Natural Bridge Trail,
Death Valley National Park
The Natural Bridge Trail is an easy uphill trail through a narrow canyon. At the entrance to the trailhead is a sign with information relating to the geology of the area. The trail ends at the dry waterfall, where you make your return journey via the same route.
Elevation
The Natural Bridge Trail has a maximum elevation of 647 ft., a minimum elevation of 397 ft. and an elevation range of 250 ft.
Metrics
| [ A to B ] or [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Length 2 | Min Ele 3 | Max Ele 4 | Range 5 |
| 0.5 mi | 397 ft | 647 ft | 250 ft |
| [ A to B ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time 6 | Floors 7 | Gain 8 | Loss 9 |
| 14 min | 20.8 | 249 ft | 0 ft |
| [ B to A ] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Floors | Gain | Loss |
| 10 min | 0.0 | 0 ft | 249 ft |
Calories
The following chart shows the total calories that you may expend on the trail while hiking in both directions. The chart is based on data derived from a statistical model of energy expenditure that relates gross weight, typical speed and trail topography.
Topo Maps
Download the PDF Natural Bridge Trail topo map and the adjoining quads to plan your hike. These are full-sheet, 7.5 Minute (1:24,000 scale) topographic maps.
Adjoining 7.5' Quadrangle Legend
- Northwest Topo Map: West of Furnace Creek, CA
- North Topo Map: Furnace Creek, CA
- Northeast Topo Map: Echo Canyon, CA
- West Topo Map: Devils Speedway, CA
- Topo Map: Devils Golf Course, CA
- East Topo Map: Ryan, CA
- Southwest Topo Map: Hanaupah Canyon, CA
- South Topo Map: Badwater, CA
- Southeast Topo Map: Dantes View, CA
Difficulty
The following chart illustrates the difficulty of hiking the Natural Bridge Trail compared to two other trails. The x-axis is cumulative elevation gain and the y-axis is maximum elevation. The length of the trail is reflected in the size of the bubble.
FAQ
What is the length of the Natural Bridge Trail?
The length of the trail is 0.5 miles (0.7 km) or 996 steps.
How long does it take to hike the Natural Bridge Trail?
A person in good physical health can hike the trail in 14 minutes in one direction and in 10 minutes in the opposite direction.
Warnings
Prevent tick bites: Treat clothing and gear, such as boots, pants, socks and tents with products containing 0.5% permethrin.
(cdc.gov)
- The Brown dog tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus) may be present in this area. The Brown dog tick transmits Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
- The Western blacklegged tick (Ixodes pacificus) may be present in this area. The Western blacklegged tick transmits Anaplasmosis and Lyme Disease.
Footnotes
- Steps is a unit of distance equal to the sum of stride lengths that vary with the terrain.
- Length is the distance of the trail between the two trailheads, measured on the trail.
- Min Ele is the minimum elevation on the trail.
- Max Ele is the maximum elevation on the trail.
- Range is the difference between maximum and minimum elevation.
- Time is the typical total time required to hike the trail.
- Floors is the gain divided by twelve feet, the height of one floor.
- Gain (cumulative elevation gain) is the sum of every gain in elevation.
- Loss (cumulative elevation loss) is the sum of every loss in elevation.