The 32 Best Death Valley Backcountry Roads

# Exploring Death Valley's Epic Back Roads

Welcome to Death Valley National Park—where California meets Nevada in a landscape of pure extremes. This below-sea-level basin is the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the USA, and it's absolutely unforgiving. Expect scorching summer heat and relentless drought that'll test you and your vehicle like nowhere else.

**Before You Go:** Most of these roads demand serious clearance. A high-clearance vehicle is your minimum requirement, but many stretches absolutely need four-wheel drive. Pack extra water, spare tires, and don't underestimate this terrain.

**Echo Canyon Road** — 10 miles to Inyo Mine (start: Hwy 190, 2 miles east of Furnace Creek Inn). The first three miles need high-clearance; beyond that, you're in 4WD territory.

**Hole in the Wall Road** — 6 miles (start: Hwy 190, 5.7 miles east of Furnace Creek Inn). High-clearance gets you to the wall itself in the first four miles, but deep gravel and rocks demand 4WD for the final two.

**Chloride City Road** — 6.2 miles to Chloride City (start: Daylight Pass Road, 3.4 miles east of Hells Gate). Steep, rutted sections and steep spurs require 4WD, plus high-clearance for the final loop segment.

**Titus Canyon Road** — 26.8 miles (start: NV Hwy 374, 2.7 miles east of park boundary). High-clearance essential due to steep grades and gravel. Heads up: this road closes frequently for flood damage, mud, and snow. No RVs, campers, or trailers allowed.

**Phinney Canyon Road** — 21 miles (start: NV Hwy 95, 11.8 miles north of Beatty). High-clearance for the first 15 miles, then seriously steep and narrow terrain demands 4WD for the last three. Winter? Forget it—deep snow blocks this one.

**Cottonwood Canyon Road** — 17.7 miles (start: Stovepipe Wells Campground). Sand and washboard for the first eight miles on high-clearance, then drop into the wash where 4WD takes over. Watch out for that final 1.5 miles—they wash out regularly.

**Lemoigne Canyon Road** — 4.4 miles (start: Hwy 190, 6 miles west of Stovepipe Wells Village). Full 4WD required. Super rutted with numerous gullies to cross.

**Tucki Mine Road** — 10 miles (start: Emigrant Canyon Road, 1.5 miles south of Hwy 190). 4WD handles large rocks, deep gravel, and several dry falls that'll get your adrenaline pumping.

**Skidoo Road** — 7 miles (start: Emigrant Canyon Road, 9.4 miles south of Hwy 190). High-clearance only, but watch for protruding rocks at the 3.5-mile mark—sedans risk real undercarriage damage. Snow and mud can appear without warning.

**Aguereberry Point Road** — 6.3 miles (start: Emigrant Canyon Road, 11.8 miles south of Hwy 190). High-clearance with a rocky outcrop at 3.5 miles and a steep, rocky final half-mile to an amazing viewpoint. Sedans beware. Winter conditions are unpredictable.

**Charcoal Kilns/Mahogany Flat Road** — 5 miles to kilns, 8.7 to Mahogany Flat (start: Wildrose Campground). Most vehicles can handle the unpaved section, but high-clearance is needed for the final 1.6 miles. 4WD might be necessary beyond Thorndike Campground. No RVs or trailers. Expect snow and ice seasonally.

**Lake Hill Road (Big Four Mine)** — 5 miles (start: Hwy 190, 4.5 miles east of Panamint Springs Resort). High-clearance for the first five miles, then 4WD tackles the washed-out section to the mine.

**Racetrack Valley Road** — 28 miles (start: Ubehebe Crater Road). High-clearance through loose gravel and washboard. Flat tires are practically guaranteed here, so make sure your spare is inflated and your jack is complete. Road conditions vary, so 4WD might be necessary.

**Lippincott Road** — 5.9 miles (start: 3.5 miles south of the Racetrack). Rough 4WD only. Extremely steep, narrow, and winding with cliff-edge washouts. Uphill traffic has the right of way. The tight lower section is brutal for wide vehicles. Heavy rains can close this road entirely.

