If you want to hike to the Natural Bridge in Death Valley, you are in the right place!

Death Valley National Park has some of the most unique landscapes, and it quickly became one of my favorite national parks! It is home to the lowest point in North America, sand dunes, volcanic craters, colorful badlands, the hottest air temperature recorded, and other geologic features, including the Natural Bridge.

Although you can experience Death Valley from various viewpoints throughout the park, I recommend hiking on at least one trail through its breathtaking landscapes. One of my favorite trails that I think should be on every bucket list is the Natural Bridge Trail. The short trail brings you through a beautiful canyon to a 35-foot-tall rock bridge.

I created this guide to include everything you need to know to hike to the Natural Bridge in Death Valley, including a step-by-step hiking guide.

Get your hiking boots and cameras ready!

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Tips for Hiking the Natural Bridge Trail

Although the Natural Bridge Trail is not long or strenuous, you still need to be prepared because hiking in Death Valley brings unique challenges. Below are tips I found helpful when I planned a trip to Death Valley.

Be prepared for hiking in the heat. Death Valley National Park is one of the hottest places in the world, with temperatures reaching over 110 degrees in the summer! I recommend visiting between late fall and early spring for the best weather. When we visited in March, it was still hot but manageable for hiking. Regardless of when you visit, you must prepare for the heat with plenty of water, food, moisture-wicking clothes, and sun protection.
Pack sunscreen and hiking gear. The Natural Bridge Trail has little shade, so you need to wear sunscreen. I reapplied sunscreen multiple times during the day to be safe. You should also have hiking boots, moisture-wicking clothes, and a hiking backpack with food and plenty of water.
Pack plenty of food and water before you go to Death Valley. The nearest city with food is about half an hour away, so I recommend getting everything you need for your trip before entering the park. As I mentioned, the trails have little shade, so you should pack more water than you think you will need to stay hydrated while hiking.
Buy the America the Beautiful Annual Pass. If you are visiting more national parks on your trip or within the year, I highly recommend buying the America the Beautiful Annual Pass. It allows you to enter any national park and federal recreation land for a year!
Always remember to leave no trace. It is crucial to pack out what you pack in and leave no trash behind. Some spots have trash bins, so you can easily throw away your trash. Otherwise, you should pack out your trash and dispose of it once you find a barrel.

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Natural Bridge Trail Overview

The Natural Bridge Trail is 1.5 miles round trip, or 0.8 miles round trip if you only want to hike to the Natural Bridge. The canyon past the Natural Bridge is cool, but I enjoyed the first part of the hike to the Natural Bridge more. If I went back, I would only hike to the bridge.

Natural Bridge Hiking Stats

Length: 0.8 miles round trip to the Natural Bridge or 1.5 miles round trip to the end of the trail
Elevation gain: 210 feet to the Natural Bridge or 450 feet to the end of the trail
Difficulty: Easy
Best time to hike: Late fall to early spring
Facilities: The trailhead has restrooms.
Road closures: Roads close due to flooding from heavy rainfall, so I recommend checking the NPS website before your trip for up-to-date information.

Natural Bridge Trail Map

Although the Natural Bridge Trail is easy to follow, I always recommend downloading an offline map. You can save this map to your phone for when you visit!

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Hiking the Natural Bridge Trail in Death Valley: Step-By-Step Guide

The Natural Bridge Trail is a fun hike that I think should be on every Death Valley itinerary!

As I mentioned previously, if you only want to hike to the Natural Bridge, it is 0.8 miles round trip. If you want to hike to the end of the canyon, it is 1.5 miles round trip.

Although the trail past the Natural Bridge was cool, you do not have to hike the entire trail. In my opinion, the Natural Bridge and canyon leading up to it were the most beautiful sections of the trail, but you can always extend the hike. The canyon is pretty, so you will not be disappointed either way!

Below is a step-by-step guide to hiking the entire trail!

Natural Bridge Trail Parking

The Natural Bridge Trail parking is on Natural Bridge Road off Badwater Road. The road has a sign pointing to the Natural Bridge, but you can easily miss it if you are not looking for it. I recommend downloading offline maps so you can use Google Maps even if you do not have service. Trust me, it made our lives so much easier!

