This is the parking area for Sidewinder Canyon. To reach the canyon, you must follow the long bank up at the top right of the picture and then turn left:
Early view looking into Sidewinder Canyon:
Looking out the mouth of the canyon out towards the salt flats:
The main official slots are farther up the canyon, but we decided to turn off into the first large one that we saw. Beautiful colors awaited us inside:
A narrow wash passes between canyon walls:
This first unofficial slot was quite steep and the walls were nearly touching up above:
A small trench cuts through the slot with the walls overhanging:
Reaching a large dry fall which could not be climbed:
Looking back down the slot from the spot where we turned around:
Heading back down and out of the first unofficial slot in the next three pictures:
Up ahead we spotted the second unofficial slot and decided to enter:
We quickly ran into a small dry fall with crumbly rock:
Steve climbing the dry fall in order to continue:
Moving on in the slot, there wasn't much space between the walls:
Climbing another small dry fall and looking back down the very narrow trench:
The slot opens up briefly after a little while. We turned around shortly after reaching this area and headed back out the second unofficial slot:
Here we have spotted the third slot of the day, which is actually the first official slot. This first slot is set back and it is necessary to hike over to it:
Approaching Slot #1 from the side:
The first official slot was difficult to get in, as we had to climb and crawl through a boulder jam:
The boulders inside have fallen in such away that you can squeeze your way through spots like this:
Over and under as we made our way through the obstacle course:
Past the massive boulder jam, Slot #1 turned into beautiful enclosed narrows:
The colors in here were amazing to behold:
Slot #1 has a very nice area in between the boulder jam and natural bridge:
This is Sidewinder Slot #1 Bridge, which is one of the major natural bridges in the park:
View of the canyon below Slot #1 Bridge:
Looking straight up while standing underneath Slot #1 Bridge. Notice that it is a full canyon span:
Beyond Slot #1 Bridge, the canyon enters into a very dark passage:
In the early part of the passage, some light makes its way in:
Light and shadows make for great pictures through here:
Up ahead, pitch black darkness beckons hikers inside:
Somehow, this stunningly beautiful picture of the Slot #1 darkness turned out:
It was near the end of this slot that we entered one of the darkest canyon passages we had ever encountered in Death Valley:
Looking up in this passageway we could see light and the sky above us, just barely:
Walking through the darkness inside the first official slot:
Rounding a dark corner and climbing up a small steep incline:
Steve pushing on with his flashlight to try to reach the end of this slot:
This bonus picture for the Slideshow only shows the end of Slot #2:
Back out into the light of Slot #1:
A zoomed in view of Sidewinder Slot #1 Bridge:
This is a full view of Slot #1 Bridge and the canyon below it. This natural bridge is probably the hardest in the park to photograph:
Steve, Daria, and Stefan standing at the entrance to Slot #2 a little farther up the main canyon in November 2013:
Two pictures of Stefan playing in the sand and gravel outside of the entrance to Slot #2:
This is the entrance door to Slot #2. It has a very menacing look to it right from the start:
Just inside Slot #2, the walls are immediately high and the narrows tight:
I consider Slot #2 to be the most beautiful of all three official slots:
It is difficult to capture the sheer height of the walls in a single frame:
Interesting rock texture on the curving walls:
A gravel path cuts its way through the extreme narrows:
There was more sunlight in Slot #2 than Slot #1, providing an interesting contrast:
Through here, there were a couple of small climbs that require caution. Daria slipped on one and cut her knee open:
Arriving at Sidewinder Slot #2 Bridge:
The flow of water through Slot #2 Bridge originally went all the way around until it was strong enough to punch a hole through the opening shown here:
Looking up canyon through the doorway of Slot #2 Bridge:
The flow of water and the wash now comes from the right, through the doorway, and exits to the left down canyon:
Two more views through the doorway of Slot #2 Bridge:
The beautiful span of the natural bridge crossing above our heads:
The footing of the bridge as it comes down to the ground:
A picture of Steve at Sidewinder Slot #2 Bridge taken in November 2013:
Two more pictures of Slot #2 bridge, which I consider to be the most spectacular of the three major natural bridges in this area:
Another look at the bridge span as it crosses over us and turns down towards the wash:
Steve and Mel at Slot #2 Bridge during my second hike out to this area in November 2013:
Outside of the second official slot, here we are looking back down Sidewinder Canyon:
The next two pictures show the Spring flowers and greenery which were present in the main canyon between the second and third official slots:
We have now reached the entrance to the third official slot, and Tiffany is resting on a rock just outside:
The next two pictures reveal the narrow, high, twisting walls which were present in the third official slot:
A very short distance into the slot, Sidewinder Slot #3 Bridge is encountered:
Slot #3 Bridge is very similar to the previous natural bridge in that water once flowed around it instead of through it:
A picture of Steve next to Slot #3 Bridge during his Natural Bridges Trip of November 2013:
My favorite picture taken in Sidewinder Canyon, showing the beautiful view into the canyon past Slot #3 Bridge:
Immense canyon walls in this part of the narrows:
An alternate view looking through the major natural bridge:
The angled column of the natural bridge extending down towards the wash:
Looking high up out of the slot narrows:
I added this picture to show the sheer height and thickness of the natural bridge wall above the doorway:
Two more pictures showcasing the thickness and doorway after walking through Slot #2 Bridge:
Just beyond is another natural bridge with a unique shape and great lighting:
This natural bridge has been designated a minor natural bridge because of its small size and does not qualify for the official database of major natural bridges in the park:
Three more pictures taken through here before heading back outside of Slot #3:
Steve and Daria back outside of the third official slot after finishing up our exploration of it:
The next three pictures give you some of the views of Upper Sidewinder Canyon beyond the 3rd official slot:
A dry fall chute is embedded into the canyon wall here:
Looking back from even farther up the canyon:
Tiffany and Steve together once again in Death Valley. There is something special about being with dear family members which makes trips here the most meaningful:
Spectacular scenery in the narrows of the main canyon:
It is definitely worth it to continue up Sidewinder Canyon after the three official slots, as the canyon stays really narrow and interesting. The canyon comes to an abrupt end a short distance past this area:
Here in Sidewinder Canyon we found the first Desert Five-Spot of the season on March 14, 2009:
There is a faint sheep trail which connects Upper Sidewinder Canyon with the ridge above and allows for a loop over to Willow Creek Canyon. Here is the view looking out from the top of the ridge:
Looking towards the head of Sidewinder Canyon from the top of the ridge:
And looking down Sidewinder Canyon towards the spot where the sheep trail drops into the canyon:
From the ridge, we headed down a side canyon to see where it went. It looked like there was something interesting to see up ahead:
Small narrow spaces to walk through in this side canyon:
Around the corner we looked back and were surprised to see a small arch that has eroded away to look like the trunk of an elephant's head:
Another angle showing the arch shaped like the trunk of an elephant:
We soon descended farther down this side canyon to see where it went:
Daria looking around the corner wondering what we were going to find next:
We ended up finding this small arch or window up on the hillside:
A close-up of the arch showing the wide opening:
One final picture showing Steve next to the Elephant's Head:
My updated Sidewinder Canyon report ends with two pictures of Steve and Stefan taken near the mouth in November 2013:
