Death Valley GPS: scenic dispersed backcountry *roadside* camping?

[LosAngeles]

Death Valley GPS: scenic dispersed backcountry *roadside* camping?

Hi all - in April I am planning on spending 1 night camping in Death Valley. (sadly I can’t stay longer)

I will be in a self contained, 4x4 high clearance truck camper, so I would prefer a private, safe, silent + scenic place to camp. I need no hookups.

Anyone have any GPS co-ordinates to share? That way it would be hopefully easy to find.

As i only have 1 night to camp, and don’t need any facilities at all… I’d rather be on my own, with just stars and silence. I know I need to be at the side of a dirt road in an already disturbed place. (see below)

Here is more info as to where i can NOT boondock - there are a lot of places I can’t boondock.
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm

and… I am aware that “Off-Road Driving is prohibited. The desert environment is extremely fragile and slow to recover from vehicle damage. If pulling off a road to camp, choose a place that has already been disturbed.”

and… I am aware: “Where is dispersed backcountry roadside camping allowed?
Along dirt roads at least one mile away from any paved road or "day use only" dirt road.
Camp only in previously disturbed areas and park your vehicle immediately adjacent to the roadway to minimize impact. The wilderness boundary is 50 feet from the center of most dirt roads.”

Thanks.

 

[BillTheHiker]

Have you determined where you will enter and exit the park? That would help offering suggestions.

 

[LosAngeles]

p.s. - more info, as it is needed. Sorry to be not more specific initially

So my ambitious plan is to arrive to Panamint Springs area about 2 pm-ish…. on a Thursday. Early April coming up.

Probably best if I stop for the dinner / camp / crash out a little ways east of Panamint Springs… but ideally somewhere silent and scenic… then hit the road early the next morning.

Maybe I camp somewhere just east of Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes + adjacent Stovepipe Wells?

Things I’d love to see the next day if I can somehow squeeze it all in

Zabriskie Point
Devils Golf Course
Badwater Basin
Artists Drive / Artists Palette (at sunset)

(likely won’t have time for Dante’s View)
(likely won’t have time for Rhyolithe Ghost Town in NV outside of the park, sadly - too far north east for the time I have)
(I would love to see The Racetrack but sadly i know it is a 28 mile dirt road trip, so sadly I will not have time for it.)

Then exit out the east side on the 190 to drive 2 hours that Friday early evening… to overnight camp at Lovell Canyon. NV, near Vegas.

Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[LosAngeles]

also - I just got this web link - helpful info for the area.....

https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/upload/Backcountry%20Roads.pdf

 

[BillTheHiker]

That backcountry roads map shows a road heading North just East of Panamint Springs. It leads to the Panamint Dunes at about 7 miles. Anywhere along that road is decent camping. First few miles are flat, except lots of dips as you drive cross-grain over the alluvial plain. I camped about 2.2 miles in where you start getting some level, smooth playa surface next to the road. A short hike past that is an old mining road heading East up a canyon and it was a nice day hike with some old mine ruins. The drive East toward Stovepipe Wells is a long, long and steep climb up and then down again. I never found any dispersed camping near Stovepipe. I either stay one night at the park campground there, which is just a big dirt parking lot, or drive 30 minutes up the road to Cottonwood Canyon -requirement is 8 miles in for camping. The map shows a road on North side of 190 a few miles West of Stovepipe. I think that is Lamoine Canyon and I tried it but did not go very far. It has a steep drop into a wash and then I could not find where it picked up on the other side. I don't think it has been maintained for years.

For the area around Zabriski, Echo Canyon has decent camping after the required one mile. At the end of that road is one of the best mining ghost towns around. Have not been up Hole in the Wall but read it is good for camping.

Since you are going through Pahrump on the way out I should mention there is good boondocking off Wheeler Pass Road.

 

[LosAngeles]

Super helpful - thanks Bill!!

(you) For the area around Zabriski, Echo Canyon has decent camping after the required one mile. At the end of that road is one of the best mining ghost towns around.

Off the top of your head, do you happen to know how long the Echo Canyon road is? I can't remember. and if you happen to recall... about how long to do that drive to the end of Echo Canyon Road? I do love mining ghost towns.

That backcountry roads map shows a road heading North just East of Panamint Springs. It leads to the Panamint Dunes at about 7 miles. Anywhere along that road is decent camping. First few miles are flat, except lots of dips as you drive cross-grain over the alluvial plain. I camped about 2.2 miles in where you start getting some level, smooth playa surface next to the road. A short hike past that is an old mining road heading East up a canyon and it was a nice day hike with some old mine ruins. The drive East toward Stovepipe Wells is a long, long and steep climb up and then down again. I never found any dispersed camping near Stovepipe. I either stay one night at the park campground there, which is just a big dirt parking lot, or drive 30 minutes up the road to Cottonwood Canyon -requirement is 8 miles in for camping. The map shows a road on North side of 190 a few miles West of Stovepipe. I think that is Lamoine Canyon and I tried it but did not go very far. It has a steep drop into a wash and then I could not find where it picked up on the other side. I don't think it has been maintained for years.

For the area around Zabriski, Echo Canyon has decent camping after the required one mile. At the end of that road is one of the best mining ghost towns around. Have not been up Hole in the Wall but read it is good for camping.

Since you are going through Pahrump on the way out I should mention there is good boondocking off Wheeler Pass Road.

 

[BillTheHiker]

Maybe 5 or 6 miles to the old Inyo mine. From the paved highway I think it took 45 minutes. I drive slow and have seen SUVs going twice as fast. At the 3 mile point there is a rock ledge in the road but had no trouble with my Tacoma.

 

[LosAngeles]

Someone suggested to try to see fighter jets in Rainbow canyon Death Valley and I know that is close to Panamint Springs, but Google Maps doesnt show me clearly how to get to Rainbow canyon Death Valley...?

any tips?

thx

 

[ski3pin]

Father Crowley Overlook on 190

Someone suggested to try to see fighter jets in Rainbow canyon Death Valley and I know that is close to Panamint Springs, but Google Maps doesnt show me clearly how to get to Rainbow canyon Death Valley...?

any tips?

thx

 

[kmacafee]

We were just at the Father Crowley overlook. According to several people, they stopped flying thru there due to the recent crash. They have found more private canyons for training.