Death Valley National Park Travel Forum

We are from the UK and flying into LV late Sat. Night in November and on the Monday setting off for 4/5 days visiting Grand Canyon/Monument Valley and looping round southwards on the return journey (maybe taking in Sedona, if we have time). However, the one day we have free is the first Sunday, when we would like to do a day trip to DV. We are renting a 4x4 and are thinking of taking the following route:

Route 95 to Beatty (fill up with gas, as recommended on this site :-)
Route 374 into the valley, which I believe is a nice scenic route in) forking left down the Daylight Pass Cutoff to Join Route 190.

We have decided against going to Scotty's Castle this time, as we feel it is too far north and will add too many miles to the trip (besides we are more into scenery than property/castles etc). What is so special about SC as I have noticed that everyone here recommends it?

We'll stop at Furnace Creek as I think, this is where the Visitors Centre is?

We'll then carry on down Route 178 and do a loop around Artists Drive, then literally carry on down 178 until we reach Shoshon and Pahrump, then back to LV on Route 160.

I'd be grateful for any views/advice anyone can offer as to if I've got anything wrong or if you can offer any better routes or stop off points along the way.

Many Thanks

Just to say I have never understood the fascination with Scotty's Castle, the nature of Death Valley beats it hands down IMHO. Furnace Creek is where the vistors centre is. Zabriski Point, Badwater, Devil's Golf Course, Artist's palette and Stove Pipe Wells are the main places in my book.

Regards

John

I couldn't agree more with John. The Nature of Death valley is spectacular, anything man made is pale in comparison. I would however go North because in particular I like Ubehebe Crater. Your route plan seems like a good one with the exception that I would double back after the artist's drive and leave the park after a visit to the Dante's Peak lookout. It will be spectacular in the evening with the sun going down behind the funeral range to the west. I'm sure others would disagree but I don't think the scenery South of Badwater would compensate for missing Dante's View. Afte Dante's view you can head to vegas via Death Valley Junction.

Here's a link to the Geological survey site on Death Valley.
http://geology.wr.usgs.gov/parks/deva/gallery.html

Also here is a link to an excellent pdf map of the park.
http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/national_parks/death_valley_park97.pdf

This is great day trip, get an early start because it is about three hours from Vegas and you'll need most of the day to get a good look around. Yes, the visitor center is at Furnace creek, and it is worth a visit.

By the way there are some great parklands around Vegas as well. Red Rock canyon, Valley of Fire, and of course lake mead and boulder Dam.

Thanks guys - you set my mind at rest about Scottys Castle but 'oldguy' you've got me tempted by the Ubehebe Crater. I guess that would mean an extra 70'ish miles on our trip? I think that might be a 'play it by ear scenario' depending on how tired we are with all the driving (bearing in mind it will be our first day and we'll probably be well jetlagged :-)

Since reading your replies I have been studying the map you suggested (zoomed in to 200%, so that I can read it!!) and one thing I noticed is that Artists Drive is one way, South to North (when we wanted to do it the other way round), so I guess that back tracking after seeing Badwater, will be more enjoyable with different views to see on the way back up!

I have noticed there are two different viewing points - Zabriskie and Dante's. Is there much to choose from between them?

Although I have been reading about how wonderful it is to see the sunset from one of these views, I am a little worried that once the sun has gone down and we are still in the Park, that the driving out until reaching better roads will be hazardous in the dark.... what do you think?

Another query I have for any of you good people 'in the know' is about Titus Canyon. I read on the DVNP.com site that it is a lovely, scenic drive down into the valley and at first I just thought it was the main R374 but on studying your map, I noticed that it is not a main route but an 'unpaved/high clearance recommended' road. Although we'll be driving a 4x4, would it be classed as 'off road' as far as our insurance is concerned? How rough is it? Has anyone experienced it?

The crater is worth a look, but if you go up there then Scotty's castle is just a short distance away. We have not gone on the tour just stopped and looked from the outside and read up on the history.

If I am reading you correctly this will be your first full day after flying from the UK. My suggestion would be don't do anything that day and just try to recover and rest up. The other parts of your trip are awesome and as interesting as DV might be taking a day to adjust will make the rest of your time more relaxing.

Sorry, I can't recall taking the titus canyon road. I think because of time constraints If I were you I would stick to the pavement. Rough roads can eat up a lot of time. And yes, the crater does add an hour and half of driving... If you are going to make it a quick trip then go to Dante's, Badwater, Furnace Creek visitor center, and have a quick look at borax works North of Furnace creek. If you can get to the Keene Mine, that would be good too. You may have to leave the crater and the sand dunes for another trip. Dante's Peak is a must do. Zabriski point is just a pullout on the side of the road that is pretty nice if I remember it correctly. Death Valley is a huge place and a few hours will give you a decent look. If you find your flight hasn't exhausted you go for it.
One thing in your favour is that you are flying West. I find that is never as tiring as giving up a night's sleep flying East.

