Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Was out last week, went in through Titus Canyon and headed north. Visited Eureka Dunes, Steel Pass, Saline Valley, the major tourists points, and Mahogany Flat. Need to go back again to visit the south side of the park.

As far as road conditions.... very wash boarded.

 

Love it!

Love it!

 

My buddy and I had to scub our plans to go to DV last weekend, too much to do at home. Turned out to be a scorcher. Might be a good time to do a telescope peak hike.

 

Telescope Peak would be an excellent climb; it's been on my list for some time now.

 

The washboard roads at Death Valley for just 3 days have probably done more damage to my truck than 4 years of desert whoops in the Mojave desert

 

Really? Not being a smartass. I've driven my mostly stock taco through DV/UT/CO for the past six years. Much of that was washboard roads at speed. I did suffer one shock which got so hot it melted the plastic shroud at the top. Most of the time there is a harmonic sweet spot that smooths out the ride. I'm sure the suspension is still taking a beating.

Anyone going out soon?

 

I've had bolts rattle lose from DV washboard roads. Since then I've been religious about using lock tite on bolts /nuts, or nylock hardware. The last trip for me is what set me off installing 16 linear feet of L-track cargo control hardware in the bed. lol

 

Which bolts?
That L-track sounds nice and secure...rather stuff is secured to it. Heading out in a few days...can't wait.

 

Just bolts coming loose, dash coming loose, 100X more cab rattle than before

 

Panamint pinstripes? Those are good too

 

Just got back from a trip to Death Valley. We stayed a couple of nights at the hot springs in Saline Valley; a pretty neat place, especially considering it's remote location. It took us 5 hours to drive the South Pass from the 190 turnoff. Probably could have made it 3 hours or so if we didn't stop and gawk so much. The weather was perfect, warm but not too hot and just right at night to enjoy the campfires. We then headed back via South Pass and dropped into Stovepipe Wells and camped out for a few days up in Cottonwood Canyon. It was hot, 100+ so we headed up to Skidoo and Chloride Cliff so we could enjoy the cooler high elevation temps and explore the old mine camps. The view from Chloride Cliff rivals Dante's View, it's well worth the 8 mile mostly easy trail ride.
More pics to follow as I dig them out of my camera in between cleaning up the camp gear.




The Saline Valley, Bat Rock Road Greeter


Buckhorn Boxcar Cabin



Shooting DV old school polaroid style ^^

We met some new friends on the road to Trona just North of Randsburg. There was a flock of 2,000 sheep crossing the road..

 

Looks like a great trip!

 

Awesome pics Lee!! Looks like a great trip!

 

Was just there as well, did Lippincott to Racetrack and back to Panamint via Hunter Mountain. Then over to Sunshine Mine Camp and Osborne Canyon. Didn't get to see the burros though. However, we ran into the same flock of sheep going into Ridgecrest. What was up with that??! They were running all over the place. Couldn't tell if they were there to eat up extra brush or if they got loose. Hilarious scene. Great pictures, very cool captures!

 

Took my roommate to Death Valley for her first time. It being only my second, I decided another run up Lippincott would be in store for both of us as I wanted to show her the The Racetrack and then explore the Hunter Mountain area.

Some highlights of our 100 mile loop:
Lippincott Mine remains


Lost Burro Mine







Ubehebe Talc Mine


Lee Flat


Our BLM primitive campsite for the night just south of Panamint Springs.

 

Well done Riley! Thx for sharing pics, love them.

 

More random photos from our recent DV trip. Now is the time to go! Wildflowers are in bloom and the upper elevations are still cool (can't say much for the lower elevations).

Cabin along Saline Valley Rd at the southern end. very clean outhouse!


Getting pretty good at eating on the go- here making breakfast on the tailgate.


My road dawg, always down for a ride in the truck!


Thanks for all the shares in this thread- definitely helped me figure out where to go in DV, it's such an enormous place!

And also, this second trip wasn't as bad on the washboard roads- thanks to having my Dakar leaf pack installed? It was bearable the first time with my newly installed Icon 2.0 NR rears, but with the combo of the Icon and the Dakars and airing down to 20psi, it was pretty smooth driving, especially near 40mph (I may have been breaking NPS speed limit rules but I just couldn't handle driving the road to the Racetrack at 15-20mph, I thought all the bolts were going to rattle loose!)

 

I swear I was behind the same jacktard.

 

How do those cabins work? First come first served? Share with people you don't know?

 

First come first served. No sharing required. In my experience if a cabin is occupied, and ask permission to document /photograph the site, they have always said yes.