Conditions:Vinegaroon Canyon-20170220235050

Latest:	18 Feb 2017 (8 yrs, 4 mos ago)

Reported by:	Dangel (157 reports), AmandaC (40 reports), Johnbcaves (161 reports)
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Very Low
Wetsuit:	Rain jacket
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Special challenges
Time:	4 hours

Team: 4 people with experience level Intermediate to Expert

Trip report URL:

Comments: Started approach in rain after driving through a flowing creek called 20 Mule Team Rd. Thick mud and wet scree slowed approach hike. Off-and-on rain seemed to stop upon reaching ridge top. Scenic views from approach were limited by thick clouds, but still beautiful.

Despite an apparently small drainage (compared to neighboring Scorpion), a small stream flowed through upper half of Vinegaroon. Rap 1 was directly in waterfall, and team was wet after first rap. Stream was an interesting sight in Death Valley. Sky cleared halfway through canyon- just what we were hoping for.

Pre-arranged exit vehicle drop-off resulted in confusion. Clear communication and use of Ropewiki/Bluugnome waypoints are critical to successful to route-finding and exit vehicle placement.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
19 Dec 2024	Good	Dry	None	Normal	6 hours	5 people Intermediate to Advanced	Rapbear (75 reports)
Comment: Vinegaroon is an OK canyon with one big rappel and a few short ones. The hike to the Vinegaroon drop-in is shared with many other canyons that have many bigger rappels. The scenery on the hike was beautiful with all the different colored landscapes. We replaced many of the faded webbing and inspected all the rock cairns. They looked good to us at the time but please do your due diligence and check them before rappelling. The big rappel has a bend in the pull so LAPAR should check the pull position before going down. We almost got our rope stuck on it. Overall, it was a shorter canyon. I keep hearing that if you are going to do that hike, you might want to visit Scorpion or Arachnophobia instead.
30 Dec 2022	Good	Dry		Normal			Abby Wines (50 reports)
Comment: This is a scenic hike through the same geologic formation as Artists Drive, with a few rappels added in. You are never in solid rock, but the cairn anchors are good. Scorpion, Vinegaroon, and Arachnophobia are not indicative of what most Death Valley canyons are like.
31 Dec 2021	Great	Dry	None	Normal		8 people Brand new to Advanced	Jme (5 reports)
Comment: We had a blast using this canyon as an intro to Death Valley canyoneering. The anchors were solid, the webbing was brand new, and the conditions were great.
31 Dec 2021 Trip report	Good	Dry	None	Normal		9 people Brand new to Expert	Bricepollock (39 reports)
Comment: A beautiful day in the canyon, easy down climbs and approach. Replaced webbing and rebuilt one anchor.
17 Feb 2020	Great	Dry	None	Normal	3 hours	7 people	Willie92708 (1000 reports)
Comment: Definitely follow a GPS track carefully on the approach, as there are several spots where you can get into the wrong gully, or get up onto a ridge at the incorrect place. The most difficult down-climb is right before the first rappel; all the rest are easy by comparison. The first drop is stellar, definitely the highlight of the trip. The rest are fun and overhanging a bit to add spice to an otherwise mostly easy walking canyon with a few short down-climbs
17 Feb 2020	Ok	Dry	None	Normal	4 hours	7 people Beginner to Expert	Danielson (93 reports)
Comment: Was on the same trip as Willie, but wanted a to make a separate trip report to say: seriously, who the F put that photo up as the banner? WTF lazy shit is that. That tells us nothing about this canyon. That photo could be the Zimbabwe Bum Fuq Alibaba bon Iraq. Thanks a lot "Doug".
29 Nov 2019	Good	Dry	Rain jacket	Normal	4 hours	4 people Brand new to Expert	Dangel (157 reports)
Comment: Against good judgement we took an Irish gentlemen through his first canyon and first rappel. It had rained in the area recently, but nothing nearly like my 2017 report. There was minimal mud and no running water. The colors were great, but not as great as immediately post-rain. IIRC we rebuilt most of the anchors, they were all silted in and took a long time to refashion.
18 Feb 2017	Good	Very Low	Rain jacket	Special challenges	4 hours	4 people Intermediate to Expert	Dangel (157 reports),AmandaC (40 reports),Johnbcaves (161 reports)
Comment: Started approach in rain after driving through a flowing creek called 20 Mule Team Rd. Thick mud and wet scree slowed approach hike. Off-and-on rain seemed to stop upon reaching ridge top. Scenic views from approach were limited by thick clouds, but still beautiful. Despite an apparently small drainage (compared to neighboring Scorpion), a small stream flowed through upper half of Vinegaroon. Rap 1 was directly in waterfall, and team was wet after first rap. Stream was an interesting sight in Death Valley. Sky cleared halfway through canyon- just what we were hoping for. Pre-arranged exit vehicle drop-off resulted in confusion. Clear communication and use of Ropewiki/Bluugnome waypoints are critical to successful to route-finding and exit vehicle placement.
17 Feb 2017	Ok	Dry	None	Easy	4 hours	7 people Beginner to Expert	DMonroy (188 reports)
Comment: This is a very easy canyon appropriate for a beginner, with a few nuisance rappels.
5 Feb 2017	Good	Dry	None	Normal	5 hours	10 people Beginner to Expert	CC (93 reports)
Comment: Social day, Warm 75F day, anchors look good but took apart completely to inspect, very pretty colors along the ridge & views above DV, hard not to take a lot of pictures during the approach, a group of 7 was behind us but taking a late start after breakfast at the trailhead
24 Mar 2014	Good	Dry	None	Normal	5 hours	5 people Beginner	CC (93 reports)
Comment: Reference Report: time of 5:11 did not include shuttle, all cairn anchors, since all anchors are natural cairns or boulders they are always different.