Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

I probably should note: The trail is still worth doing, even if it's "just" out to Inyo Mines and back.

 

Real four-wheel drive for the win. Send it. You'll be fine.

 

Those circles are likely for compass calibration of an aircraft. digital compass can auto-cal, but the analog must “swing the compass rose” to ensure accuracy(at time of eval/renewal eval). They’ll hook the aircraft to a TUG and tow it around a circle(as shown in your pic) to get the full 360deg compass calibration.

 

Here's a bit of the upper part of Echo canyon (to the north of the Inyo mine)

tail end of this post: Mines of the Funeral Mountains | Loose Ends #1

beginning of this one: Into the Narrows | Loose Ends #2

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The Echo Canyon road that most "know" pretty much ends at the Inyo mine. Technically it continues about a mile to the wilderness boundary, but you hit an end-of-road marker at that point, and a dry fall that is clearly not a road anymore. Great camp site though (or was, before they started the permit system... not sure if it's a site anymore).

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That is a good question. I didn't see anything indicating that was a permit-required site when I stopped there last year. As I remember it, there were markers at the other sites, but I want to say that they were all several miles downhill, out on the alluvial fan.

 

Thank you for this!

 

Echo Canyon was easy peasy last Spring, not that it's relevant today, but it's wild how things change over time. I'm a pretty terrible driver, but I couldn't get stuck -- or even pop a tire! That's like my superpower. Had to settle for getting pulled over in the 127 instead.

The car-friendly part of the canyon was strictly permit only, but it looked like the upper canyon was being used for normal dispersed camping. I was elated to have gotten the last permit the afternoon before... but also a bit irritated when it became apparent that most of the better sites upcanyon were likely unoccupied that night. Unless 5 groups all broke camp at dawn and drove up the dryfall to Nevada. Who knows. Saw several folks camped past the mines, up various branches of the canyons, enjoying breakfast on a beautiful Spring morning. But the permit sites were barren, with days-old tags on the posts. Except for mine of course, I took the tag as proof I once got somewhere on time.

Not sure what the rules are, or if you can get up there, but it's a fun drive.

 

that is a gorgeous lizard, never seen anything like that!

 

I was curious as well. It's a collared lizard. Wikipedia.

 

They come in all colors. Here's one from Cedar Mesa.

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It's amazing how many different lizards there are just in DV.

 

Scotty's Castle tours start tomorrow
https://dvnha.org/program-events/scottys-castle-flood-recovery-walking-tours/

 

I just noticed you have to park away from the joint and be accompanied by a Park Ranger at all times

 

We took this tour before the garage burned down. If like that time, the ranger escorts you in your car from the junction to the regular castle parking lot. I don't understand the one-hour commute thing.

 

Putting customers on a short bus and driving extremely slowly? It's only about 3 miles from the Ubehebe Rd/Scotty's Castle Rd/North Hwy junction, and the 2023-dated satellite photos I looked at show the road as being in pretty good condition.

 

I guess you jog/fast walk the 3 miles from the Grapevine Ranger Station? The hour travel time allotted each way makes me wonder too.

 

North Highway is not open. That’s probably why it is an hour. They are escorting you all the way from the 190.

 

"I don't know, but I've been told
I don't know, but I've been told
Boy, Marines are mighty bold!
Boy, marines are mighty bold!
Left, righty lay o
Left, righty lay o!"

 

"**Please Note: All Access Roads Are Closed! Participants Will Meet At The Gate At The North Highway/Scotty's Castle Road Closure. ***PARTICIPANTS WILL NOT ENTER CLOSED AREAS WITHOUT A NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RANGER PRESENT**"

That's the Grapevine Ranger Station, about 3 miles away and quite aways from the 190.

 

Been looking for a way to get in a trip to the park. Is there anything worth exploring (hikes, mines, etc.) in Greenwater Valley? Can't find much online or in Digonnet that seems all that interesting, save for the views from Dante's, and then a hike to Mt. Perry.