Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Just remember, CHP will always help out if you get stuck.

 

Right after they run you for wants and warrants. If you have any the tow truck will help your rig out and CHP will give you a nice room for a few days. lol

 

Thanks for the report, does the road actually go through Fort Erwin? Did they have signs on the sides of it not to go past the road, or was it just rugged enough that people wouldn’t want to anyway? I’m kind of interested in hiking out to the dry lakes out there too

 

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I believe the road is called Owl's Head Springs Rd. And it veers north right at the Randsburg Rd gated Ft Irwin entrance. You follow the fence for Ft Irwin for a few miles, but I believe you never actually enter onto their property. Lots of signage of un-exploded ordinances and no trespassing. So it should be pretty easy avoiding having to deal with the MP's.
Lots of deep sand out there fwiw.

 

Doesn’t enter the base and plenty of fencing and signage.

Trip report:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...eep-things-light.409330/page-29#post-14421670

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...eep-things-light.409330/page-29#post-14442627

Lost Lake​

 

Thanks!

So this is why I thought the road goes into Ft Irwin. Error in map?:

 

Yeah, it is a confusing map. The green line is the boundary of the park, not the boundary of Fort Irwin. There is a strip of BLM land between the park boundary and the base. Road stays off the base the entire time. The road contour isn't quite right on the map either. The most southern part of it is actually perfectly straight as it runs right along the base fence line.

The only place you need to be a little careful is if you hike out to the Epsom Salt Mine from near the end of the road. Part of the China Lake line is not fenced there (or at least it still wasn't seven years ago when I was last there) so a GPS is helpful.

 

Yeah, can't wait myself. Have plane tickets for the first week of October. But I suspect I'll end up in southern Utah on that trip as I fully expect most of CA to be on fire and smokey haze to envelop most of the places I usually like to visit...

 

I'm going to be more optimistic for a DV trip for you in October.

 

Now that Im looking at a proper topo map I see exactly what you are talking about, so it looks like a 4-5 mile hike or so out to the Owl dry lake bed, too. Does that road get any closer to it than at the Black Magic Mine?

 

Where you going in JT?

 

Love that area around the mtns on the north side of Old Dale and Gold Crown, bent up my pie tins there on my OR, too bad too, because I had to make a Mobtown order afterwards

 

I haven't been out to Owl dry lake yet (my next trip whenever it happens) but I think it would probably be an easier hike to start from the main road further to the west from Black Magic Mine. That way you just walk down/up a really gentle bajada to the lake. Starting from the mine will mean quite a bit more elevation change and some hillside and wash scrambles even though it is closer as the raven flies. (Oh, and if looking at a USGS topo be aware that quadrangle is courtesy the Carter administration and is in meters not feet, so the elevation gain is three times what it might first appear). But depending on what you are looking for that might be fun too!

Photo from where I'd likely start the hike:

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Must return to the source.

 

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Back in junior high we had to learn the metric system because we were going to be converting any minute. Well, 30+ years later and I'm still waiting.

I'm so done with the heat. DV is only one of the reasons I wish it would cool off.

 

Anyone been out in September this year yet? Ill be out October 6th

 

Gonna share this here. Nice videos. I do have issue with the violation of certain regulations for use in the park.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/death-valley-national-park.568165/#post-18763234

 

Aside from the number of vehicles, some of the driving made it seem like a rally race with all the dust.

 

Number of vehicles is far beyond the "group" allotment for DVNP.

 

In their defense they clearly did know and abide by the no drone regulations as they have drone footage from outside the NPS and none from within. That’s good at least.