Death Valley - The Racetrack

[SadRobot]

Looking for some suggestions/advice about The Racetrack Playa in Death Valley from anyone who has done the drive out there. Current plan is:

Day 1: Drive out to DV and try to get a campsite at Mesquite Spring Campground. It's first come, first served and I'm not sure how crowded it gets out there. Set up camp and maybe drive over to Ubehebe crater to hike the rim if there is time.

Day 2: Head to The Racetrack and setup camp at Homestake Dry Camp. Hike around the Playa.

Day 3: head home


My big concern is gas supply and getting there and not finding a campground. Anyone have suggestions on where we can camp back in that area if Mesquite is full when we get there? We're planning on arriving mid afternoon on a Friday.

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[BobW]

Just did this with our Boy Scout troop over President's Day weekend. We arrived at Mesquite late Saturday morning and still got two adjacent sites. The campground did fill up during the afternoon (not sure when, we were at Racetrack). Our backup plan was a dry camp at Eureka dunes.

 

[SadRobot]

Just did this with our Boy Scout troop over President's Day weekend. We arrived at Mesquite late Saturday morning and still got two adjacent sites. The campground did fill up during the afternoon (not sure when, we were at Racetrack). Our backup plan was a dry camp at Eureka dunes.

Thanks. Looking at a map it doesn't look like Eureka dunes is easily accessible from Mesquite. Google maps is saying you have to go 119 miles up and around to get there.

Is it correct that the sites and Mesquite have fire rings? I was planning to do a campfire there and out at Homestake.

 

[zouch]

have you seen this map? (select the 'Brochure version.)
DV map
nice thing about this version is it shows some actual mileage.
note that a trip out to Eureka Dunes adds about 90 miles to your path, round trip; an option would be to come through Steel Pass to the Warm Springs, but that's a long rocky road. so much cool stuff out there to see, it's hard to make choices.

it's been many years since i was at Homestake and i've never stayed at Mesquite (we usually stay at Saline Warm Springs), but if you poke around enough on the NPS website you should be able to find that info.
if not, i've had excellent luck calling the nearest Ranger Station and asking for detail on current conditions; most of the people there are there because they like it, and are happy to share info about the area to people that ask respectfully.

envious; wish i could go!
this is one of those places where it pays to think ahead about having enough water and fuel with you. considering the nearest fuel is going to be Stovepipe Wells or Panamint Springs (if you chose to go through that way), you may need to plan to carry fuel with you.

have fun/be careful!

Thanks. Looking at a map it doesn't look like Eureka dunes is easily accessible from Mesquite. Google maps is saying you have to go 119 miles up and around to get there.

Is it correct that the sites and Mesquite have fire rings? I was planning to do a campfire there and out at Homestake.

 

[SadRobot]

have you seen this map? (select the 'Brochure version.)
DV map
nice thing about this version is it shows some actual mileage.
note that a trip out to Eureka Dunes adds about 90 miles to your path, round trip; an option would be to come through Steel Pass to the Warm Springs, but that's a long rocky road. so much cool stuff out there to see, it's hard to make choices.

it's been many years since i was at Homestake and i've never stayed at Mesquite (we usually stay at Saline Warm Springs), but if you poke around enough on the NPS website you should be able to find that info.
if not, i've had excellent luck calling the nearest Ranger Station and asking for detail on current conditions; most of the people there are there because they like it, and are happy to share info about the area to people that ask respectfully.

envious; wish i could go!
this is one of those places where it pays to think ahead about having enough water and fuel with you. considering the nearest fuel is going to be Stovepipe Wells or Panamint Springs (if you chose to go through that way), you may need to plan to carry fuel with you.

have fun/be careful!

Thanks for the info. I mapped it out at 80 miles from Stovepipe. At 160 roundtrip it could be cutting it close if I'm in 4WD. I guess I have to figure out a way to bring that extra Wavian can somehow.

 

[BobW]

Thanks. Looking at a map it doesn't look like Eureka dunes is easily accessible from Mesquite. Google maps is saying you have to go 119 miles up and around to get there.

Is it correct that the sites and Mesquite have fire rings? I was planning to do a campfire there and out at Homestake.

Mesquite has water, flush toilets, and fire rings

 

[zouch]

yeah, rides like that in places exactly like that are one of the reasons i sprung for the EcoDiesel when i built my last J**p. too many trips out there where i had to carry extra fuel!

I mapped it out at 80 miles from Stovepipe. At 160 roundtrip it could be cutting it close if I'm in 4WD. I guess I have to figure out a way to bring that extra Wavian can somehow.

 

[dstevens]

Backup plan could be head toward Tule Canyon and dry camp once you get out of DVNP / DV wilderness. Only about 25 miles from Mesquite Camp. I've done those roads but can't remember much about what is up there apart from the roads being fairly good.

According to the backcountry map you can camp between the crater and racetrack, but there is nothing there and you would have to be right next to the road.
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/upload/508-Backcountry-and-Wilderness-Access-map_.pdf

If you are on your own then take the fuel.

I'm going to be passing through Racetrack via Hunter Mtn and Lippincott Pass some time around Mar 20-22. Not camping though.

 

[SadRobot]

Backup plan could be head toward Tule Canyon and dry camp once you get out of DVNP / DV wilderness. Only about 25 miles from Mesquite Camp. I've done those roads but can't remember much about what is up there apart from the roads being fairly good.

According to the backcountry map you can camp between the crater and racetrack, but there is nothing there and you would have to be right next to the road.
https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/upload/508-Backcountry-and-Wilderness-Access-map_.pdf

If you are on your own then take the fuel.

