Death Valley Trails
Trail Ratings
A note on Death Valley trails: the conditions of most of the Death Valley trails are extremely dependent on weather conditions in the previous few weeks. The trails get re-graded and improved, but are very susceptible to flash floods and wash outs. In particular the canyon trails can be deadly if you are caught in a flash flood.
Easy: Can be done by the novice. Many sections may not require 4WD in good conditions. Roads are unpaved, infrequently maintained and are likely to have moderate grades, potholes, ruts, and edges with no guard rails.
Moderate: Can be done by the novice. Most people will find these trails to be a fun adventure with some steep climbs, narrow ledge roads (plenty wide for one Jeep, but not wide enough to pass in many places), some rocks that require slow & careful ascent, and water crossings that could be as high as the bumpers. The key is to take your time, go slow, and pay attention. The biggest concern on these trails is watching for other vehicles and taking the time to find a safe place to pass.
Challenging: Not recommended for the novice. Even experienced 4-wheelers may find the obstacles and ledges intimidating, and damage to vehicle is possible, unless extreme caution, careful throttle control and precise wheel placement is exercised.
Difficult: Experienced 4-wheelers only. Solo travel not recommended. Vehicle damage possible, even with slow ascent and careful wheel placement. Tippy sections, rocks and ledges 16” and higher, unreliable water crossings, deep mud, slippery sections, impassable snow banks possible in winter.
Racetrack Photo courtesy NPS
Death Valley 4X4 Trails
Some of our favorites…
The Racetrack
“Nestled in a remote valley between the Cottonwood and Last Chance Ranges, the Racetrack is a place of stunning beauty and mystery. The Racetrack is a playa — a dry lakebed — best known for it’s strange moving rocks. Although no one has actually seen the rocks move, the long meandering tracks left behind in the mud surface of the playa attest to their activity.”
Death Valley National Park Service
There are three trails that can be taken to get to The Racetrack offering all experience levels of 4 wheelers the opportunity to see The Racetrack and tour the surrounding area, enjoy the remote desert wilderness, experience the dramatic desert scenery, explore old mines and ghost towns. This area has something for everyone.
The Racetrack via Racetrack Valley Road
Trail Rating: Easy to Moderate (depending on weather/road conditions)
Distance: 28 miles (one way)
The Racetrack Valley Road starts at Ubehebe Crater at the north end of Scotty’s Castle Road and ends at the southern end of the The Racetrack.
Photo courtesy NPS
High clearance 4wd vehicles are recommended due to loose gravel, washboard, rocks and irregular maintenance. After a rainstorm 4wd can become essential.
Drive south from Ubehebe Crater Road, passing Teakettle Junction you will reach the Grandstand where you will reach an overlook of the Racetrack. Continuing south for another 2 miles to a parking area, then a south easterly walk of about half a mile will get you to one of the best viewing areas of the moving rocks and their tracks, many have moved as much as 1500 ft. About another mile south will take you to the ruins of the Lippincott Mine.
The Racetrack via Hunter Mountain Road/Hidden Valley
Trail Rating: Easy to Moderate (depending on weather/road conditions)
Distance: About 50 miles (one way)
About 66 miles (one way) starting on the Saline Valley Road at the intersection with Hwy 190, following the Hunter Mountain Road to Hidden Valley, passing the Racetrack on the eastern side, to Teakettle Junction, ending at the Ubehebe Crater.
Starting through the many beautiful Joshua Trees at Lee Flat, towards Hunter Mountain high above Panamint Valley with breathtaking views to the west of the valley and Telescope Peak in the distance. Olancha Peak in the Sierra Nevada’s can be seen to the southwest. Continuing over the summit of Hunter Mountain, about 7,000 ft, care should be taken in wet weather as this stretch gets very muddy after a storm and is often impassible in winter and early spring due to mud, ice and snow. The descent into Death Valley gives you terrific views of Sand Flat in the valley with the Cottonwood Mountains behind. Finally down from the mountain you reach Ulida Flat and on to Hidden Valley and a drive through wonderful desert scenery and Joshua Trees past the Racetrack on the left. There are many side trails along this route of mining, geological & historic interest. The Hidden Valley Road can be washboard with patches of deep dust, rocks and dips and is subject to flooding, mud and standing water after rains.