I agree with your concerns about driving at night. I remember doing just that the last time I was down and found the roads winding and long. I wasn't thinking of you having just arrived. Try and make it back to the highway by sundown, I wouldn't want to think of you traveling the backroads if you are tired..
Be safe and have a great trip.

If you go on Titus Canyon Road you will need the high clearance vehicle, if you don't then there's no need to rent one for the places you've described. If you go via Beatty stop at Rhyolite, a ghost town between the town and the park. Since your time is limited and you will be tired I would skip Ubehebe crater and Scotty's Castle and concentrate on Stovepipe Wells and south. So that includes the sand dunes at Stovepipe Wells, the interpretive trails, Furnance Creek visitor center, Zabriskie Point, Artist's Palette, Natural Bridge, Badwater and Dante's View. I wouldn't worry about driving at night except for your possible fatigue.

When you travel Hwy. 127 and enter Shoshone, look on the east side (left traveling from DV toward GC) for Cafe Cest Si Bon. This is a WONDERFUL place! great espresso and crepes.... it's in a small house that is now a lovely cafe. and judging from your name on here, you'll could be equally interested in the cemetery across the street. We spent a magical afternoon there snapping pics at the cemetery and sharing a nice cup of espresso. Quite the unexpected find in the middle of the desert.

http://www.nicholas-eaton.com/cafe-cest-si-bon.php

I wouldn't plan to spend any time in Pahrump. Not much to see. More interesting places along the way..... and it's a long drive from DV to GC Probably between 6 and 7 without stopping along the way to enjoy an espresso.... if you continue through Shoshone on 127 to Tecopa Hot Springs http://www.tecopahotsprings.net/ you can stop at the hot springs or just follow the map to get to 160 from here on "Old Spanish Hwy". This has some great views and you miss Pahrump altogether. When we day trip to the area, we usually go this way....

While in AZ......
Be sure and spend some time in Flagstaff... GREAT little city... NiMarco's Pizza at 101 South Bever has some of the best Pizza EVER.

If you're interested in Ruins, also go to Wupatki National Mounment off of 89. and if you're interested in Dinosaur tracks, you can see some for free. North on 89 to 160, east on 160 about 4 miles. You'll see the handmade signs. The old Navajo woman there was very gracious in sharing stories about growing up there and playing among the tracks... amazing!

Thanks again all you guys for your suggestions. Sevsa, we have already booked and paid for a 4x4 (thought we would treat ourselves on this occasion to a more luxurious vehicle - on normal holidays we tend just to go for the smallest 4 doors) so would presumably be OK in that respect to drive down through Titus Canyon but just hoping that someone with experience of having done it, can let us know if it is very hazardous (ie: any really narrow, ledge type roads with long drops???)

We aren't driving directly to Grand Canyon from DV as we have booked 2 nights at Las Vegas (the Sat we arrive and the Sun after our return from DV) and plan on setting off to GC, early Mon morning.

Going back to our route through DV, if we strike off along the 190, which according to my AAA map is very scenic up until DV Junction, bearing in mind it will probably be dark or near dark by the time we reach DVJ, we then will want to just get back to LV by the quickest possible route to rest up, ready for our trip the next day. We thought from DVJ we would need to get over to the Route 160 by the shortest route and from my humble map, it looks as if that would be the road to Pahrump? I'll doubt we'll be doing any more sight- seeing that day and will only be stopping again maybe for gas or food breaks.

So unfortunately, it looks like we'll have to give Tecopa Hot Springs and the Cafe Cest Si Bon a miss this time :-)

If you want the fastest way back to vegas, it will be through Pahrump. and as i think about it, if your're i a 4X4, you might need gas. In the later part of your trip, Pahrump is going to be your only hope until you are almost back in Vegas.

I've been on Titus Canyon Road but I was on foot because a part of it had been washed out and we couldn't drive it. Therefore I can only comment on the last part of the road coming from the park end in California and going up to the spring. That part would be an easy drive in any normal sedan.
If you had more time in DV then you could drive to The Racetrack to see the rocks that move on their own and go to various other places where you need a four wheel drive vehicle. However with just a limited time I would still stick with the sights that are on or near paved roads.
As someone else mentioned mosr rental contracts state that you can't drive on unpaved roads. I've done it without problem but if something happens while you are off a paved road you are liable.
Anyway enjoy it. I love it and although I live quite far away from the park I've been there dozens of times.

"If" you are in DV the first week of Nov you will have lots of company as it is the "49ers Encampment" with all the music, story telling, etc. of the era and lots of RVs. With your time limitations, stick to the main sights suggested by other reviewers. Titus Cyn is beautiful, but I don't think you have time to see it. Check out the website: www.deathvalley49ers.org
I also agree that Valley of Fire is worth seeing near LV.
Website: http://parks.nv.gov/vf.htm

jollyjeri