Name: Sidewinder Canyon
Rating: 5.0

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Features Cave

This area is open year round but is likely to be very hot between May and October. During the hot months, an early start will let you get into the cool depths of the slots before the heat builds. These canyons are subject to flash floods. Do not do this run if there is any threat of rain or thunderstorms!

Need to Know

The trailhead is at the end of a 0.5 mile (0.8 km) long gravel access road (typically passable to a sedan) off Badwater Road 31.5 miles south of CA-190 between mile markers 31 & 32. There is a small sign at the start of the access road. This is also the trailhead for the Willow Canyon hike. There are no amenities, no shade, and no water at this trailhead. Bring sun protection and plenty of water with you.

Description

A use trail goes south from the parking area up the alluvial fan and then turns southeast into the mouth of Sidewinder's lower main canyon. This canyon features narrows and is an easy climb for about 2 miles (3.2 km) to a small dry waterfall. Past here, the upper canyon rapidly becomes very rough and practically impregnable. If you want to experience narrows and slots on the same run, go through the narrows as far as the dry waterfall and then go back down to visit the slots.

The slots are in side canyons eroded into the fanglomerate walls of the lower main canyon. The park service's running guide shows three slots in the south wall of the canyon, while Digonnet's running guide lists six, one of which is in the north wall. Regardless, the slots all have use trails to them and are also marked with rock cairns.

The highest (eastern-most) slot in the south wall features two natural bridges (or arches) buried in its depths. The next slot in the south wall west of the highest slot features some simple scrambling and several branches to explore. You could easily have spend all day exploring all the slots to their fullest extents.

These slots are a popular attraction and can get busy and crowded on winter weekends and holidays. An early start is suggested then if you want a little solitude.