Question about camping

[DAW89446]

I see in my notes that I've hiked Surprise Canyon in the past, but I don't recall that, must have been a long time ago, so I'd like to go there again...

https://dv.netllama.us/dv/thread-26093.html

[MojaveGeek]

Panamint Valley has a lot to offer, and south of 190 the valley floor is pretty much outside the park boundaries, so wide open and unregulated. A bunch of the canyons on the west side of the Panamints (Happy, Surprise, Jail, Tuber come to mind) have springs and surprising amounts of vegetation, sometimes choking in places. On the west side, the canyons of the east side of the Argus range have a number of old mine roads and ruins, and the mouths are generally fairly accessible with sedan type vehicles. I'm thinking Knight, Revenue, Snow, Stone for example. A lot of old miner trails in there too.

I don't know how the permit system works, but if it requires getting a permit from a human, you're stuck dealing with visitor center hours. But if you camp in national parks you're usually stuck with permit systems, even hiking. National forest or BLM land is much more open that way, though often harder to get info about, a barrier that is fading with the growth of the internet, youtube vids, etc.

[Daymoth]

Ive found the BLM office at ridgecrest who look after surprise wilderness to be super helpful and responsive to emails. Only thing you need for that area is a easy campfire permit

https://permit.preventwildfiresca.org/

Re wildrose, the road was totally fine this last weekend, at least from emigrant.

[WayOutWest]

  So camping at WildRose would be convenient on my first days into the Park.

Here's a time lapse drive of the ten miles from Panamint Valley Road to Wildrose. There are lots of fun vintage sites to explore from the Wildrose Campground.


In case you do drive up Wildrose Road from Trona here's some nostalgia to keep in mind as you motor through the canyon. This signage at the beginning is actually from Highway 190 looking up the closed (at that time) Emigrant Canyon Road.

And here a time lapse driving down from Wildrose to Panamint Valley Road. 

Thanks!! Always nice to have more info about the area I'm planning to travel in advance of the trip!

[WayOutWest]

If you have not been to the Kilns I highly recommend it, and the road is fine for 2WD.  Gets tough beyond.  Wildrose peak is a great hike, or you can just hike the first two miles to the ridge and find some views down into the valley - awesome.

When are you going?  I will be driving by the Pinnacles for the first time on 20 March or so and they seem to be something I must visit, but I don't know anything.  If you learn stuff before then, please post!

I will be in the vicinity of Trona Pinnacles around March 2nd.  I have seen YouTube videos of people who visited the Pinnacles so got a general sense of the area from those.  Hopefully I can manage the road to the Pinnacles with 2WD, then probably would spend a night there.  Then up Panamint Valley and see what attracts me to explore or hike around, as I drive along.  
I have visited the Charcoal Kilns before -- years ago.  First time was about 37 years ago...last time was probably over 15-20 years ago, so not recently. If the trail up to Wildrose Peak is do-able and not snow-covered, I might hike that again. I've done it at least once before, perhaps twice.   Lovely hike as I recall.  

Depending on what I find in Panamint Valley and how long I spend there, I expect to get to StovePipe Wells and Furnace Creek area March 6th or so.  
In addition to re-visiting the main attractions in the Valley floor, and along the road to Scotty's Castle (Titus Canyon and Red Wall and Fall Canyon hikes) I hope to check out some of the landscape to the south of Death Valley, eg Funeral Mountains, Ibex Wilderness.  I know nothing of this area, have never visited there. It may or may not be of interest...does anyone know if there is good hiking in those areas? I would be up for reasonable hiking, not any rough stuff like having to scramble over many large boulders.   

I would need to be returning home by March 14 or 15th.

[WayOutWest]

  So camping at WildRose would be convenient on my first days into the Park.

Here's a time lapse drive of the ten miles from Panamint Valley Road to Wildrose. There are lots of fun vintage sites to explore from the Wildrose Campground.


In case you do drive up Wildrose Road from Trona here's some nostalgia to keep in mind as you motor through the canyon. This signage at the beginning is actually from Highway 190 looking up the closed (at that time) Emigrant Canyon Road.

And here a time lapse driving down from Wildrose to Panamint Valley Road. 

I'm laughing as I watched the first video you shared here,  and saw where you stopped around the 35 second mark.  I realize I was on this road about 8-9 years ago and stopped at that exact same spot for a picnic! I hadn't realized I'd been on that road, but now I see I have.  At that time, I was not able to explore as I was leaving and had to get through quickly.  This time I hope I'll be able to stop more....

[Brice]

The only roads I know of in the ibex wilderness need at least moderate clearance to safely pass. I wouldn't recommend it if you don't have an SUV or better.

Sheephead mountain is right there and it's a beautiful hike. Short too. Only 1.25 miles from salsberry pass to the summit. There is a use trail part of the way. Poles are helpful for a brief steep and loose section.

If you go all the way south, hiking out to the ibex dunes is nice. I *think* saratoga springs road is passable by a low clearance vehicle to the ibex dunes area, approaching from the south.

Edit: oh and the southern section of harry wade road is fine but don't try to drive it all the way through. The northen section isn't in great shape and today I crossed the amargosa and it surprised me how deep it was.

[DeathValleyDazed]

As for flats....  I got one on the paved Badwater road once

Hey MG, they don't call it "The Salt Flats" for nothing. Glad you lived up to the local culture!

[Beardilocks]

Agree with Brice above.  You should be able to get to Saratoga Springs and Ibex Dunes coming from the Southern entrance off of 127 (Saratoga Spring Rd not Ibex Spring Rd). Caveat being that the Armagosa crossing isn’t too high.  North of the turn off to Saratoga Springs (where it turns into Harry Wade), you’ll likely encounter deep sand.  Also, don’t attempt to go North from Ibex Dunes to 127 that way.  Sand & rocks require clearance and at least AWD. 

Harry Wade is rough now and will likely be worse after the rain this weekend.  So if you want to visit the southern end of the park, come in from 127. 

Ibex Dunes is a superior hike in the park. Gorgeous and usually unspoiled.  Saratoga Spring is pretty.  Hiking to you mines above Saratoga is beautiful as well.  See my thread in the Trip Report section for a hike to Ibex Dunes.  

As far as the rest, the two way section to the mouth of Titus is open now.  Hiking up Titus is allowed, but closed to vehicles. 

Charcoal Kilns & Wildrose will likely be snowed in.  We’re supposed to be getting 1-2ft of snow over 4000ft tomorrow (Feb 25).  The forecast doesn’t look like it’ll warm up enough up there to melt that any time soon.

[MojaveGeek]

I'll be sleeping at SPW (motel) for 11 nights starting on the 10th. Will have a rental so can't post a description. If you describe your vehicle, I'll keep an eye out for you and say hi. Less likely to see you if you're in the campground though. We don't hang around much, trying to get out for most of the day.

The Funeral Mountains are north of 190 (as it leaves the park to the east). Perhaps you mean the Black Mountains? Tons of stuff to explore in them. Canyons from the Badwater road, peaks and canyons from the Greenwater Valley road, Epaulet peak is quite nice, Funeral has good views but is not the most exciting walk, good stuff on both sides of the road out over Jubilee Pass...