Death Valley this weekend, what's closed/open? And Driving time from Beatty?
Discussion
7 replies
Posted by Rodney Ninow on February 9, 2010 at 10:58 AM
Where can I find out what roads are open and which ones are closed in DV right now? Hoping to go this weekend.
Also, I have never stayed in Beatty and driven in, what is the driving time? It says it is 45 miles to furnace creek area, so is that an hour?
Thanks!
Posted by Steve Sieren on February 9, 2010 at 11:40 AM
Rodney, the NPS site has the ROAD CONDITIONS but if you call and some specific roads you are interested in they will give the most up to date info. There are other sites out there but it takes everyone a little longer to update their websites so it's best to call 760 786 2331. No service inside the park. Some of the roads are completely fine and some just have a few wet spots. All could change if this storm brings in a lot of rain.
It's about 45 min to an hour from Beatty to Furnace Creek slightly shorter to Stovepipe where breakfast is pretty darn good and not way over priced. The pizza / bar place in Beatty is a great place to get food and the ice cream place there is good too.
Could be a lot longer if you stop to make images. Don't drive too fast or the beauty will be blurred....
Posted by Dan Truong on February 9, 2010 at 1:04 PM
Don't leave Beaty using regular roads!
Go through the TITUS canyon!
You'll need a high clearance vehicle unless you're a good offroad driver with a little sense of adventure. That stretch will take you an hour I think. You can stop at Rhyolite, but it's a disappointing ghost town that will just offset you by 15min.
At beaty check out the "really fresh jerky" shop. Their jerky, nuts and honey are good. And I don't like jerky normally.
Otherwise, the road is straight for a big part of it I think, so consider an hour maybe for the 45 miles. But why just take that road?
Posted by Dan Truong on February 9, 2010 at 1:08 PM
..but Titus road is closed.
Posted by Rodney Ninow on February 9, 2010 at 6:10 PM
Thanks for the tips. I won't have a high clearance vehicle, so even it Titus was open, it's out.
Posted by Steve Sieren on February 9, 2010 at 10:03 PM
You can do Titus in a regular car, I did. It just gets bumpy so you'll have to drive slow in some spots or you'll ruin your shocks.
Posted by Rodney Ninow on February 15, 2010 at 12:45 AM
Had a good trip, spent two days in the park. Light wasn't the greatest, but I got some shots from Zabriskie and Badwater on the two mornings we had. For some reason, there was no real alpenglow on the panamints at sunrise.
A LOT of things were closed, but we did manage to hike up Mosaic canyon and Natural Bridge canyon. Dante's View, Racetrack and Ubehebe Crater were closed, along with Salt Creek, Artist's drive, and nearly every other side road leading off the pavement.
Finally took the tour of Scotty's castle since so much was closed. It was interesting.
Discussion
7 repliesAlso, I have never stayed in Beatty and driven in, what is the driving time? It says it is 45 miles to furnace creek area, so is that an hour?
Thanks!
It's about 45 min to an hour from Beatty to Furnace Creek slightly shorter to Stovepipe where breakfast is pretty darn good and not way over priced. The pizza / bar place in Beatty is a great place to get food and the ice cream place there is good too.
SS
Go through the TITUS canyon!
You'll need a high clearance vehicle unless you're a good offroad driver with a little sense of adventure. That stretch will take you an hour I think. You can stop at Rhyolite, but it's a disappointing ghost town that will just offset you by 15min.
At beaty check out the "really fresh jerky" shop. Their jerky, nuts and honey are good. And I don't like jerky normally.
Otherwise, the road is straight for a big part of it I think, so consider an hour maybe for the 45 miles. But why just take that road?
A LOT of things were closed, but we did manage to hike up Mosaic canyon and Natural Bridge canyon. Dante's View, Racetrack and Ubehebe Crater were closed, along with Salt Creek, Artist's drive, and nearly every other side road leading off the pavement.
Finally took the tour of Scotty's castle since so much was closed. It was interesting.