Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

Titus Canyon is back open as well.

 

Planning a DV trip at the end of April to coincide with a wedding I'm attending in socal. Will it be too hot? If I am coming from san Louis obisbo what is the best access point to the northern part of the park? Any help appeciated, thx.

 

It will likely be pretty hot (90s) in the low elevations but the park ranges from -282 ft to over 11,000 ft so there are plenty of places in April that are still cool. If you've never been before you can hit some of the iconic locations at the low elevations early in the morning and then move to higher elevations for the afternoon.

From there you'll likely take a route to Bakersfield and then over to Ridgecrest. That will have you entering from the western side of the park at about the middle via the 190. From Ridgecrest you can drive past Trona and into the Panamint Valley to reach the 190 or you can continue up the very scenic 395 into the Owens Valley and pick up the 190 from there. Might make sense to do one route on the way in and the other on the way out.

The 190 takes you to the most visited parts of the park (Stovepipe and Furnace Creek areas) as well as crossing two different ranges at the 5000 ft level where it will be pleasant temps most of the day.

 

Yup it looks like I should be fine. I saw someone got a Subaru through it last weekend so I figure this weekend I should be good in my truck.

 

I just drove North Pass today. The route is what I consider normal. Less washboard than South Pass but it is also shorter to Bat Rock Road.

I'm still amazed at what people drive in Death Valley. Spent two days in Saline and saw a couple of SUV's I wouldn't have taken in there. I wouldn't feel comfortable driving a Subie in unless it had skids under the entire vehicle.

Temps were warm during the day and windy mid-day through the night. Noseeums were prevalent when there wasn't any wind.

 

Anyone know if Chicken Rock bridge is open? I'm in Bishop now, and headed to Coso's. Then headed to the panamints Fri morn.

 

I believe it has been listed for ATVs only for a long time but plenty of people drive over it anyway. Sorry I don't have any direct recent intelligence though!

 

Appreciate regardless. Thanks buddy.

 

Sorry I missed meeting you. I figured you were huddled in the camper to thwart that brutal wind... I had to hide out in a canyon in the inyos for the night. Tues was just as bad..

 

No kidding about the neseeums, was there Friday-Sunday and if it wasn't windy they were all over. Used som Sawyer insect repellent lotion and it was about the only thing that kept them somewhat manageable. Took north pass, totally normal conditions. Went to the Racetrack via Lippencott then down to Ubehebe Crater. In my opinion that was the worst section of Road the entire trip due to the washboard. We left Ubehebe and took hanging rock canyon to Eureka dunes then Steel Pass back into Saline. Temps were great at the higher elevations but it's definitely starting to warm up in the valleys. I know Saline was around 95 during the day while we were out exploring.

 

Are the noseeums only around the springs area or were they prevalent at other locations (like Racetrack and Ubehebe)?

 

It was super windy at those two locations while I was there so I can't really say if they were or not.

 

meeting @wheel.every.weekend from IG in Cerro Gordo tomorrow evening. And starting Friday morning a 3day weekend trek making our way through the Josuah Tree Forest via White Mtn Talc Rd, to South Saline Valley on up to the hot springs, Steele Pass to Eureka Dunes and finally to Titus Canyon. So if nobody hears from me by Sunday evening send for help lmao.

 

Which night were you up in a canyon? I thought I saw a fire going way out there Monday night. When did you spot me at the springs? You should have come and knocked on the camper if I wasn't out and about.

Temps were indeed higher during the day than I prefer and the wind sucked. It was windy Saturday afternoon/evening up in the Nelson Range too. I was probably hunkered down in the camper avoiding the wind. I did soak in the early evenings during the windstorms. My head is covered with bites...damn bastard bugs.

Any pics of your trip?

 

I came in Monday 3pm. Saw your truck then parked the furthest site north. Attempted to put up my ulcans. Failed miserably. Ate lunch. Then had a boiling pot fly off my stove.
I said f this and left at 6.

Stayed near Mcevoy (sp?) Canyon. Nice breeze. Bugs were bad. 90% deet worked. Slept like a baby. Came down back to the springs next morning. Wind picked up @ about 3pm. Said f this again and headed to Eureka valley.

I would of stopped by, but I'm pretty intolerable when it's windy.

Brought my camera gear. But it's been too windy.

Did Hunter mtn and it's all passable.

 

I came in Wednesday via North Pass and it was dry. Nothing any SUV couldn't get through. As soon as we got to the springs the wind kicked up and went hard the whole night. Kind of a bummer and there were a ton of people there by my standards.

Came up Lippincott yesterday and then out to Ubehebe. Couldn't find camping so we ended up driving all the way to Wildrose which ended up being great. Today we did all the Furnace Creek tourist stuff. Found a great spot up Echo Canyon Rd. Thanks to whoever suggested that from here.

This is camp tonight:

 

Going through Steele Pass with @wheel.every.weekend

 

Was out last week for one day and caught one of the Dutch F-35's going thru Rainbow. Wind was bad around lunchtime but simmered down to nothing by the afternoon.

 

Did you guys intentionally pick a rough line? I don't remember having to do anything like that in the past, but of course conditions do change!

Nice photos and flex BTW!

 

This is the line that I usually take , notice my sliders are not even touching it all wheels are on the ground