Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

What Crom said. I call that whole stretch Tourist Town. He forgot to mention Zabriski Point, Dante's Peak, and Badwater. Zabriski is an absolute must-see.
What he means by "it's a big park, plan accordingly" is that what looks like a reasonable distance on the map means a really long drive in the car. DV takes a LONG time to traverse, unless you stay in one small area. Once you get off the pavement it takes seemingly exponentially longer (I'm thinking specifically of the Racetrack).
If you go to Devil's Golfcourse, there's a reasonably-unknown hole in the valley floor. It's really cool, 'cuz you can see that the whole salt pan is pretty much floating on brine. It's worth looking for. Here's how to find it: As you enter the parking cul-de-sac, you will want to head about the 10:30-o'clock position; go about 100-150 yards, and you should see about a 2'x3' oblong hole in the ground, filled with water.
If you want to experience the full range of DV in a single day, visit the Charcoal Kiln area in the Panamints. I have experienced snow falling on me in the morning there, only to drive that same day down to Tourist Town and swelter under 102* heat. It's a big Big BIG park.
Fuel available in Furnace Creek (most expensive fuel in CA), and at Stovepipe Wells (much cheaper). Supplies at Stovepipe Wells.

 

^ Great information. I concur!

 

Check in with the Rangers if you plan to go off road, ask about road conditions, 4x4 or 2x4 traversable, mileage of the roads is going to a lot less than when you are on the roads. Off-road bring a lot more gas than you think you need and always bring lots of water, like I've said before, Death Valley got its name for a reason. Even in winter it is still the most extreme place in the western hemisphere.

 

Thanks for the great advice! This will help lots! I plan on being in there at least a couple days so this gives me a big to do list, obviously wont be able to see it all.

Ya checking in with the rangers is a good idea. Definitely gonna want somewhere to know where i am. I have a couple jerry cans i plan on bringing so gas wont be an issue. I cant wait to get there!

 

Just keep in mind it is a ranger's job to be overly conservative about conditions.

 

We just got back last night from Saline Valley. Got to the springs Friday afternoon. The weather was interesting the four days spent in the valley. The first three days we had intermittent dark clouds which threatened rain and wind. Neither happened which was great. Temperatures were perfect. Yesterday the peak temp was 70F. We also got several flybys from two of the Thunderbird team. They even did some smoke on stuff down near the lake.

For those of you going in for the holiday it will be busy! On our way out NP we saw a variety of vehicles. Even a Toyota Venza. Now I usually don't wish harm to others but this jackass was hauling down the road towards the springs. I couldn't believe he had made it that far on the road. He must have got a flat somewhere.

While in camp a Subie Imprezza shows up and sets up for the night. I spoke with him the next morning and he had come down Lippencott! Freaking impressive to say the least.


Now it is time to edit a few hundred photographs.

 

Congrats on your trip! I sorely wish I could make a trip out there. Look forward to seeing any pics / trip writeups.

 

Hope to leave here right after turkey!

 

Im betting the week after turkeyday will be quite pleasant.

 

We're planning on the week of Christmas to New Years.

 

Sub'd

 

It was.

 

Murph, where in DV did you venture?

 

Briggs and Striped Butte.

 

No invite?
Which route did you take?
Condtions?

When are you going again?

 

We're going between night 25th /morning of 26th until about the first. Join us?

 

Oh yeah, up until the night before we left, we were going to a cabin in Yosemite.

 

Anybody up for this weekend?
I'm heading out Friday bout 9AM.

 

Hmmmm... Just got back from a wheeling trip in Big Bend TX but...

 

What are you thinking?