Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

There are such a plethora of different people with info on DV. Most of the good stuff is like your youth pastor's info-someone who went a lot and made copious notes.
So many "guide books" cover the tourist stuff like the author was never there.

If you can convince him to digitize that stuff, it'd be an amazing gift.

 

When I lived in the valley back in 85, one of the park geologists had a 61 SWB Chevy 230 I6 with a posi-trac we took that rig up into lots of the canyons. Tossed a mtb in the back of the truck and either rode or hiked the stuff we didn't feel like we could do in the 2wd trucks. Good recovery gear, a shovel and a rock bar, lots of water and a bit of thinking will take you far. Sat phones would have been a nice touch back then.

 

Early spring is best, can be windy in March, early light rocks the west side, and afternoon light does the same for the east side, brings out the depth of color I think. Enjoy

 

Just throwing out an FYI...
If you stop by Furnace Creek Visitor Center and tell them you've hiked in the park they have two cool hiking decals, one is 2016 and the other is 2017. They didn't ask for my pics. The two park "rangers" whom I dealt with were pretty young and kinda cocky. I still got some decals so all is well.

 

FYI
Road to Scottys Castle is closed til 2019

 

For those who are retired here's an opportunity to help the park and Racetrack specifically:
https://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=16353


Racetrack Interpretation
Death Valley National Park
Address: 271 Highway 190, PO Box 579, Death Valley, CA 92328
Contact: Abby Wines 760-786-3221
Availability: 2/1/2017--4/30/2017
Created: 1/9/2017
Suitability: Adults
Difficulty: Strenuous
Direct Link: https://www.volunteer.gov/results.cfm?ID=16353

Volunteer Activities
• Conservation Education
• Tour Guide/Interpretation
• Visitor Information
• Back Country/Wilderness

​

Photo Courtesy of NPS

Description
The Racetrack is a mysterious place, with large rocks marking their path across the playa as if they skated in an Olympic event. Only recently have scientists put together the particular set of conditions that cause this phenomenon. The Racetrack is 26 miles down a very rough dirt road, taking several hours to drive each way. Not only is the road rough, the actual stones in the road are sharp and can shred regular car tires. However, the allure of the location is strong and as Death Valley National Park has seen an increase in visitation, even this remote spot now has daily visitors.

Unfortunately there have been several incidents where visitors have driven off of the designated roads and onto the delicate surface, causing long-term damage to the playa. More active education and monitoring is needed to protect this unique area.

Duties include:

• Driving a government 4WD vehicle from housing location to the Racetrack, several hours each way. (Previous 4WD experience prefered but can train.)
• Talking with visitors and answering questions about the moving rocks phenomenon.
• Gaining compliance for park regulations using interpretive techniques, and calling for law enforcement officers when needed.
• Working independently in a remote location. Being prepared for, and ability to troubleshoot issues related to weather, road conditions, flat tires, and exposure.
• Participating in restoration work in areas where vehicles have been driven off roads.
• Using a park radio to call in and out of service and to request law enforcement for off-road driving.
• Working 16-32 hours per week, as vehicles are available for use. The goal will be for volunteers to fulfill 32 hours/4 days per week.

Volunteers are needed February through April. Average highs in Death Valley Feb-Apr are between 73-90 with average lows between 46-62 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures may be cooler at The Racetrack.

An RV/trailer pad with hookups will be provided, volunteer must have RV/trailer.

 

Sounds like a pretty cool gig if you can stand driving that road...that's got to be simultaneously the best and shittiest commute ever.

 

Using a govt vehicle makes it less painful.

 

that road was so bad from the top of Lippincot to the Crater that it made my passenger side tail light assembly fall out, and it was just hanging and flopping around by just the wire harness for who knows how many miles of washboard hell.

 

Well if they let you do the first commute over a few days driving a road grader that would make it better.

That said, I'd like the road to just continue to get shittier and shittier. That will be the best solution to increased visitation. Perhaps the NPS realizes this and that is why the road which used to get graded fairly regularly has now reached historic levels of washboard.

 

Damn, too bad it's so far from me.

 

When I drove it back in March I actually lost a coil pack bolt. That was exciting.

 

Looks like the DV area and surrounding mountains are getting it good with these storms. South pass snowed in, fair bit of ice underneath quite a bit of snow now. Some moron decided to try and take a 2WD SUV and got it stuck:


Apparently that vehicle already arranged to be towed (cha-ching for Miller's) - perhaps out already.

Titus closed because of snow on Red Pass. Dante's too of course. West Side Road closed as NPS considers Amargosa crossing impassible at this point. So far doesn't sound like any actual road damage any place, just snow and slow moving water in places.

I hope to be around the Owlshead Mountains in two weeks. Maybe I'll see some early blooming? Wish I could be there now to see all the snow!

 

Death Valley with snow is so awesome. I remember on trip in high school where there was six inches to a foot of snow across the whole valley. Driving around the back country roads with the van door open with a big pot of snow, throwing snowballs at the other cars in our group as we went. Good times.

 

That's nuts!
Great that someone is going to help out. I've got work and school.

 

I've done lots of camping out there with a variety of vehicles including our motorcycles and hikes. Just got the Taco so that replaces my old Jeep and big Ram which are both sold.

