Death Valley Introduction

[DoubleH]

Wow, great report! Thanks for taking the time to post.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 19 [Odds & Ends]

More petroglyphs.


Twenty Mule Team Canyon.


Leadfield.


Near Titus Canyon.


Beatty, Nevada.


Camping.


Lippincott Pass.


Applying for a backcountry permit.


Backpacking above Cottonwood Canyon.


Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes.

 

[Scrounger]

Nice pictures and report! Theres JUST enough routefinding on that cottonwood/marble loop to keep it spicy as a solo trip. Years ago, I ran into a group that had missed the final jog over ridge and into marble canyon. Got turned around in those canyons and spent 3 days finding their way out.

Cheers!

 

[TripLeader]

Nice pictures and report! Theres JUST enough routefinding on that cottonwood/marble loop to keep it spicy as a solo trip. Years ago, I ran into a group that had missed the final jog over ridge and into marble canyon. Got turned around in those canyons and spent 3 days finding their way out.

Cheers!

I totally agree. I had to check out a couple of different options before I settled on the right route to take me toward Marble Canyon.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 20 [Badwater]

No introductory trip to Death Valley would be complete without a stop at Badwater Basin, the lowest point of elevation in North America.

 

[TripLeader]

Part 21 [The Long Drive Home]

We left the park after Badwater Basin. We spent a night in the desert somewhere east of Las Vegas.


We continued on and spent one more night on the road before arriving at home.

That was the trip. Thanks for reading the report. I hope you liked it.

 

[Idaho_Pakeha]

Neat overnighter.

If someone wants to do that Cottonwood/Marble Canyon hike, the drive to the "trailhead" gets pretty rough by the end; you're basically driving down a dry wash. You start hiking wherever you decide to stop, which in this case, was next to a significant wash-out.

If you're willing to walk a few more miles, it can be done in a car you don't care about very much.

That road is a little rough, but the petroglyphs are worth it! I did it on my DRZ-400 with a buddy (who had never ridden in sand-well he has now!) and it was challenging but fun. I talked to a Ranger who said that they don't put up signs for Marble Canyon because they had to pull too many stuck vehicles out...