Death Valley National Park Ranger Programs
Within Death Valley National Park Paleontologists call it “The Barnyard,” a remote box canyon in an inhospitable desert where slabs of mud stone as big as billboards are indented with fossil tracks left by mastodons, camels, horses, and cats the size of leopards.
It is one of the largest, most diverse, and well-preserved deposits of prehistoric mammal and bird tracks known to exist, and a window onto the ecology of Death Valley during the Pliocene Epoch, about 5 million years ago, when things were starting to heat up.
This is a moderately strenuous, seven-mile round trip hike with 1,500' elevation gain on rugged, uneven terrain. It is not recommended for anyone with mobility or breathing difficulties and prohibited for children under 10. Participants should be regularly hiking at least four miles on uneven terrain in the weeks leading up to this hike. Those that are unable to hike the first mile at a reasonable hiking speed will be escorted back to their vehicle.
Hike is in a remote area of Death Valley National Park that is otherwise closed to the public. Guided tours are limited to 15 people and fill up quickly. There is a $1 per ticket non-refundable administration fee for these day long guided hikes.
Within Death Valley National Park Paleontologists call it “The Barnyard,” a remote box canyon in an inhospitable desert where slabs of mud stone as big as billboards are indented with fossil tracks left by mastodons, camels, horses, and cats the size of leopards.
It is one of the largest, most diverse, and well-preserved deposits of prehistoric mammal and bird tracks known to exist, and a window onto the ecology of Death Valley during the Pliocene Epoch, about 5 million years ago, when things were starting to heat up.
This is a moderately strenuous, seven-mile round trip hike with 1,500' elevation gain on rugged, uneven terrain. It is not recommended for anyone with mobility or breathing difficulties and prohibited for children under 10. Participants should be regularly hiking at least four miles on uneven terrain in the weeks leading up to this hike. Those that are unable to hike the first mile at a reasonable hiking speed will be escorted back to their vehicle.
Hike is in a remote area of Death Valley National Park that is otherwise closed to the public. Guided tours are limited to 15 people and fill up quickly. There is a $1 per ticket non-refundable administration fee for these day long guided hikes.
Need to Know
- Hike Level of Difficulty
This is a moderately strenuous, seven-mile round trip hike with 1,500' elevation gain on rugged, uneven terrain. It is not recommended for anyone with mobility or breathing difficulties or children under 10.
- Age Limits
Children under 10 years of age are prohibited from participating in this strenuous seven-mile hike.
- Reservation Limits
4-person maximum purchase per transaction.
- Entrance Fee
A park entrance fee or annual pass is required in addition to the tour ticket. Entrance fees will be collected or annual and lifetime passes checked at the time of entry at park. The park entrance fee may be paid in advance on Recreation.gov by purchasing a Death Valley NP Site Pass. Review the Fees and Passes – Death Valley National Park webpage for more information.
Booking Windows
Primary Booking Window: Tickets are available 14 days before at 10:00am ET.
Changes and Cancellations
$1 non-refundable advance reservation fee
Contact Information
Mailing Address
PO Box 579 Death Valley CA 92328
Phone Number
(760) 786-3200
