Northern Death Valley National Park

LATE CHANGES DUE TO WEATHER!
    —Must Carry Chains!—

Date of Event

Saturday and Sunday, February 24-25, 2000

Location and Travel Info

Big Pine is located on Hwy 395, 26 mi. north of Independance (42 mi. north of Lone Pine, 15 mi. south of Bishop)

Distance to Big Pine:
From Los Angeles - 276 miles

Gas along Hwy 395:

• Pearsonville
• Coso Junction
• Olancha
• Lone Pine
• Independance
• Big Pine

Recommended Friday Night Lodging

Big Pine Lodging:

• SOLD OUT   Bristlecone Motel is located at 101 North Main Street. They have fish cleaning and freezing facilities. They have kitchens and microwaves. Laundromat and Mini Mart, Mobil Gas. PHONE:(760) 938-2067. NOTE: I'll be staying here as it is directly across the street from Rossi's Restaurant and Bar.
• Big Pine Motel is located at 370 South Main Street. 14 rooms. They have a complete courtyard with a gazebo and benches. They also have BBQ and fish cleaning facilities. For more information call (760) 938-2282.
• Starlight Motel is located at 511 South Main Street. They have 8 rooms. All rooms have coffe makers and refrigerators. Cable TV. PHONE:(760) 938-2011.
• Big Pine Resort Cottages, 505 S. Main Street. One bedroom cottages, furnished with kitchen. Patio, BBQ, fish cleaning facilities. (760) 938-2922
• Suggestion for more upscale accomodations:
  Bishop (15 mi. north of Big Pine) - Best Western Creekside Inn, 725 North Main Street. Rates approx. $119 per night for king bed and mountain view. Call (760) 872-3044.

Recommended Saturday Night Lodging

Panamint Springs Resort:

• SOLD OUT   Panamint Springs Resort is located on Highway 190 in Death Valley National Park, 50 miles east of Lone Pine. They have a limited number of rooms, some with up to three double beds. There is a popular restaurant and bar on site, and several campsites as well. PHONE:(775) 482-7680.

Stove Pipe Wells Village:

• Stove Pipe Wells Village is located on Highway 190 in Death Valley National Park, 30 miles east of Panamint Springs Resort. They have an outdoor swimming pool, restaurant and lounge. For more information call (760) 786-2387.

Lone Pine:

• Dow Villa Hotel is located at 310 S Main Street. John Wayne stayed here while acting in his last film, "The Shootist". PHONE:(760) 876-5521.
• Frontier Motel Best Western, 1008 S Main Street. (760) 876-5571
• Alabama Hills Inn, 1920 S Main Street. (760) 876-8700

Meal Summary

Saturday Morning Breakfast:
Country Kitchen, Main Street, Big Pine

Sunday Morning Breakfast:
Either at Panamint Springs Resort, Stove Pipe Wells Village, or in Lone Pine.

Sat & Sun Lunch:
Along the trail

Sat Dinner:
At end of the trail, Panamint Springs Resort, Highway 190, approx. 50 east of Lone Pine
Serving BBQ Chicken & Ribs Dinners!

NEW Itinerary

Saturday, February 24

Fill gas tank in Big Pine; an external can may be necessary for D90's, if staying at Panamint Springs Resort on Saturday night, as they have no gas!

Meet either at:

1. Country Kitchen, Big Pine, for breakfast at 7:00 am
   OR
2. County Park on SE corner of Hwy 395 & Hwy 168 at 8:15 am

After brief orientation, the group will head east on Hwy 168, then will turn right on Death Valley Road toward Eureka Valley. We'll pass trailheads for Papoose Flats trail and the Saline Valley's North Pass Road. After crossing Eureka Valley, we'll continue east over the Last Chance Range (should be snow here), then south to Ubehebe Crater, in northern Death Valley. This entire stretch of road is usually maintained for passenger cars and RV's, but since the recent storms is now rated "4x4 High Clearance".

After a short break at the reminants of this spectacular old volcano, we'll leave the "improved" roads and begin the long trail into the famous but well-hidden Racetrack Valley. We should find snow at and around the Racetrack, but the trail is currently rated "4x4, or 2x4 with chains".

Racetrack Valley is home to the mysterious moving rocks. We'll stop here for an afternoon snack and a quick look at this unusual phenomenon.

Following this, the group will descend the legendary Lippencott Road into the lonely and remote Saline Valley. This trail used to be famous for turning white the nuckles of even experienced drivers. Though still a challenge, the Lippencott Road has been repeatedly tamed in recent years by an occasional bulldozer plow. HOWEVER, the Park Service currently rates this trail as "4x4 with chains required", so this will still be the most exciting part of our journey.

Assuming everyone survives the Lippencott Road, we'll join the washboardy but maintained Saline Valley Road up Grapevine Canyon to the South Pass. Though the Park Service lists this portion of the trail as "Open, 4x4 recommended", this was under four feet of snow only a few days ago. It appears that Inyo County may have plowed this just recently.

Given that this escape route is indeed passable, we'll decend across Lee Flats down to Highway 190. We'll travel the final few miles on tar, east to Panamint Springs Resort for dinner.

Sunday, September 17

NOTE: This may also need to change -- TBD

If staying Saturday night in Lone Pine or Stove Pipe Wells, fill tank again; those staying a Panamint Springs Resort will refuel from external cans, if necessary.

Meet at Panamint Springs Resort:

1. for breakfast at 8:30 am
   OR
2. after breakfast at 9:30 am

After another brief orientation, group will pickup an old, unmarked dirt road off of Highway 190 only a mile or two east of Panamint Springs. This road joins the Ash Hills loop trail to the Minneta Mine area where we'll take the trail up lower Stone Canyon, then up to Lookout City, an old ghost town perched high atop a mountain peak overlooking Panamint Valley.

We'll explore this area, then decend back down to Stone Canyon. Time permitting and participants willing, there is an optional, difficult rock climb a little ways up Stone Canyon, the first of three if one were to conquor this entire route.

After decending from Lookout Mountain, the group will join the Panamint Valley Road via the Minneta Mine Road, about 40 miles north of Trona, at approximately 2:00 pm to begin the long ride home.

Background Links

About Death Valley National Park and Region
Death Valley Road and Trail Conditions

For More Info