The hike from Golden Canyon Trailhead to Zabriskie Point is one of the most colorful and unforgettable trails in Death Valley National Park. This self-guiding interpretive trail leads through Golden Canyon with views of Red Cathedral and Manly Beacon on the way to Zabriskie Point. 

View of the chocolate colored badland formations from atop Zabriskie Point.

The point is named for Christian Brevoort Zabriskie, vice-president and general manager of the Pacific Coast Borax Company in the early 20th century.

The Red Cathedral towers over the badlands of Zabriskie Point and Gower Gulch

The Zabriskie Point badlands are based on a mud-based formation called the Furnace Creek Formation.

Microscopically, clay minerals in the mudstone are shaped like tiny plates. These plates act like roof shingles, preventing water from penetrating the surface of the Zabriskie Point badlands.

The combination of the almost impermeable mudstone and Death Valley's negligible rainfall makes plant growth in this area almost impossible.

The Red Cathedral.

A hiker walks across a badland down from Zabriskie Point.

Those who take Gower Gulch back to Golden Canyon are rewarded with beautiful badland formations along Badwater Road.

Manly Beacon, a prominent formation above Golden Canyon

Water is scarce yet generally torrential. Downpours are almost soley responsible for the formation and erosion of these badlands.

Manly Beacon