DEATH VALLEY TRAIL SUGGESTIONS??

“Will be heading to DV this week.Been there before but would like any trail or scenic areas suggestions.I like taking the road from olancha to dv and also the road out to beatty...I havent been to the dunes or the grandstand or racetrack so maybe some 411 from snownymph or socal peeps.Thanks”

“Kind of hard to miss the dunes if you're coming in from the west side (hwy 190) - they're right beside the road about 1-2 miles after you pass that giant RV parking lot and the ranger station at Stovepipe Wells.

Only trails I've been on are in the Panamint Mtns on DV's west side - Telescope Peak Panamint Butte, and Tin Mtn. With all the rain So Cal has gotten this year, I'd expect many of the dirt access roads to these and other peaks to be closed or snowed over this winter. Try Corkscrew Peak & Thimble Peak just northeast of Stovepipe Wells, and maybe Coffin Peak from the Dante's View parking lot (a short scramble). For scenery try the Pinnicles Natl Monument just outside DV in the Searles Valley - its know for its tufa towers. Also lots of scenic stuff in the valley: Scotty's Castle, the Ubehebe (?) craters, Artists Drive, Badwater & the Devils Golf Course (the giant salt flat with its brine shrimp pools). You might also want to try hiking up the canyons & ridges behind Scotty's Castle - there are some pretty good views one you get up on the ridgelines.”

“It's going to rain until mid-week. I hope you're headed out to DV after mid-week.”

“td,
is pinnicles on the west or east side of dv??Where exactly is it?Were leaving wednesday so it should look nice with all the new snow...”

“Hi Dave,

I've done a few peaks in the area. How many miles/el gain do you want to do? Do you have 4WD?

Peaks I've done (on my website): Corkscrew Pk & Ubehebe Pk (accessible), Thimble Pk (TITUS CANYON Road is closed), Pyramid Pk (not sure if the road is accessible), Eagle Mtn #2 (not accessible at this time), Telescope Pk & Wildrose Pk (the road is closed at the CHARCOAL KILNS, got 4" new snow), (Photo from Searles: http://community.webshots.com/photo/274570334/274579848YgtoOK ) , Searles Pk, Slate Benchmark, and Panamint Butte (was accessible 2 weekends ago).

The dunes by STOVEPIPE WELLS is easy to get to, park by the side of the road. Wildflowers are out now, but we drove in the dark and missed it.

BADWATER was filled with water end of Jan http://community.webshots.com/album/268502496UnHFFX
but was dry two weeks ago. I think the ARTIST'S PALATE road is inaccessible but you can hike it. MARBLE CANYON was washed out a few weeks ago from the last storm. SOUTH PARK ROAD is blocked (slide) as of a few weeks ago.

We accidently found the old STROZZI RANCH http://community.webshots.com/photo/243268334/243961758HLwYNu
if you're into stuff like that. It was about 20 miles off the road north of Beatty.

SCOTTY's CASTLE and UBEHEBE CRATER are accessible. Scotty's Road from 190 was closed Saturday as crews were pushing debris off the road.

The Amargosa is flowing and is 1.5 - 2 feet deep and 25 feet wide. Last weekend trucks could make it, rental cars could not.

Trona Pinnacles is on the south end of DV. We camped there the night before we did Searles Peak. Morning view: http://community.webshots.com/photo/274570334/274572083uiVClz

Lunch is over, back to work!
last edited: 2/21/05 3:25:50 PM”

“Hi snow nymph,
no im going with my dad so no hard stuff.I dont have 4x4...I liked your grandstand pic a few yrs back- where is that located?”

“Hi Dave,

The Grandstand is on the Racetrack. You can see its not far from my truck: http://community.webshots.com/photo/101173064/101568447CfhXDU
Its the northern part of DV, requires a long drive on a washboard road (start at Scotty's Castle). Make sure you carry a regular size spare tire, not the donut. The Grandstand is at the northern end of the Racetrack, short hike from the road as long as the mud is not wet. The southern end is famous for its "moving rocks" but is underwater right now. The road to the south is the Lippencott 4WD road. Not recommended without high clearance or 4WD.
For road tour info, go to the visitor center at StovePipe Wells, and they probably have something with all the sites to see. If you're coming from the south, Trona Pinnacles is about 45 min- 1 hr from Ridgecrest. About 5 yrs ago I was there and saw a spaceship with its nose in the ground. We got closer and were kinda chased out. It was the filming area for Planet of the Apes. Pretty cool to see that. It was getting dark, so we didn't get any good photos.

Found this site: http://www.desertusa.com/dv/du_dvptodo.html

Have fun!”