North Slaughter Canyon Trail
This trail winds along the bottom of Middle Slaughter Canyon before merging with North Slaughter Canyon.
Plan Around North Slaughter Canyon Trail
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
North Slaughter Canyon Trail Details
This difficult trail begins at the Slaughter Canyon Cave parking lot, off of Highway 418 in the Rattlesnake Springs district of the park. From the parking lot, wind your way along the bottom of Middle Slaughter Canyon before merging with North Slaughter Canyon and conquering the final three-mile uphill climb to the Guadalupe Ridge Trail, where you'll get stunning views of the canyon and the surrounding basin. Along the way you'll also have views of many of the region's famous aboveground formations, like Elephant Back, a giant limestone tower shaped, well, like the back of an elephant. The trail is a strenuous five and a half miles each way, so budget a full day for this hike. The National Parks Service recommends bringing a topographical map (and the knowledge of how to read it) for this hike, since you'll be crossing multiple trails along the way, which can get confusing. There is little shade in the desert, so bring plenty of sunscreen and water.
Difficulty
High
Distance
11 miles
Estimated time
Full day
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around North Slaughter Canyon Trail
Compare nearby parks around North Slaughter Canyon Trail when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around North Slaughter Canyon Trail
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond North Slaughter Canyon Trail while the map context is still fresh.
0.4 mi away
Slaughter Canyon Cave
Located at the end of Highway 418, this is one of the park's many undeveloped caves, also called "wild caves."
0.4 mi away
Slaughter Canyon Cave Tour
This moderately difficult tour takes you deep inside one of the park's many undeveloped caves.
1.7 mi away
Yucca Canyon Trail
This moderate trail wanders three miles through Yucca Canyon and up a ridge to gain views of the Yucca Basin and Big Canyon.
5.1 mi away
Rattlesnake Canyon Trail
This moderate trail descends a side canyon into Rattlesnake Canyon.
5.7 mi away
Rattlesnake Springs
An area of wetlands in the southwestern section of the park.
