Verified | |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4Runner or Tacoma do Titus Canyon Road?
Yes. Any stock high-clearance 4WD handles it, and capable 2WD high-clearance SUVs and trucks often make it when conditions are dry. Expect rocky stretches, washboard, and sharp rock, so run good tires and carry a full-size spare.
When is Titus Canyon open, and is summer a bad idea?
October to April is the sweet spot. Summer temperatures in Death Valley regularly top 110°F, which is a real problem if you break down on a road with no cell service. Flash floods can wash out the canyon and close the road any time of year, so check the NPS road conditions page before you go.
Do I need a permit to drive Titus Canyon?
No separate permit is needed for a day drive. You do have to pay the Death Valley National Park entrance fee, which is per vehicle and good for several days. Confirm the current rate with the NPS.
What's the hardest part of the drive?
The roughest driving is the rocky, washboarded climb to Red Pass and the tight, rutted sections through the Narrows. The Narrows are only about 20 feet wide with high limestone walls, so the challenge is more tight and rocky than technical. Take it slow and be ready to stop for other vehicles.
Can I drive it in either direction, and what should I carry?
No. Titus Canyon is one-way, eastbound to westbound, entering off Daylight Pass Road and exiting in Death Valley. There's no cell service and no fuel on the route, so fill up in Beatty or at the park before you start. Carry extra water, a spare, and a recovery kit, and plan on 3-4 hours.
Trail track
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