BACKCOUNTRY & 4X4

Death Valley has many unpaved backcountry roads. A vehicle with high-clearance will be necessary for all of the roads described below, but four wheel-drive may also be required to traverse some of the rougher roads. Please inquire at the ranger stations for additional information and current road conditions. Please stay on established roads and drive carefully.

Big Four Mine:
(6 miles)

Heading north of Highway 190, this road along the east bank of Panamint Dry Lake, behind the 500 foot high Lake Hill, then turns east to the foot of Panamint Buttes and the Big Four Mine. The first five miles are wash-boards but easily passable until a small parking spot for hiking access to the Panamint Dunes. The last mile or so is slow and difficult rock-crawling, requiring a high-clearance 4x4.

Butte Valley via Warm Springs
(21 miles)

Heading west off of the West Side Road, this road follows Warm Springs Canyon past several talc mines before leading into scenic Butte Valley, at an elevation of 4500 feet. (4X4 required beyond mines) A rough road leads out of the park over Mengle Pass and into Panamint Valley to the west via Goler Wash. No Camping First 2 Miles. The western end of Goler Wash used to be very rough (click to see Quicktime Movie), but it was graded recently and is much improved.

Chloride City:
(14 miles)

This is one of the earliest sites of mining in Death Valley and can be reached via two roads. The rougher, but more interesting, route leaves the highway between Hell's Gate and Daylight Pass. After passing Monarch Canyon, 4X4 is required. No Camping First 2 Miles. The alternate road is located just beyond the park boundary east of Daylight Pass. Continue one mile south of the site of Chloride City for a spectacular view into Death Valley at Chloride Cliff.

Cottonwood / Marble Canyons:
(13 miles Marble Canyon; 18 miles Cottonwood Canyon)

The road begins east of the Stovepipe Wells airstrip and travels up the broad alluvial fan before reaching the canyon mouth. 8 miles in, the road drops into the wash and becomes rocky and rough. One mile past the end of the first narrows, a side road leads up Marble Canyon. Hikers can continue up this canyon beyond road's end to see some of the finest petroglyph-bearing canyon narrows in the park.

At the road's end up Cottonwood Canyon is a flowing stream lined with cottonwood trees. Please remember, camping is not permitted within 1/4 mile from any water source in Death Valley National Park. No Camping First 8 Miles.

Death Valley-Big Pine Road:
(22 miles)

This 68-miles of mostly dirt road at the Ubehebe Crater road to the south, then continues north to Crankshaft Junction. Here the road turns west, up and over the Last Change Range via Hanging Rock Canyon, into the Eureka Valley. The road continues west up and over the Inyo Mountains until its junction with Highway 168, just five miles north of Big Pine. There are no services along this route, and there can be large washouts in the Eureka Valley. No camping along this road.

Echo Canyon:
(10 miles)

The road begins two miles east of Furnace Creek Inn along Highway 190. The road tends to have deep gravel and is quite rocky 3 miles from the highway (4X4 required). The Needle's Eye, a natural arch, is located within the canyon narrows. The Inyo Mine is up the right fork 9 miles in and contains several old structures and remnants of mining equipment. The left fork continues past other old mines eventually becoming very rough 4x4 and exiting the park in Nevada. No Camping First 2 Miles.

Gold Valley:
(26 miles from Dante's View Road)

To access this road, travel 13 miles south on the Greenwater Valley Road from the paved Dante's View Road. The road into Gold Valley (4X4 required) leads off to the west, climbs over a pass in the Black Mountains, and drops into mountain-rimmed Gold Valley. The road ends at the spring in Willow Canyon. Camp at least 200 yards from any water source.

Harry Wade Road:
(32 miles)

This rough 4x4 road runs south from Ashford Junction to Highway 127, 30 miles north of Baker. This is the extreme southern entrance to Death Valley. It follows the Amargosa River and provides access to the Avawatz Mountains, Saratoga Springs, the Owlshead Mountains, and the Confidence Mill site. Except for the 12 mile stretch between Highway 127 and the Owl Hole Spring Road, the road is rough: there is deep sand along the way and a river crossing that can be impassible if there is deep water. This is a remote and seldom travelled route -- visitors must be well prepared.

Hanaupah Canyon:
(8 miles from West Side Road)

This canyon drains from the park's highest elevation 11,049 ft. Telescope Peak. The road climbs the huge alluvial fan before dropping into the gravel wash at the canyon's mouth 5 miles in (4X4 recommended in wash). Follow the south fork of the canyon to road's end, downstream from Hanaupah Springs. Hikers can continue past the end of the road. Camp at least 200 yards from any water source. No Camping First 2 Miles.

Hole-in-the-Wall:
(4 miles to the "hole"; 2 miles to road's end)

The road begins 5.5 miles east of Furnace Creek Inn on Hwy. 190 and traverses east up a rugged gravel wash. After passing through the 400' deep gap called Hole-in-the-Wall, the road becomes rougher (4x4 required). No Camping First 2 Miles.

Hunter Mountain / Hidden Valley:
(17.5 miles to old monument boundary)

From Teakettle Junction the road becomes rougher and high clearance is required. At the junction 3.2 miles in, the left fork (NE) continues 10 miles to White Top Mountain. The right fork leads one mile up to the Lost Burro Mine. The main road continues through Hidden Valley passing several abandoned mining areas on the way to Hunter Mountain. From here it is another 23 miles to Hwy. 190. (4x4 required to drive over Hunter Mountain).

