Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

^ i don't know of anything special out there...but if you drive at night use your lights

 

Steel Pass is really worth the effort. The descent through Dedeckera is particularly cool when you first catch a glimpse of the dunes.

​

 

So true. When I caught that first glimpse, I was like a kid in a candy store. The dunes are so light compared to everything else you've been seeing up to that point; such great contrast!

Love the composition of that photo; still processing mine, but I don't think I got one framed as nicely.

 

OK, photos are edited, and the writing has begun! Grab a mug of your favorite beverage, it's a crazy one.

. . .​

...when I found out that @mrs.turbodb was headed out of town for a week, I was quick to make plans for a return trip to Death Valley. Going solo, my route did include a few of our favorite spots (Butte Valley and Goler Wash), but focused on several new areas as well - most outside of Death Valley proper (West Side Road, Charcoal Kilns, Saline Valley + Warm Springs, Steel Pass, and Eureka Dunes)...

read on: Back to Death Valley - Day 1, 2 - A Struggle from the Start

.​

 

Here's a few from my recent five day run through DV. Most from my cell phone and unedited...

Found a Flippac


If you go to Furnace Creek stop by the Indian Reservation area and grab an "Indian Taco". Pretty good stuff.


Brand new roads

 

We used to go up for a three-day-weekend all the time when I lived in north LA County. It's totally doable, you just need to get an early start.

 

im down!

 

You can have a day trip by starting in Ballarat, go up and explore Middle Park and South Park, or head over to Goler Wash to check out Barker Ranch, Mengel Pass and on into Striped Butte Valley

 

Will 2wd be ok out there in the valley of doom?

 

Welcome to TW.
It will depend on your off-road experience and where you plan to go. I'd say a large portion of the park can be enjoyed by 2WD.

 

Pretty sure once you visit any aspect of "doom" will be eclipsed by how incredible DV is.

 

4wd, 2wd, that’s all easy. I just talked with a guy I know, whose wife rode from the Saline/Big Pine intersection out to Eureka Dunes, Steel Pass, Saline Hot Springs, Lippincott and then to the Racetrack. 1wd - and no motor, on her bicycle With camping gear on the bike. Now that’s overlanding!

 

The Death Valley trip continues - Goler Wash, Charcoal Kilns, Mahogany Flat, Panamint Valley, South Pass, and Saline Valley - quite the day.

Return to Death Valley - Day 3

...As I crawled into the tent, a warm light breeze and quiet
sounds of the desert lulled me to sleep quickly. Even if
the springs weren't the amazing destination that they used to be,
the desert itself made up for it - that was for sure.

Little did I know that as I slept change was afoot...

Read the story and see the pics - Return to Death Valley - Day 3 - A True Oasis

​

 

Saline Valley, Warm Springs landing strip. Saw this last April 2017. According to those that were there at the moment of Ooops! the pilot miss-judged the winds and flipped his bird while landing. We got there just after the pilot was air-lifted out for medical aid.

 

Sad fate for a very nice aircraft.

 

Back to Death Valley – Day 4, 5 – Steel Pass & Eureka Dunes
​

... A couple hours after falling asleep just north of
Saline Valley Warm Springs, I was awoken by what
I initially thought was a gunshot in my dream. But,
with the valley still echoing, I soon realized it was no dream.​

...​

Read on: Back to Death Valley – Day 4, 5 – Steel Pass & Eureka Dunes




read more of Back to Death Valley [day 1,2] [day 3] [day 4,5]


.​

 

Great report, thanks for taking the time to put it together. I'm still working on mine from last week.
There are timeframes when the springs are far less crowded. If there was a functioning seasonal camp host at Palm Spring (middle springs) things such as fireworks and dogs off leash would be less likely to happen.

 

Looking forward to yours!

 

Guys, keep posting your Death Valley/Panamint Valley/Mojave pics..grew up as a kid in Cali,many great weekend, family trips to the desert and seeing your pictures...man nothing has changed,still looks the same,just awesome!!!...now the rest of my old home state?...you guys can keep that!

 

The first part of my most recent trip to DV...
http://d-e-r-p.blogspot.com/2018/04/death-valley-spring-2018.html