Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

To the best of my knowledge, getting to Mahogany Flat and the trailhead isn't a difficult drive. It's just a long drive (100 or so miles from Lone Pine), with typical management of engine/brake temperature on the way up/down the mountain. The hike, on the other hand, sounds pretty challenging: 12 miles at a high elevation with long sections of steep slopes, no shade, and no water sources.

 

The TRAIL, not road, from the charcoal kilns up to Mahogany flats is dirt, ruts, stone. The road from Lone Pine to Just below the charcoal kilns is paved. We've had to pull out a Ford Transit van that got stuck while trying to make it up to Mahogany Flats, they didn't even make it to Thorndike. The trail is steep and lots of rocks and not for the everyday car. Just FYI. Love the views of Badwater Basin from Mahogany flats.

 

I wouldn't call the drive challenging, nor would I call it necessarily challenging because it is DV. The challenge is the hike itself - 12 miles roundtrip, with ~3,000 feet of elevation gain, to 11,000 feet. That air/distance/exertion combo can start to get a little thin for some folks.

That said, in October the temps (usually) should be pleasant-to-cool I would say (at those elevations), and so it should be a fabulous time for anyone who makes it. I'd love to be one of those people, but can't commit yet.

Trip report with a bunch of photos: Highest Peak in the Park | Panamints 3

 

The road is usually in a condition well suited to a stock Tacoma, often 4WD not even necessary. It is rocky and often rutted in spots requiring the clearance of something like a Tacoma. It is fairly steep in spots, but nothing that would really force one into 4LO. When in good condition you'd routinely see something like an Outback or Forester up there.

As others said the trail is fairly long, has a decent bit of elevation gain, and is at elevations that are challenging if not acclimatized. If you routinely do say 8 mile/2,000 ft hikes above 7,000 feet then it will just be a more than usually tiring hike which if you give yourself time will be a delightful accomplishment.

If you've been spending months at sea level and rarely cover more than 1,000 feet of elevation gain in a hike then it has a good chance of kicking your ass. If you are still young and stupid you'll probably power through it anyway. If you are older and sane you'll probably opt to turn around when you discover you aren't in the best condition for it.

It has awesome views pretty much right from the start, so I'd always advocate at least giving it a try and if you end up turning back at Arcane Meadows you will still have had a banner hike in Death Valley.

It is pretty common to use Wildrose as a warm up/acclimatization hike if you are going to be in the area for a few days. Or of course there is the entire eastern Sierra nearby to get your legs and lungs ready.

Folks lucky enough to live near some mountains that get above 6,000 feet can of course do some hikes in the preceding weeks to get their body ready for the altitude. Sadly I only live near pathetic foothills that damn fool east coasters have the temerity to call "mountains".

 

Aborted trip...

A very short trip report from this past February when I spent almost the entire time but one day cooped up with a nasty head cold. But one day in the park was better than none.

Trip Report

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Badwater

 

Mesquite Dunes

 

Looked like this last November. The sun can be vicious ...

 

Thought I would post this again ... valley wall at Badwater Basin. The red circle is a sign saying "SEA LEVEL" ... bear in mind the parking lot is 282 ft below sea level.

 

Yet another late and brief trip report, this one from this past March:

March 2023 Trip Report

Documents a few changes since Hillary passed through in a couple of canyons we regularly visit. And Lake Manly was still hanging on at the time.

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Nice comp and soft light.

I’ve never seen so much water in the valley.

 

Eleven Dead Burros at Owl Hole Spring

As if anyone needed a reminder not to drink from Owl Hole Spring, toxic algae is the suspected cause.

NPS Press Release: https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/eleven-burros-found-dead.htm

 

In an area with little natural water, any poisoned source is significant.

 

Seems to be a larger problem these last few years. Not just DV. Some of the reservoirs around here have seen algae blooms on warmer days.

 

Facing East from Zabriskie point.

 

Near Lost Burro Gap


Some Brit who was biking from Alaska to Patagonia.

Makes me feel like a sissy for needing a pickup loaded with stuff.

 

Getting sand blasted.



Cuz this is how you get grit in your lens.

 

And your shoes. And your mouth (gritty teeth). And your clothes. Looks like Imperial Sand Dunes Recreational Area. Not saying "yawn ... just like" ... endless dunes that just have the sound of the wind is eerie.

 

Out on the Mesquite Dunes.
Yea, not a strong comp, was trying to show the moving sand.

 

Your first picture showed the sand better than mine ... mine was from a ".mov" and I did not time the clip correctly.

I like the above picture ... the "endlessness", the color of the sand. East coast people need to get to these places.