Titus Canyon
Trail Rating: Easy (depending on weather conditions)
Distance: 27 miles (one way - travel east to west)
Time: 2-3 Hours
“Titus Canyon has it all—rugged mountains, colorful rock formations, a ghost town, petroglyphs, wildlife, rare plants and spectacular canyon narrows as a grand finale! Visitors to Titus Canyon often include a stop at Rhyolite ghost town before starting the one-way drive. Don’t expect solitude on this trip. Titus Canyon is the most popular back-country road in Death Valley National Park.”
Death Valley National Park Service
One way (until the last 3 miles) dirt road — rough, steep and narrow. The road is often closed due to snow, mud or washouts. Flash floods can occur in the narrow canyon, if there’s any chance of rain, don’t go into the canyon.
There are many hiking trails along this trail to explore colorful side canyons, wonderful views, fossils, springs, rare plants, petroglyphs, ghost towns and of course the canyon itself.
The Titus Canyon Trail starts south of the Rhyolite Ghost Town turn-off on Hwy 374 and crosses the Amargosa Valley, climbing into the Grapevine Mountains entering the colorful Titanothere Canyon at White Pass. 30-55 million year old fossil beds can be found in this canyon. The trail continues over Red Pass at 5,250 ft where you have wonderful views back towards Titanothere Canyon and ahead towards Titus Canyon. Soon you will reach the Leadfield Ghost Town and then enter Titus Canyon with its high rising walls of limestone towering above you. The canyon gradually narrows down to less than 20 feet in places for the last 1.5 miles descending the roughest part of the trail opening at the mouth of the canyon to the final 2 way section of the road.
Goler Canyon
Trail Rating:
Goler Canyon/Mengal Pass: Challenging to Difficult (depending on road conditions)
Butte Valley/Warm Springs Canyon: Moderate
This trail has a mixed reputation as both easy and extremely hazardous; both can be true depending on the current condition of the road. The most difficult sections are at the beginning of the climb up Goler Wash before entering Death Valley National Park — a very narrow, deep canyon where severe flash floods are common in bad weather. If the trail has recently been improved and re-graded, the ascent is not too difficult, but after a flash flood the climb can be extremely challenging and dangerous. The conditions can change every year and at times the canyon is impassible. If there’s any chance of rain, don’t attempt the trail. The section over Mengel Pass is challenging, steep and rutted.
Distance: 33 Miles (one way)
The road to the trail enters the Panamint Range south of Ballarat Ghost Town from Wingate Road on the valley floor where the trail begins up Goler Wash into Goler Canyon to Mengel Pass at 4,328 ft, then follows Butte Valley and Warm Springs Canyon, entering Death Valley at West Side Road.
Photo courtesy NPS
The narrow Goler Canyon opens into spectacular desert mountain scenery as the trail enters Death Valley National Park. A short detour to the south will take you to the Barker Ranch — once the hideout of Charles Manson. Beautiful views surround you at the top of Mengel Pass. Dropping down into Butte Valley through Warm Springs Canyon to West Side Road the views of Death Valley are spectacular.
Regardless of the unpredictable trail conditions, this is an adventurous scenic trip with many interesting historic mines and cabins to visit along the way with a background of colorful rock formations. Well worth the drive, in the right weather conditions with the right vehicles and experienced drivers.
For more trails and an NPS map of the backcountry roads please go to http://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/upload/Backcountry%20Roads-2.pdf
For more information on current Jeep road conditions:
Furnace Creek Visitor Center: 760-786-3200
