Moose-Wilson Road Construction: Access to the Death Canyon Trailhead will be impacted by Moose-Wilson Road Construction beginning in 2022. The Death Canyon Trailhead will be accessible from the north via Moose. Access from the south via the Granite Canyon Entrance will only be available on weekends (7 pm Friday to 7 am Monday) from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 

Location: Access the Death Canyon trailhead from the Moose-Wilson Road. Travel three miles south from Moose and turn north on a spur road. The last mile leading to the trailhead is a narrow, rough dirt road recommended for high-clearance vehicles.

Notes: Facilities include a small dirt parking lot, a vault toilet and a seasonally-occupied patrol cabin. Remember to bring water with you. Bears may be active any place and at any time-travel in groups, make noise and carry bear spray. Backcountry camping requires a permit-pick one up at a backcountry permits office.

Destinations

Hikers may opt for the relatively level Valley Trail or hike one mile up to a stunning view of Phelps Lake. From the overlook, descend to the lake and then climb along Death Canyon Creek until you reach a once-glaciated, hanging canyon. At the patrol cabin, the trail splits. The north fork climbs a to Static Peak Divide and over into Alaska Basin. The main trail continues along the canyon to Fox Creek Pass and the Death Canyon Shelf. Backcountry camping permits are required for overnight stays.

Phelps Lake Overlook
2.0 miles RT, 1.5 hours, 430 ft total climbing, Moderate.
Trail climbs moraine to overlook of Phelps Lake.

Phelps Lake
4.2 miles RT, 3 hours, 1050 ft total climbing, Strenuous.
Trail climbs to overlook, then descends to Phelps Lake. Return involves steep hike back to overlook.

Death Canyon-Static Peak Trail Junction
7.9 miles RT, 6 hours, 2100 ft total climbing, Strenuous.
Trail climbs to overlook, drops toward Phelps Lake, and then climbs the canyon to a patrol cabin.

Static Peak Divide
16.3 miles RT, 12 hours, 5100 ft total climbing, Very Strenuous.
From the patrol cabin, climb switchbacks through whitebark pine forest to high ridge. An ice axe may be necessary through July.

Name Origin

There are several theories for this name. The most likely is that a member of the 1899 Thomas Bannon survey party wandered into the canyon and was never seen again.