Drive Twenty Mule Team Canyon

Take a drive along this beautiful unpaved road through colorful, eroded badlands. Afternoon and morning light cause the erosion in the hills to become highlighted and shadowed, creating spectacular contrast and ample photo opportunities. The entrance to this short (2.5 mi/4 km) one-way road is just east of Zabriskie Point off CA-190. Although the road is usually fine for most cars, those with especally low clearance are not recommended. Check with a ranger for current conditions. Star Wars Fan? Scenes from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, were filmed here. Do you recognize the landscape around Jabba the Hutt's palace? The Blu-ray deleted scenes of Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi also include a scene from Twenty Mule Team Canyon. This deleted scene shows a small cave (which for safety reasons, is now closed) where Luke Skywalker finishes his light saber. There were also a few shots from outside the cave. Star Wars was filmed in the national park a few decades ago, when that type of filming was allowed. The vast majority of the filming which was done at that time is not permitted today in order to protect park wilderness. Information on commercial filming can be found on our permits page.