The trail down into the heart of Ubehebe Crater looked easy. Too easy perhaps. Yet looking at the steep slope, I could already envision difficulties in getting back to the caldera rim.
Hiking into a Volcano Crater in Death Valley National Park
Significant change in elevation early in the morning (technically, it wasn’t even early since we lost a couple of hours in detouring) on an empty stomach guaranteed to take its toll on me. That wasn’t just my fear, but a fact proven on many trails. The last “breath-catching” experience up in the Colorado Rockies left me feeling dizzy and nearly gasping for air at the end of the hike.
The steep Ubehebe Crater Trail might have done the same to me…
Ubehebe Crater Rim Trail vs. Ubehebe Crater Floor Trail
While boasting a fair amount of its own inclines and descents, the loop around Ubehebe Crater, looked far more manageable. On top of that, tempting us with gorgeous views into Little Hebe Crater, a smaller and younger crater in the Ubehebe Volcanoes cluster, the loop trail was going to be a winner this morning.
So after lingering near the Ubehebe Crater parking lot while pondering over which trail to take, we headed up along a well-trodden black trail surrounded by equally dark hills. A barely visible, fresh coat of green vegetation, an aftereffect of recent heavy rains, adorned the normally barren inclines of Death Valley National Park.
With deep orange colors intermixed with white patches of loose sand at the bottom and spring-festive hills on the opposite side, the hike along the Ubehebe Crater Loop Trail promised some interesting views.
We lasted on that trail for just one minute. The advantages of the easier hike faded in face of savage winds and a dust storm that tore Death Valley in early spring. The open area above Ubehebe Crater looked especially vulnerable to the tantrums of the desert weather.
Hiking Inside Ubehebe Crater
The only way to stay away from the hasty winds was to hike inside Ubehebe Crater.
The Ubehebe Crater Floor hike was like riding an imaginary boat down a black river with loose debris instead of soothing currents.
Anticipating a tedious hike back to the Ubehebe Crater rim, most visitors stopped a few feet into the centuries-old maar volcano. This vantage point provided both a good view and a far better protection from the seasonal desert gusts. But a thrill of stepping on the hard-packed surface at the bottom of the caldera was missing.
Cracked under the blistering heat with recesses that ran a few inches deep, the heart of Ubehebe Crater also changed its colors. Red and orange walls, embroidered by outlandish patterns, stood opposite to the black trail we used to descend into the crater.
The floor of the ancient abyss featured a similar color range, intermixed with sporadic patches of white. A few desert shrubs managed to adapt to this hard desert environment and even thrive.
Getting out of the Crater
No trails ran up the colorful side of Ubehebe Crater. The only way out was to head back along the same black trail with loose sediment.
Now the Ubehebe Crater Trail was a nightmare to hike along. With the path made of the soft materials, your feet slid back slightly with every step. By the time we got to the caldera rim, it felt like we trekked a good 0.8 mile instead of 0.6 mile.
But the adventure into the heart of Ubehebe Crater with all of its short, sweet, and tedious twists was worth it. And it looked like it was one of the most protective hikes to go on in the spring. With the wind blowing harder with every passing hour, any other hikes we planned to do in Death Valley National Park that day were in question.
So completing the Ubehebe Crater Trail felt like a fair compensation for whatever the desert was about to throw at us.
UBEHEBE CRATER HIKES
Ubehebe Crater Hike (Crater Floor)
- Length: 0.6 mile one way
- Difficulty: Moderate to strenuous
- Elevation gain: 600 feet
- Time to complete: 1 hour
- Trailhead: Ubehebe Crater parking lot
- Location: 56.4 miles northwest of Furnace Creek
- Facilities: No restrooms at the Ubehebe Crater trailhead
Crater Rim Hike
- Length: 1.5-mile loop trail
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Elevation gain: 500 feet
- Time to complete: 50-60 minutes
- Trailhead: Ubehebe Crater parking lot
- Location: 56.4 miles northwest of Furnace Creek
- Facilities: No restrooms at the Ubehebe Crater trailhead
- Significance: The trail allows to see several small craters, including Little Hebe Crater.
Little Hebe Crater Hike
- Length: 0.5 mile one way
- Difficulty: Easy
- Elevation gain: 200 feet
- Time to complete: 30 minutes
- Trailhead: Ubehebe Crater parking lot. Follow the Ubehebe Crater Trail to the right (south).
- Location: 56.4 miles northwest of Furnace Creek
- Facilities: No restrooms at the Ubehebe Crater trailhead
Things to Know before Hiking the Ubehebe Crater Trail
Hike Early in the Morning or Late in the Afternoon
The area exposed to the sun gets extremely hot in summer. It’s not recommended to hike the Ubehebe Crater Trail after 10 a.m when the desert is unbearable. On the other hand the ascending or descending sun at sunrise or sunset highlights the colors of the crater while making the trip along the rim and into the crater pleasant.
Bring Plenty of Water
Regardless of the season and the time of the day you decide to hike the Ubehebe Crater Trail, make sure to bring along lots of water. The desert makes you perspire faster and may be unforgiving to those who don’t take it seriously.
No Pets on the Ubehebe Crater Trail
Pets are not allowed on any trails in Death Valley National Park, including the Ubehebe Crater Trail.
Read More
- Artists Palette: Is Artists Palette Worth Visiting? (Death Valley’s Painted Hills)
- Lake Manly: Where to See Rare Lake in the Driest Place in America: Lake Manly
- Mesquite Sand Dunes: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Adventure in Death Valley