I'm going to be passing through Racetrack via Hunter Mtn and Lippincott Pass some time around Mar 20-22. Not camping though.

Thanks for the tips. I guess I'll do what I did for Big Bend and put the 2 gallon on the spare and fit the 5 gallon inside the Jeep somehow.

 

[S8TYN]

You shouldn’t have a problem getting a site. If Mesquite is full, go to Furnace Creek as they have some FCFS as well.

I was just there last week and neither were full.

Hope you have a great time! I know i did.

 

[Fonzilla85]

Looking for some suggestions/advice about The Racetrack Playa in Death Valley from anyone who has done the drive out there. Current plan is:

Day 1: Drive out to DV and try to get a campsite at Mesquite Spring Campground. It's first come, first served and I'm not sure how crowded it gets out there. Set up camp and maybe drive over to Ubehebe crater to hike the rim if there is time.

Day 2: Head to The Racetrack and setup camp at Homestake Dry Camp. Hike around the Playa.

Day 3: head home


My big concern is gas supply and getting there and not finding a campground. Anyone have suggestions on where we can camp back in that area if Mesquite is full when we get there? We're planning on arriving mid afternoon on a Friday.

I was out there a few weeks ago. You’ll be ok on gas. Road sucks, (unless you love rattling like you were inside a rattlesnake’s rattle).

The race track is cool, but sadly people have ruined it. You’ll see tire marks of people who drove on to it in the past, all the rocks have mainly been placed by people and pushed to mimic a moving rock.

Campground is ok. I’m more of a “camp where other people are not” so this spot pushed the limits. However, if you hike south from the campground, you’ll be able to check out some cool mines and nice views of the valley.

 

[SadRobot]

I was out there a few weeks ago. You’ll be ok on gas. Road sucks, (unless you love rattling like you were inside a rattlesnake’s rattle).

The race track is cool, but sadly people have ruined it. You’ll see tire marks of people who drove on to it in the past, all the rocks have mainly been placed by people and pushed to mimic a moving rock.

Campground is ok. I’m more of a “camp where other people are not” so this spot pushed the limits. However, if you hike south from the campground, you’ll be able to check out some cool mines and nice views of the valley.

Well that's a bit disappointing. This has been a goal trip for a few years now. Well at least we'll have fun out there camping I think.

With the smaller gas tank in the 2dr I think I'm going to bring extra gas anyway. If i had the 4dr I'd probably have no issue.

 

[ketelhut]

Did something similar a couple years ago. From our camp in Furnace Creek we did some fun 4 wheeling off the road to Beatty where we top off our gas. From Beatty we spent time to see Rhyolite then came back to Mesquite Spring thru Titus Canyon. Camped at Mesquite Spring. Next day drove to Ubehebe crater, then on to Racetrack. Don't forget to take a teapot to leave at Teapot Junction. Drove from there down Lippincott Pass to Saline Valley Rd. Took that to Saline Valley Springs. Camped there & enjoyed donkeys & hot springs (bathing suit optional). Took Steel Pass Rd. to Eureka Sand Dunes & eventually to Hwy 395. Got some great BBQ at Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine where I also filled up with gas & drove home.

So 2 days & 1 full gas tank from Mesquite Spring Campground to home in SoCal.

Titus Canyon is basically a 2 wheel very scenic ride with some old mines. Lippincott Pass is a fun downhill trail, if it's not too eroded. Saline Valley Rd to Saline Hot Springs is a 2 wheel/4high road and sitting in the Hot Springs is a nice way to end an off road trip.

 

[SadRobot]

Did something similar a couple years ago. From our camp in Furnace Creek we did some fun 4 wheeling off the road to Beatty where we top off our gas. From Beatty we spent time to see Rhyolite then came back to Mesquite Spring thru Titus Canyon. Camped at Mesquite Spring. Next day drove to Ubehebe crater, then on to Racetrack. Don't forget to take a teapot to leave at Teapot Junction. Drove from there down Lippincott Pass to Saline Valley Rd. Took that to Saline Valley Springs. Camped there & enjoyed donkeys & hot springs (bathing suit optional). Took Steel Pass Rd. to Eureka Sand Dunes & eventually to Hwy 395. Got some great BBQ at Copper Top BBQ in Big Pine where I also filled up with gas & drove home.

So 2 days & 1 full gas tank from Mesquite Spring Campground to home in SoCal.

Titus Canyon is basically a 2 wheel very scenic ride with some old mines. Lippincott Pass is a fun downhill trail, if it's not too eroded. Saline Valley Rd to Saline Hot Springs is a 2 wheel/4high road and sitting in the Hot Springs is a nice way to end an off road trip.

Cooper Top has great bbq! We stopped there on the way to Lake Tahoe.

How busy was Mesquite? The other option is to camp at Furnace Creek. A site just opened up so maybe I'll grab that as a backup.

 

[ketelhut]

I can't remember when I was there, but know it was either March or Oct. None of the campgrounds were very busy. or you can get on

Don't know how much time you have on day 1 to get to Death Valley, but a fun way in is through Trona. Turn off to Ballarat, take Coyote Canyon to Baker Ranch (Manson's hideout), then continue on over Manly pass to West Side Rd (graded dirt). There's a couple cabins you can check out off of Coyote Canyon Rd. Coyote Canyon to West Side Rd. has a couple technical spots but nothing major. Take that to Furnace Creek or you can get on Badwater Rd. (paved) to Furnace Creek.

Whatever you do will be fun. Death Valley is a great place.

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