**Hidden Valley Road** — 3.2 miles to White Top Mtn. Road, 13 miles to Hunter Mountain base (start: Teakettle Junction on Racetrack Valley Road). High-clearance handles washboard and deep dust, but flooding and mud happen after rains. White Top Mountain is a 4WD spur—skip it when wet or snowy.

**Saline Valley Road South Pass** — 46 miles (start: Hwy 190, just outside west park boundary). Maintained dirt with high-clearance requirements. The first eight miles are paved but potholed. Rocky and rutted sections through Grapevine Canyon. Winter closures are common.

**Steel Pass Road** — 29 miles (start: Warm Springs or Eureka Dunes). Serious 4WD only for experienced drivers. Narrow, sharp dry falls require precise driving, and sidewall tire cuts are common—carry multiple spares. Travel's easier north to south.

**South Eureka Valley Road** — 9.6 miles (start: Big Pine/Death Valley Road, 33.2 miles north of Ubehebe Crater). High-clearance to the dunes, then deep sand takes over. Beyond the dunes, it becomes Steel Pass Road.

**North Eureka Valley Road** — 28 miles (start: Big Pine/Death Valley Road, 0.7 miles west of South Eureka Valley Road). High-clearance for eight miles to the park boundary, then often 4WD to reach Hwy 168.

**Big Pine Death Valley Road** — 72 miles (start: Ubehebe Crater Road or Big Pine, CA). High-clearance throughout. Dust and heavy washboard are relentless. Bring tire chains for winter.

**Greenwater Valley Road** — 28 miles (start: Dantes View Road or Hwy 178). High-clearance required.

**West Side Road** — 37 miles (start: Badwater Road). High-clearance battles washboard, deep gravel, and dust. The Amargosa River crossing at the southern end might be impassable during flow.

**Trail Canyon Road** — 10.4 miles (start: West Side Road, 6.3 miles via north entrance). High-clearance for the first four miles, then 4WD through boulder fields takes over.

**Hanaupah Canyon Road** — 8 miles (start: West Side Road, 11.9 miles via north entrance). High-clearance to the fan top, then 4WD through extremely rocky terrain to the end.

**Johnson Canyon Road** — 10 miles (start: West Side Road, 21.9 miles via north entrance). High-clearance for six miles, then 4WD into the rocky wash. The final 0.1 mile is overgrown and wet.

**Warm Springs Canyon Road** — 20.4 miles to Butte Valley (start: West Side Road, 3 miles via south entrance). High-clearance to the talc mine, then 4WD through deep ruts and rocks.

**Pleasant Canyon Road** — 12 miles (start: Ballarat). Rough 4WD for experienced drivers only. Washouts and boulders everywhere on this narrow, rocky route.

**Harry Wade Road** — 31.5 miles (start: Badwater Road, 2 miles south of Ashford Mill). Usually high-clearance, but 4WD when the Amargosa River flows. Heavy rain creates muddy patches quickly.

**Owl Hole Spring Road** — 30.5 miles (start: Harry Wade Road, 19.1 miles south of Badwater Road). High-clearance for the first nine miles, then shifts to 4WD territory.

**Saratoga Spring Road** — 4 miles (start: Harry Wade Road or Hwy 127). High-clearance with washboard surfaces. The Amargosa River crossing becomes 4WD or impassable when flowing.

**Ibex Spring Road** — 5.3 miles (start: Hwy 127, 1.9 miles south of Ibex Pass). High-clearance for 2.8 miles, then loose gravel and deep sand demand 4WD with low gear engaged.

**Deadman Pass Road** — 13.6 miles (start: 18.2 miles south of Dante's View Road). High-clearance to the pass, then loose gravel requires 4WD on the descent to the highway.

Death Valley's back roads aren't for the faint of heart, but they'll reward adventurous drivers with some of the most otherworldly scenery imaginable. Just go prepared, stay alert, and respect the desert.