Titus Canyon | DVNP

Titus Canyon 4x4 trail starts just west of Rhyolite ghost town outside of Beatty, NV on Rte. 374.  The trail is rated 1, which implies it's basically just a dirt road.  Which it is, mostly.  There were a couple spots coming down the side of a mountain that I would rate as a 2.  Death Valley National Park states a high clearance 2WD or any 4WD would be okay on this trail.  Personally, I wouldn't go without a 4WD or AWD vehicle.  The challenge I see occurring is a long stretch of the trail is in a river wash.  If the park hasn't gone through and graded that area since the last rain, there could be large boulders in the way.  That, and I found 4WD helpful going down the side of the mountain on the parts I rate as a 2 trail.

Along the trail there is a ghost town, aka an abandoned mine town.  The park has some signage and info about the old town.  Interesting stuff and a nice place to take a break.  Otherwise, the real gem is the slot canyon, Titus Canyon, at the end of the trail.  Once the slot canyon begins, be super careful for hikers.  The 4x4 trail ends at a parking lot (where there is a pit toilet), which is also the start of the hiking trail into the canyon.  So you're likely to see hikers in the slot.  Still a pretty rad drive through that part!

Don't forget, you are in the National Park - so even though you haven't gone past a fee collection area, you are responsible to pay the fee if you don't have an annual pass.  That fee helps maintain this trail and all of the other trails in the park!

Little known fact:  DVNP is mostly in CA, but a small part is also in NV!  When you start this trail, you're in NV and at some point.. you cross the state line.