Johnson Canyon:
(10 miles from West Side Road)

Beyond the end of the road a 1.5 mile hike leads up the canyon to Hungry Bill's Ranch, with its rock-walled terraces and fruit trees. Continue on foot up the south fork another 1/2 mile to several old mining prospects. No Camping First 2 Miles.

Lemoigne Canyon:
(4.4 miles)

This extremely rough road (4X4 required) starts 6 miles west of Stovepipe Wells. Crossing an alluvial fan with numerous washes, the mouth of the canyon is reached in 4.4 miles. Vehicle travel beyond this point is not allowed. No Camping First 2 Miles.

Lippencott Road:
(7 miles)

This road is considered to be the wildest ride in the Park. It decends from the southern Racetrack Valley to the Saline Valley Road, nine miles from the South Pass via Grapevine Canyon. Often impassible to most vehicles, the Lippencott Road is ominously well-signed TRAVEL AT YOUR OWN RISK! Since last graded around '97 storm waters have been up to their old tricks, causing deep washouts and gullies. This steep, windy, cliff-crawler is easiest travelled downhill and best travelled with other vehicles. If not already obvious, a high clearance 4x4 is required.

Owl Hole Spring Road:
(30 miles)

This road branches west off the Harry Wade Road, 12 miles north of Highway 127. This is a well groomed road, maintained by AT&T for access to the microwave tower at the road's deadend. This remote route provides access to Owl Hole Spring and the Black Magic Mine, and hiking access to Owl Lake, Lost Lake, the Epsom Salt Works, and Wingate Wash. This route skirts Fort Irwin Training Center, so be aware of unexploded ordinance here.

Panamint Valley - East Side Road:
(7 miles to Minnieta Mine Road; 14 miles to the Wildrose Road)

This road paralells the paved Panamint Valley Road, but across the playa along the east shore. Northern access is from Highway 190; midway access is via Minneta Mine Road, and southern access is from the Wildrose Road. Generally, the road is easily passable; but there are lots and lots of minor washouts that require 4x4. Near the Wildrose Road there are some very deep washouts that call for rock stacking.

Phinney Canyon:
(22 miles)

The road begins 11.7 miles north of Beatty, Nevada on Highway 95. Heading west across Sarcobatus Flats, the road forks in 12 miles to Strozzi Ranch on the left, and to Phinney Canyon on the right. Pinyon pine woodlands appear after the canyon is entered, and the road quickly becomes 4X4. From the pass there are views of the Grapevine Mountains high country and glimpses of the Sierra Nevada Range.

Racetrack / Teakettle Junction:
(22 miles to Teakettle Junction; 28 miles to the Racetrack)

The road begins at Ubehebe Crater and ends at the Racetrack playa, an ancient lakebed famous for its “moving rocksÝ. Although this road is often passable to 2-wheel-drive, conditions can vary. Beyond the Racetrack, the Lippencott Mine Road is still severely washed out. From Teakettle Junction, a road leads south and west through Hidden Valley, over Hunter Mountain, and finally to Highway 190. No Camping Along Racetrack Road.

Saline Valley:
(85 miles)

The Saline Valley Road runs from State Highway 190 on the south to the Death Valley-Big Pine Road on the north, skirting the base of the Inyo Mountains lengthwise through the Valley. Both the South and North Passes may be closed during winter due to snow, but generally the road is open and in good graded condition. The Saline Valley Road provides access to the Hot Springs, Hunter Canyon, the old Salt Works and Tramway, and the lush Salt Lake Marshlands. This can also be one of the worse washboard roads in the Park. The road is fairly well-travelled, but still very remote -- occasionally you can drive its entire length without seeing another vehicle. Avoid the temptation for high speeds -- mistakes can disable your vehicle.

Steel Pass - Saline Valley to Eureka Valley:
(25 miles)

This rough 4x4 road begins at Saline Valley Hot Springs and slowly climbs northeast to the top of Steel Pass. The road continues across a high plateau, then decends Dedeckera Canyon to the magnificant Eureka Sand Dunes. This is a very remote and rugged region of Park that is best travelled with more than one vehicle. Longer-wheelbase vehicles may find the canyon challenging. The Eureka Sand Dunes giant in size, quietly nestled against the picturesque Last Chance Range.

Titus Canyon:
(27 miles)

This popular road is ONE-WAY from east to west. To find the beginning of the drive, follow the highway toward Beatty, Nevada. Turn left 2.7 miles east of the park boundary. The road re-enters the park and winds through the Grapevine Mountains, then drops down through one of Death Valley's most spectacular canyons. Along the way watch for the ghost town of Leadfield and petroglyphs at Klare Spring. A self-guided booklet describing geology and trip highlights can be purchased at the visitor center. Although this road is often passable to 2-wheel-drive vehicles, conditions can vary, so check at a visitor center for current road conditions. No Camping Along Titus Canyon Road.

Trail Canyon:
(12 miles from West Side Road)

Climbing up the eastern flank of the Panamint Mountains, this road leads to a spring and old mining area at the forks of the canyon. Although some old maps show the road connecting with the Aguereberry Point road, that section was officially closed to vehicle traffic after a wash-out made it impassable. No Camping First 2 Miles.

Tucki Mine Road:
(2.5 miles to Telephone Canyon fork, 10 miles to Tucki Mine)

The road begins 1.7 miles up Wildrose Road from Emigrant Junction. At the mouth of Emigrant Canyon the road can be seen climbing up the bank on the other side. After crossing the slope to Telephone Canyon and climbing up it, the canyon forks. The old road up the right fork has been closed to vehicle traffic, but a short walk up it will bring you to a natural arch and an old mill site. The road continues up the left fork to the Tucki mine. No Camping First 2 Miles.