Funeral Slot Canyon, DVNP, 10-2012

ogg

Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2015
Messages
56
A few years ago, in October, I undertook a long weekend getaway to dayhike Funeral Slot Canyon in Death Valley National Park. My kids had a three day weekend off from school and their Grandmother- a full time RV'r- was parked at a casino in Amaragosa, so it was a perfect opportunity to both let the girls spend some time with their Grandma and let Daddy spend some time hiking and camping. Mommy got to stay home and work.

Funeral Slot Canyon (aka Furnace Slot Canyon) is not in any printed guidebook that I am aware of, though there is some beta to be had via the internet- which is how I came to know of it- so it is not so well known. It is not a destination likely to be congested with tourists as so many others in DVNP, yet it is easy to get to. A really nice benefit is that it can be hiked directly out of the Texas Springs campground, near Furnace Creek.

Texas Spring campground has decent tent sites at its lower end, which also enjoy a little vegetation though only 3 or 4 sites have what could be considered shade, and more RV oriented sites at the top end, closer to the springs, and in more like an open parking lot type arrangement. When I had arrived in the evening, the lower campground was mostly occupied and congested with tent campers, and noisy, mainly due to one party who was the sort that thinks of camping as requiring blasting a boombox at full volume. The upper RV area was more sparsely occupied and quiet, so I encamped there.

P1030959-M.jpg


The trail starts out in a wash, easily accessed from a short distance west (downhill) of the entrance to the campground. I didn't return this way, but its probably easier to start from this point.

P1030975-M.jpg


A clear use trail eventually emerges, but this eventually heads north away from the canyon approach.

P1030978-M.jpg


P1030982-M.jpg


I initially took a side canyon that wasn't the right canyon. It was interesting, but crapped out after a bit.

P1030992-M.jpg


This is the proper entrance to Funeral Slot Canynon:

P5090440-M.jpg


I imagine this particular slot canyon is pretty tame in comparison the more renowned canyons in Utah and there are a few even in DVNP that are deeper and more spectacular, but this hike made an impression on me, my first slot canyon hike and I had it all to myself.

P1040011-M.jpg
P1040016-M.jpg

P1040024-M.jpg
P1040034-M.jpg
P1040035-M.jpg

P1040043-M.jpg


Looking back downhill, towards Furnace Creek.

P1040052-M.jpg

P1040060-M.jpg


There was water flowing here.

P1040075-M.jpg

P1040077-M.jpg


The mudhill formations around the campground are kind of interesting.

P1040079-M.jpg


Normally I don't roll with the big family size Springbar tent when I'm solo but since I was base camping for a couple of days and knew I'd have some time for just lounging around, reading, etc. I thought I'd give myself the luxury. It was quite nice.

P1040082-M.jpg

P1040087-M.jpg
P1040089-M.jpg
P1040094-mod-M.jpg
 
Nice. There's really something special about the geology out there. It's not soaring sandstone walls, but it's just as awesome in it's own way. Thanks for posting.
 
Looks like a really awesome area to explore. Nice to be able to go light and have a palatial base camp to come back to as well.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
J Death Valley Natl. Pk: Funeral Pk, Slit Canyon, and Big Dune. Dec 21-22, 2020 Hiking & Camping 1
fossana Bat Mountain traverse (Funeral Mountains) Hiking & Camping 5
westy Funeral Peak Hiking & Camping 0
J Death Valley NP. Marble-Cottonwood (side slot) lollipop loop Nov 17-19,2019 Backpacking 10
Ross FACE CANYON: What lake level starts filling the slot? Trip Planning 0
JDWalters Best time to photograph Zebra Slot? Trip Planning 3
ashleyoutside Slot Canyon Hiking – Little Wild Horse Canyon Hiking & Camping 4
o2bav8 Dirty Devil River - Slot Canyons Hiking & Camping 7
uintahiker Pewits Nest Slot Canyon, Wisconsin Hiking & Camping 2
Dustin Gent slot canyons and/or arches General Discussion 4
crazydoghiker Mary Jane slot canyon Hiking & Camping 3
o2bav8 Cows & slot canyons don't mix General Discussion 0
steve Mines, Caves, and Slot Canyons... Off Road 0
Christian Slot Canyons in the Blue Mountains of Australia are AWESOME! General Discussion 2
Howells Outdoors Shooting Slot Canyons Photography 16
Backcountry Post Album Slot Canyons Photography 169
intuitive cat Loop Hike-Spencer Flats to just above Zebra Slot Hiking & Camping 6
J Reflection Canyon Trip Planning 3
fossana Found: prescription glasses near the top of the Flipoff Canyon approach General Discussion 5
Spud Salt Creek Canyon question Trip Planning 11
B Buckskin gulch/Pariah canyon Carpool Trip Planning 0
TractorDoc Paintbrush Canyon / Cascade Canyon Loop -- Grand Teton NP September 11, 2023 Hiking & Camping 9
Kullaberg63 15 day canyon route Backpacking 13
Titans Tricked in the canyon! Hiking & Camping 5
TrailScot Dayhiking the Under-the-Rim Trail - Bryce Canyon NP - October 2023 Hiking & Camping 4
Janice Such a GRAND Canyon - Deer Creek / Tapeats / Thunder River Backpacking 21
M Mee/Knowles Canyon Loop, Grand Junction Colorado Backpacking 4
OldBill Short hike at the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania Hiking & Camping 1
S Paria Canyon- Whitehouse to Lees Ferry, Oct 18 to 21, 2023 Trip Reports 0
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 7 through 10 Backpacking 34
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 1 through 6 Backpacking 56
A Bowdie Canyon Trip Planning 10
TheMountainRabbit Silas Canyon (Popo Agie Wilderness) - August 2023 Backpacking 3
J Paria Canyon - One Day Trail Trip Planning 10
Bob The New Grand Canyon Trip Planning 1
WhozWutz Invite Horse Canyon Needles Meet Up (Members Only) 1
BJett Part 3 - Tour de Canyon Country. Lower Escalante Loop Hiking & Camping 0
BJett Part 2 - Tour de Canyon Country. Swell Times Hiking & Camping 0
BJett Part 1 - Tour de Canyon Country. Cedar Mesa. Hiking & Camping 8
Gretchen Millward Trachyte Creek via Woodruff Canyon, April 2023 Backpacking 9
F Grand Canyon hermits rest to granite rapids to bright angel Trip Planning 10
gnwatts Stillwater Canyon On The Water 11
shredhiker Kings Canyon July 2022 Kearsarge, Rae, & Sixty Lakes Backpacking 8
J Info needed: Bown's Canyon, Long Canyon Trip Planning 8
Gretchen Millward Cheesebox Canyon, Oct. 2022 Backpacking 14
Stickerbumper Fold Canyon Middle Exit Trip Planning 9
Janice Professor Creek / Mary Jane Canyon - mid April? Trip Planning 0
D Horseshoe Canyon or San Rafael Swell? Trip Planning 9
scatman North Ridge of City Creek Canyon - February 4, 2023 Hiking & Camping 17
scatman South Ridge of City Creek Canyon - January 28, 2023 Hiking & Camping 4

Similar threads

Back
Top