Death Valley CLOSED: Fall/Winter 23/24 Trip Planning

[Gtrsolo350]

That's a good idea John. Hope they open the road up to Fall Canyon TH. It'd be nice to hike up Titus with no vehicles coming down. I've driven it 3 times and hiked Thimble Peak but haven't explored the lower sections of Titus. End of 2021 saw some bighorn sheep from my truck while driving down. That was pretty cool. I'd never seen them so close to a road before.

[MojaveGeek]

It is really fun to walk up Titus when the road is closed, but as mentioned above, unless the road up to the entrance of the canyon is open, it's a long haul. However that road is often open when the canyon is closed, so maybe!

[Beardilocks]

Death Valley (partial) Reopening Info:

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/deat...jBJkJ0_og0


Keep in mind that:
The roads that are being opened are not yet fully repaired. Collapsed road segments have been filled in with gravel. Travelers should expect loose gravel on roads, lowered speed limits, and traffic delays. CA-190 will have one-hour delays due to an extensive section of one-lane traffic control between Panamint Springs and Father Crowley Vista. Several other places will have delays of up to 20 minutes for traffic control. 

So if coming from the West you will likely have a long wait. Or come in from Trona.

[John Morrow]

Death Valley (partial) Reopening Info:

https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/deat...jBJkJ0_og0


Keep in mind that:
The roads that are being opened are not yet fully repaired. Collapsed road segments have been filled in with gravel. Travelers should expect loose gravel on roads, lowered speed limits, and traffic delays. CA-190 will have one-hour delays due to an extensive section of one-lane traffic control between Panamint Springs and Father Crowley Vista. Several other places will have delays of up to 20 minutes for traffic control. 

So if coming from the West you will likely have a long wait.  Or come in from Trona.

From the link, this photo is uploaded by the NPS onto the webpage.
   
Interesting how most unpaved roads aren't highlighted at all (open or closed) but Greenwater Road is indicated as closed.  Perhaps that is to emilinate any initial dispersed camping.

[Beardilocks]

I have been trying to figure out if the X's are just indicating closures or actual points of damage. If they just indicate closure, they sure used random numbers of them in weird places.

I imagine Greenwater is closed (at least) until they open up 178 on the other side. I know they won't typically open West Side Rd until Badwater Rd is open all the way through.

[Beardilocks]

Pic from The Oasis’s social media if the lake in DV from Dante’s.

   

[netllama]

Pic from The Oasis’s social media if the lake in DV from Dante’s.

Interesting color of the water, with the green hue. I guess its due to the water sitting out there for so long, with algal growth.

[Brice]

I wonder if the hurricane was enough to wipe out the tire tracks and footprints on the Racetrack playa...

[jesportland]

I have been trying to figure out if the X's are just indicating closures or actual points of damage.  If they just indicate closure, they sure used random numbers of them in weird places.

I imagine Greenwater is closed (at least) until they open up 178 on the other side.  I know they won't typically open West Side Rd until Badwater Rd is open all the way through.

I believe the X's are actual road damage spots.

I'm hoping to get into north Geenwater later this month, either by walking or hiking.

[jesportland]

That's a good idea John. Hope they open the road up to Fall Canyon TH. It'd be nice to hike up Titus with no vehicles coming down. I've driven it 3 times and hiked Thimble Peak but haven't explored the lower sections of Titus. End of 2021 saw some bighorn sheep from my truck while driving down. That was pretty cool. I'd never seen them so close to a road before.

Late March 2023 we hiked up the west end until we met a huge boulder jam. We could hike around it. That was about two miles up. It wasn't a pleasent hike as it was all very loose gravel and boulders from the flood of 2022. Different from other closures due to snow and ice up higher.