Darwin Falls is a waterfall located on the western edge of Death Valley National Park near the settlement of Panamint Springs, California. Although there exists a similarly named Darwin Falls Wilderness adjacent to the falls, the falls themselves are located in and administered by Death Valley National Park and the National Park Service. There are several falls, but they are mainly divided into the upper and lower, with a small grotto in between. At a combined 80 feet (24 m), it is the highest waterfall in the park. The canyon is walled by dramatic plutonic rock.
Upper Darwin Falls viewed from the access ledges
Darwin Creek is one of the four perennial streams in three million-acre (12,000 km2) Death Valley National Park. Darwin Falls and Creek are fed by the Darwin Wash, which is in turn fed by the volcanic tableland of the Darwin Bench between the Inyo Mountains and the Argus Range. The small, narrow valley where the creek and falls are located features a rare collection of riparian greenery in the vast desert and is home to indigenous fauna such as quail. The falls themselves support several small fern gullies.
Darwin Falls, the Darwin Falls Wilderness, the nearby town of Darwin, California, and all other areas named "Darwin" in the vicinity are named after Darwin French (1822–1902), a local rancher, miner, and explorer.
Accessedit
Darwin Falls is accessible to the public. The falls are located in a small, narrow valley near Panamint Valley. Access to the trail to Darwin Falls is a dirt road located on the south side of State Route 190, approximately .25 miles (400 m) west of Panamint Springs. The lower falls, which are 20 feet (10 m) tall, are reached with a short hike up Darwin Canyon that is 1 mile (1.6 km) long each way and becomes moderately difficult toward the end.[1] While the trailhead is usually accessible with a 2WD vehicle, there is an option to drive with a 4WD vehicle to a spot farther along the path around the canyon. The upper falls are viewable with moderate climbing and some exposure.
A hike to Darwin Fallsedit
A photo progression of the approach to the falls
Parking at the main trail head for the canyon.
The view of Darwin Canyon from the trail head.
On the approach down Darwin Canyon, the dry soil develops into a moist mud path which begins to reveal water.
The growing creek begins to host reeds and other riparian vegetation.
The creek and plutonic rock in Darwin Canyon make the trail tight; the mud can make things slippery.
Plutonic rock walls hem in Darwin Canyon and the trail. Trees appear.
Darwin Creek and surrounding riparian greenery defy their location in Death Valley NP.
The first glimpse of the lower falls from the trail. Note the ferns.
Referencesedit
^"Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park". hikespeak.com. hikespeak.com. Retrieved 2017-01-05.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Darwin Falls.
Adventure Hikes and Canyoneering in the Southwest: Hike G9, Darwin Falls, Death Valley — (pictures of the upper falls included).
darwin, falls, waterfall, located, western, edge, death, valley, national, park, near, settlement, panamint, springs, california, although, there, exists, similarly, named, wilderness, adjacent, falls, falls, themselves, located, administered, death, valley, n. Darwin Falls is a waterfall located on the western edge of Death Valley National Park near the settlement of Panamint Springs California Although there exists a similarly named Darwin Falls Wilderness adjacent to the falls the falls themselves are located in and administered by Death Valley National Park and the National Park Service There are several falls but they are mainly divided into the upper and lower with a small grotto in between At a combined 80 feet 24 m it is the highest waterfall in the park The canyon is walled by dramatic plutonic rock Upper Darwin Falls viewed from the access ledges Darwin Creek is one of the four perennial streams in three million acre 12 000 km2 Death Valley National Park Darwin Falls and Creek are fed by the Darwin Wash which is in turn fed by the volcanic tableland of the Darwin Bench between the Inyo Mountains and the Argus Range The small narrow valley where the creek and falls are located features a rare collection of riparian greenery in the vast desert and is home to indigenous fauna such as quail The falls themselves support several small fern gullies Darwin Falls the Darwin Falls Wilderness the nearby town of Darwin California and all other areas named Darwin in the vicinity are named after Darwin French 1822 1902 a local rancher miner and explorer Access editDarwin Falls is accessible to the public The falls are located in a small narrow valley near Panamint Valley Access to the trail to Darwin Falls is a dirt road located on the south side of State Route 190 approximately 25 miles 400 m west of Panamint Springs The lower falls which are 20 feet 10 m tall are reached with a short hike up Darwin Canyon that is 1 mile 1 6 km long each way and becomes moderately difficult toward the end 1 While the trailhead is usually accessible with a 2WD vehicle there is an option to drive with a 4WD vehicle to a spot farther along the path around the canyon The upper falls are viewable with moderate climbing and some exposure A hike to Darwin Falls editA photo progression of the approach to the falls nbsp Parking at the main trail head for the canyon nbsp The view of Darwin Canyon from the trail head nbsp On the approach down Darwin Canyon the dry soil develops into a moist mud path which begins to reveal water nbsp The growing creek begins to host reeds and other riparian vegetation nbsp The creek and plutonic rock in Darwin Canyon make the trail tight the mud can make things slippery nbsp Plutonic rock walls hem in Darwin Canyon and the trail Trees appear nbsp Darwin Creek and surrounding riparian greenery defy their location in Death Valley NP nbsp The first glimpse of the lower falls from the trail Note the ferns References edit Darwin Falls in Death Valley National Park hikespeak com hikespeak com Retrieved 2017 01 05 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Darwin Falls Adventure Hikes and Canyoneering in the Southwest Hike G9 Darwin Falls Death Valley pictures of the upper falls included Todd s Desert Hiking Guide Darwin Falls 36 19 15 N 117 31 27 W 36 3208 N 117 5243 W 36 3208 117 5243 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Darwin Falls amp oldid 1219147849, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
