2023-02-08, 09:08 AM
(2023-02-08, 08:31 AM)John Morrow Wrote: For years I toured the SW with a Honda Civic. I empathize with your situation.
If you don't have this map, you need it.
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/u...s-map_.pdf
You are correct, that options are limited.
Road 21 on the map is graded by the county known as "Furnace Creek" or Greenwater Road. Usually all vehicles have access. Small pullouts are evident. Saratoga Spring and Jubilee Pass area spurs can at times be passable. Sometimes I actually scouted on foot first when a road is incised single vehicle width so I had a turnaround option.
Saline Valley Rd to Lee Flat and Panamint Dunes (floods will incise the wash crossings until traffic smooths them out) too, can be OK
Emigrant Campground is free, small and tent only. Safe to leave camp set up and leave for the day. All campgrounds can be loud due to close tent footprints and lack of cover.
Conditions change but often times one can get past the one mile restriction zone on many of the roads on the map that are solid lines with the double line, "High Clearance 2WD". Keep from high centering by running the tires over the high rocks and berms.
Thanks for the link to the road descriptions! Great.
LOL, none of the unpaved roads as described are suitable for a 2WD non high clearance vehicle like mine.
Maybe I was more bold in the past, but I've driven several of them with a small Honda Accord, back in the day. I drove entirely through Titus Canyon, gone on Chloride City Road, Big Pine Road, Aguereberry point road, Wildrose to Mahogany camp, and in the past have camped on the first part Echo Canyon road before an obvious point where it became dramatically 4WD.
This list reminds me that of all the parks/recreation areas I've visited, I believe Death Valley's unpaved roads are most inaccessible to 2WD.
Thanks for mentioning Greenwater Road. I may check that out.
Good tip to avoid high centering.