Z
Zackb
Guest
Heading to Death Valley for a five day trip. Any good suggestions on trails are good dispersed camping?
Member I
Enthusiast I
Enthusiast II
21172
Pathfinder III
Heading to Death Valley for a five day trip. Any good suggestions on trails are good dispersed camping?
Contributor II
Let me know if the Rocks still move.I am going to Death Valley (and Joshua Tree) at the end of Feb. I really liked this route plan on YT, so I recreated the route in a GPX.
I'll be solo on my Feb trip. Most of those roads seem too challenging by myself, so I will be sticking to tamer trails this time.
Def want to hit Titus Canyon, though I think it is closed right now (for weather?). Hopefully it opens up.
GPX viewer
I'll be heading there the Valentine's day weekend. Definitely check out Rhyolite and Titus Canyon it's a beautiful drive. You can do it with 2wd high clearance.
I'll be in Death Valley and the eastern Sierra's that week as well. If you see my 68 bronco on the trail, please be sure to say hi!
Planning on Swansea/Gordo, Mengal Pass to Barker Ranch, Masourka Canyon/Papoose Flats, Reward Mine and Alabama Hills. View attachment 186829
Traveler III
21876
Hmm... wasn’t me. I was on Swansea/Cerro Gordo Yesterday. Went in on the Swansea side and made it bout 3 miles past the Salt Tram before having to turn around due to a abandoned Toyota Tundra that was stuck in the snow blocking the trail. We hiked for about a half hour looking for the the driver. Couldn’t find him.. We doubled backed down to Swansea and called the CHP to report the abandoned vehicle. Hope the driver is okay! Our guess is that he got a ride back into town...
We’re set on getting up to Cerro Gordo. We’re going to head up there today via the Cerro Gordo side.
Next up is Barker Ranch on Wednesday!
As of last week it was passable all the way to the salt tram. Snow drifts were only a few inches deep and maybe a foot at best in the deepest areasHow deep is the snow up Swansea thru the Salt tram? I was planning on going up that way early April.

but had tire tracks in them from other vehicles busting through. The last snow drift between Swansea and Cerro Gordo was blocked by a abandoned Toyota Tundra... with no way around. We called the local authorities to alert them in case the driver was missing. The next day we talked to Brent (the owner of Cerro Gordo) and he said that he was aware of the vehicle and that the driver was okay.
Enthusiast III
Cool photos, love that area, and really wished the fire didn't happen at Cerro Gorodo. Man that place has some amazing history.
Still have mixed feelings about the hotel at Cerro Gordo standing for 100 years and some kid buying the place and letting it burning down within the year... guessing he didn't know what knob and tube is.
Beautiful Bronco! Sure you hear that all the time haha.

Traveler III
21876
As of last week it was passable all the way to the salt tram. Snow drifts were only a few inches deep and maybe a foot at best in the deepest areas but had tire tracks in them from other vehicles busting through. The last snow drift between Swansea and Cerro Gordo was blocked by a abandoned Toyota Tundra... with no way around. We called the local authorities to alert them in case the driver was missing. The next day we talked to Brent (the owner of Cerro Gordo) and he said that he was aware of the vehicle and that the driver was okay.
Contributor I
Great picture!Thanks for the kudo's on the Bronco! Yes... the fire is a real bummer. The new owner of the Cerro Gordo seams to be doing a good job of restoring the place. We had a chance to spend some time with him last week. He's determined to rebuild the hotel to exact specs as the original.... sans bullet hole and blood stains. View attachment 188611