On the handout given by the park service Fall Canyon seem a simple 3 mile out and back hike. At the end it says “After 3.2mi a 25ft dryfall blocks further passage up canyon. A bypass is possible for experienced climber…” By the time I arrived at the dryfall I was quite disappointed. I visited a few other slot canyons in Death Valley and expected more from what is supposed to be the premier. I was not sure if I wanted to make the effort and climb the bypass just to see more of the same. But with 2 other hikers who already climbed ahead of me I decided to follow. I was not disappointed.
The slot canyon starts really just above the dry fall. There are walls of blue marble towering above the narrow path. It is definitely worth climbing the bypass to see this. The following pictures are all from the 1/4 mile section above the fall.
After this section the canyon returns to its ordinary form with wider path and lower and less impressive walls. I kept going for a couple of miles, but had to tern around for lack of time.