 

I just finished reading this whole thread. I have to say it's the best info I've found on DV yet. I'm going to be making a trip out at the end of March with my brother and will have about 5 days, including driving from Reno and back, to explore. We'll be solo which is kind of concerning after reading this but I think we'll be okay. I'll have tools, tire kit, compressor, etc and I'll make sure to have enough food and water on hand.

The plan right now is to come down 395 to Big Pine and enter on Saline Valley Rd. I want to make it to the springs on the first day and camp there which should be a Wednesday so hoping there won't be too many nudies running around. Second day I want to take Lipincott up to the Racetrack. I was going to take the Racetrack Rd. up to Ubehebe Crater but after reading about the washboard I'll probably go back down Lipinocott then take Saline Valley back out down to Panamint Springs. Depending on what time it is we may camp there or press on. The third day I'd like to hit all the touristy stuff at Furnace Creek, go to Badwater, Devil's Golfcourse, Dante's Peak. Then on the fourth day we'll make our way back up and check out Rhyolite, Titus Canyon, and Ubehebe crater. Then the 5th day drive back home.

Hopefully that won't be too much and we'll have enough time to enjoy all the sights.

 

You'll be fine. Just make sure you have food and water for an extra day or two with you and someone reliable who knows when to expect you back. That time of year there should be at least a few vehicles a day on the roads you are driving on. If you have vehicle problems don't panic and do something stupid, just setup camp right where you are stuck and wait for help. By late March it could be very warm at lower elevations so don't try walking out. Stay with vehicle.

That usually is a good plan for late March but be aware this has been a big snow year so check North Pass road conditions before you head out. Most frequent user reports on North Pass conditions in this thread.

You can take Racetrack real slow of course instead and still get to Ubehebe with your truck in one piece. But if your itinerary is to be in the Stovepipe/Furnace Creek area the next day then I'd do what you are planning and double back taking Saline Valley Road south to the 190 and on to Panamint Springs. That's a nice drive with Lee Flat being worth seeing and the 190 descending into Panamint Valley being an epic paved road with amazing views. Stop by Father Crowley Point on the way down the 190.

Another alternative is from Racetrack to head north to Teakettle Junction - that section of Racetrack isn't too awful - and then head through Hidden Valley and up the backside of Hunter Mountain to South Pass where you rejoin Saline Valley Road. You can stop at Lost Burro Mine and Hunter Cabin along the way. That said given how much snow there is this year Hunter Mountain could be impassable or if passable could be a mud slog at the top.

If you are a hiker consider doing Ubehebe Peak while you are by Racetrack. Probably one of the most epic desert peak hikes around. And if you do skip going to the actual peak and instead climb the easier slightly lower peak just to the north. Same views with less scrambling. Budget a few hours for the hike though. Good trail most of the way which is a rare thing in DV.

If you don't like campgrounds you can disperse camp on the Panamint Valley floor by taking the dirt road north from the 190 towards the Panamint Dunes and camp anywhere 1 mile beyond the pavement. This is just a few miles from Panamint Springs so you can even have a tasty dinner at Panamint Springs and then head into the open desert to camp.

Depending on what flowers are doing this can be a busy time of the year. If you can't get a Furnace Creek campsite remember you can disperse camp on Echo Canyon Road as long as you are one mile from the pavement. This is real close to Furnace Creek, right by Zabriske Point.

Remember end of March can start to get quite warm in the valley already so plan your day in that area around the temps. If there are open things you want to do (e.g. Salt Creek, Badwater) do those early. Then get into canyons where there is shade (Mosaic Canyon, Natural Bridge, unnamed canyons at both "dips" on Artist's Pallet Drive, Marble Canyon, Echo Canyon). Then get to elevation for the hottest part of the afternoon around 4pm (Dante's view, better with low angle sun anyway).

Sounds like a good plan. Consider camping at Mesquite Springs or see next comment.

What route are you planning? If it was me and my day 4 included Ubehebe and I needed to get back to Reno I'd head back via Big Pine Death Valley Road and stop by Eureka Dunes on the way out. You could camp night 4 at Mesquite Springs or if you don't like campgrounds you could camp any of a bunch of places along BP-DV road. Personally I love open desert camping so I'd head up BP-DV road and just camp somewhere along the way. Depending on how your day goes you could even camp at Eureka Dunes themselves and have a shorter drive home.

Your plan isn't too crazy at all, just be flexible and adapt your itinerary if you feel you are driving too much. It seems a good pace to me. There is a lot to see and you won't see all of it in this one trip. I'd make yourself familiar with a variety of things to see and then adapt based on the weather. Temps vary a lot that time of year and the high for a given location could be anywhere in a 25F range. So a given elevation could be quite pleasant, cold or uncomfortably hot and you won't know for sure until a day or two before or even that very day. Winds in particular are very poorly forecast. So pick your activities for the day based on the weather - hot, go high or go into shade - cold, stay low - windy, get into canyons.

Have a blast! Feel free to ask more questions.

EDIT: Keep track of gas in your planning. A few legs are quite long so make sure you top off at your last opportunities. Tacoma mileage/range sucks nuts and gas is few and far between out there.

 

@DVexile
Great post

 

Looks like a good plan. If you have a GoPro, send back vid of lippincott. Never been there and curious how the taco handles it. Thx