Asking for Planning Advice for a trip to Death Valley

Topic: Asking for Planning Advice for a trip to Death Valley (Read 4 times) previous topic - next topic

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December 22, 2004, 01:14:27 am

We are beginning to plan a trip to Death Valley in mid January and hope that some of you can offer us advice on hiways to take to get there, road conditions, grades etc etc. What to see, where to stay and perhaps where to stay away from. We will be leaving from the San Jose area. This group has been really helpfull in the past on giving suggestions on some of our other trips over the last 2 years. After Death Valley we'll go to Quartzsite and Phoenix, Grand Canyon. I'm familiar with the roads and conditions around Phoenix, Grand Canyon and Quartzsite but have never been the Death Valley so don't know much about how, what, where etc etc in that area.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Bob Nunes

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Re: Asking for Planning Advice for a trip to Death Valley

Reply #1 – December 22, 2004, 10:34:48 am

Yahoo Message Number: 48197

Quote

We are beginning to plan a trip to Death Valley in mid January and

hope that some of you can offer us advice on hiways to take to get there, road conditions, grades etc etc. What to see, where to stay and perhaps where to stay away from. We will be leaving from the San Jose area. This group has been really helpfull in the past on giving suggestions on some of our other trips over the last 2 years. After Death Valley we'll go to Quartzsite and Phoenix, Grand Canyon. I'm familiar with the roads and conditions around Phoenix, Grand Canyon and Quartzsite but have never been the Death Valley so don't know much about how, what, where etc etc in that area.

Quote

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Hi Bob!

Too bad you aren't coming earlier, then you could meet us with everyone attending the DVD get together. We'll be there from 12/26/04 until 1/2/05.

As you might know, they had some MAJOR thunderstorms in late summer and the main route into the (190) park on the east side was destroyed.
Rt-190 is closed from Furnace Creek to Death Valley Junction, and will likely be closed until spring.
First, to get into the area from San Jose this time of year probably means taking I-80 over Donner Pass and coming down 95 in Nevada or taking I-5/US-99 to Bakersfield then RT-58 over to Movjave. From Mojave, you can work your way through Ridgecrest, Trona, Panamint Valley until you hit RT-190 and go into the park from the west. Or you can stay on RT-58 to Barstow, take I-15 to Baker, the RT-127 north through Shoshone.

If you come down 95 in Nevada, turn west in Beatty and take the Daylight Pass road (374) west into the park. Alternatively, before reaching Beatty, you could take 72 by Scotty's Castle and into the north end of the park.

Coming in from the west on RT-190 takes you over 5,000 ft Townes Pass.
It's about a 4000 ft climb from the Panamint Valley, then a 5000 ft. decent down to Stovepipe Wells. It is doable (we've towed our 3800 lb. Wrangler this way), but YOU MUST use low gears going down to control your speed to avoid overheating your brakes!
If you go through Baker to Shoshone, then you have two choices. First is to take RT-178 into the southern end of the park and then the Badwater road up to Furnace Creek. Second, you could go through either Death Valley Junction or Pahrump to hit RT-95 and up to Beatty.
The southern end of the Badwater road is a bit narrow and curvy, but RT-178 has the least steep grades.
Coming over Daylight pass from Beatty is pretty good road, but a bit steeper.

RT-190 over Townes Pass is definitely the biggest climb!
Email me at art AT berggreen DOT org, if you want some ideas on where to stay and what to see.

Art

Re: Asking for Planning Advice for a trip to Death Valley

Reply #2 – December 22, 2004, 11:50:59 am

Yahoo Message Number: 48203

Bob
Art gave you a lot of good advice on how to get to DV. To save a lot of extra driving (it's a BIG place), I would come in at the North end of the park and stay at Mesquite Springs and see the sights in that area before heading to the South end of the park.
Having a high clearance toad is a great benefit, enabling you to see many parts of the park that are off limits to your LD. You really do not want to drive your LD on most, is any, of the dirt roads in DV.
The washboard is world-class and will rattle the heck out of your MH, I know, I tried it once and never again :-).
Be prepared for extreme variations in weather. The weather can be warm in the Valley and snowing at higher attitudes.
The Visitor's Center has lots of good advice and guidebooks.
DV's website has up to date information on weather, road conditions, camping and what sights to see.
Lets us know if you are towing or not so, we can make some other recommendations.
DV is an amazing place, after thirty years of visiting; we still are discovering new places.
Even if you do not have a toad, there are many areas to explore and the hiking is unlimited.

Larry

Asking for Planning Advice for a

Reply #3 – December 22, 2004, 12:13:14 pm

Yahoo Message Number: 48205

Larry, thanks for the advice and response. I'm getting more information from Art off line. We will be towing a Wrangler and are going with my wifes Sister and her husband. They will be towing a travel trailer with their F-250 Ford truck. Both ladies are somewhat limited in their mobility as they both have Multiple Sclerosis so our sightseeing will be close to where we can drive, without too much walking. We also take my wifes Pride scooter for her to get around in flat areas.

Thank you for all the great advice.
Bob Nunes

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