Once you arrive at Natural Bridge Road, you have to drive 1.5 miles along an unpaved road. The road was a bit bumpy at times, but we did not have issues driving on it.

The parking lot is relatively small, and I recommend arriving early to find a spot. We arrived midday and luckily were able to find a parking spot because someone was leaving.

Trailhead to the Natural Bridge

From the parking lot, you will see a wide trail leading into the canyon, which brings you all the way to the Natural Bridge.

Although the trail only gains about 200 feet of elevation to the Natural Bridge, the dirt trail with loose rocks makes it a bit more difficult. My feet were sliding on the loose rocks, but it was nothing too much to handle.

The first 0.1 miles follow a dirt path before entering the canyon. I recommend turning around before the canyon to see the stunning views of Badwater Basin and the surrounding mountains!

The final 0.3 miles to the Natural Bridge are within the canyon walls, offering unique views of the surrounding landscape. I absolutely loved this section because the canyon was breathtaking! I love feeling small in landscapes, and this trail provides that.

Before you know it, the trail arrives at the Natural Bridge! The bridge is 35 feet tall and towers over the trail, making you feel small in the best way. I recommend walking under it and across to the other side for unique views.

Because this trail is popular, it is difficult to get a photo of only you in the arch. If you hike it in the morning, you have a better chance of having fewer crowds. We lucked out because there were only a handful of people at the Natural Bridge when we arrived.

If you only want to hike to the Natural Bridge, you can turn around here, or you can extend the hike further into the canyon to the end of the Natural Bridge Trail. As I mentioned, the rest of the trail does not offer anything spectacular, so you can skip it and spend your time exploring other places.

The Natural Bridge Through the Canyon

If you want to hike the entire Natural Bridge Trail, you will continue under the Natural Bridge into the canyon. The rest of the trail has canyon views and a few dry waterfalls.

The trail abruptly ends in the canyon at a dry waterfall, where you will turn around and head back the way you came.

canyon on the natural bridge trail in death valley

Nearby Hiking Trails

Death Valley has many beautiful trails, and most are not too far from the Natural Bridge. I recommend adding other hikes to your itinerary to explore more stunning landscapes!

Here are a few trails near the Natural Bridge Trail:

Badwater Basin Trail: 1.9 miles round trip to the lowest point in North America (although you do not have to hike far to explore the area)
Artists Hill: 0.4 miles round trip to a beautiful viewpoint
Artists Palette: 0.3 miles round trip to one of the most iconic places in Death Valley
Golden Canyon Trail to Red Cathedral: 2.9 miles round trip through one of my favorite areas in Death Valley, with breathtaking landscapes and views

Death Valley FAQs

Is the Natural Bridge in Death Valley worth visiting?

The Natural Bridge is absolutely worth visiting!

Death Valley has unique landscapes, and the Natural Bridge is one of many cool geological features. Even the hike through the canyon to get to the Natural Bridge is beautiful.

Since the trail is under a mile and not overly strenuous, I highly recommend adding it to your Death Valley itinerary.

How long is the hike to the Natural Bridge?

The hike to the Natural Bridge is 0.8 miles round trip, but you can extend it to 1.5 miles round trip if you want to hike further into the canyon.

Although the entire trail is beautiful, I did not think there was anything spectacular past the Natural Bridge.

Is the Natural Bridge Trail dog-friendly?

No, dogs are not allowed on trails in Death Valley. Dogs are only permitted in a few areas listed here.

Can you drive to the Natural Bridge?

No, you cannot drive to the Natural Bridge. You must hike 0.8 miles round trip to get to the Natural Bridge.

What is the best time to visit Death Valley?

Late fall and early spring are the best times to visit Death Valley.

Death Valley is one of the hottest places in the world, with temperatures reaching over 110 degrees in the summer! Late fall and early spring have cooler temperatures that are perfect for exploring and hiking.

When we visited in March, it was still hot at midday but manageable for hiking.

When you visit Death Valley National Park, make sure to add the Natural Bridge Trail to your itinerary because it is a short and sweet trail through a beautiful landscape. You can reference this guide when planning your trip to make sure you have everything you need to hike to the Natural Bridge!