Death Valley backcountry trip

chopsake

New Member
Joined
Oct 28, 2016
Messages
1
Hi. Looking to head out to Death Valley for 3 day back country trip. Any suggestions? Probably heading out in 2 weeks. Hoping to avoid the crowds, if possible.
 
I have found DV to be very difficult for backpacking. Your time of year is correct but it still can get warm up to low 80's. It's a lot of water to carry. I would consider going to a good basecamp location and do day hikes from there or if you really want to pack, do individual overnights with enough water for another day. In other words, one day out means two days of water carried.

In terms of where to go, well there is 3.4 million acres to explore. I like the vicinity of the Inyo Mountains, Saline Valley, and Panamint Dunes. I saw chuckwalla lizards there that matched the color of the nearby rock. Couldn't see them until you were really close. Picked them up without complaint.

You will be limited by the type of vehicle you have and it's condition. Do not go alone.
 
Last edited:
We've done a few trips backpacking in Death Valley. Usually only overnights, because carrying the water is such a pain. But we had a lovely trip up Indian Pass Canyon to Poison Springs, and we did another trip through Marble Canyon to Cottonwood Springs. Owlshead Mountains offer very different terrain.

Be aware that in these areas, there are no real trails. Sometimes there are use trails, other times you are just hiking across the desert or up the dry wash. navigation is pretty important.
 
Hello Chopsake. Did you ever make it there to backpack in DVNP? Or is your trip upcoming?
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
regehr kayaking death valley On The Water 1
balzaccom Death Valley in January Hiking & Camping 3
balzaccom Death Valley again Hiking & Camping 0
T Death valley Trip Planning 3
J Death Valley Natl. Pk. Upper Monarch Canyon plus. Dec 1, 2021 Hiking & Camping 1
J Death Valley Natl. Pk. A Black Mtns and Canyons Traverse Nov 30, 2021 Hiking & Camping 2
J Death Valley Natl. Pk. 6 Days hiking. Nov 14-19, 2021 Hiking & Camping 1
J Death Valley National Park and Area Mountain Rambles Dec. 16-17, 2020 Hiking & Camping 0
J Death Valley Natl. Pk: Funeral Pk, Slit Canyon, and Big Dune. Dec 21-22, 2020 Hiking & Camping 1
J Death Valley NP Black Mountains and beyond Hiking Dec 19-20, 2020 Hiking & Camping 1
Burrito Death Valley van trip turns into something pretty special General Discussion 7
balzaccom Death Valley again Hiking & Camping 4
Miya Death Valley Birthday - Part 2 (3.7.20-03.8.20) Backpacking 15
Miya Death Valley Birthday - Part 1 (3.5.20-3.6.20) Hiking & Camping 28
Scott Chandler Death Valley Trip Planning 7
J Death Valley National Park Keene Canyon-Wonder Mine Loop. Dec. 3, 2019 Hiking & Camping 1
J Death Valley Natl Pk Ibex Peak, Jubliee Mtn, Virgin Springs summits Dec. 2, 2019 Hiking & Camping 0
J Death Valley NP: Corkscrew and Artist Palette Peaks, scramble dayhikes Nov 2019 Hiking & Camping 1
J Death Valley NP. Marble-Cottonwood (side slot) lollipop loop Nov 17-19,2019 Backpacking 10
fossana Death Valley road closures post flooding Trip Planning 3
balzaccom Rainy days in Death Valley Hiking & Camping 3
J Sierras to Bristlecones to Death Valley NP: Peaks, Trails, Dunes and Canyons Oct 26 to Nov 10, 2018 Hiking & Camping 0
balzaccom Death Valley once again Hiking & Camping 1
Perry Death Valley to Whitney - Very Intriguing General Discussion 2
Glasterpiece Death Valley Road Conditions Resource Discussions 0
J A New Classic Death Valley Natl Park Backpack Nov 16-19,2016 Backpacking 5
balzaccom Death Valley, March Backpacking 2
Tres Westbrook Death Valley National Park - Day Two - Mount Perry Hiking & Camping 4
Tres Westbrook Death Valley National Park - Day One - Golden Cathedral / Gower Gulch Hiking & Camping 7
Nick Death Valley Flooding 10-2015 General Discussion 1
Tres Westbrook Road Trip to the Racetrack Playa - Death Valley Off Road 5
ram Death Valley Service Projects General Discussion 0
balzaccom Death Valley in February Backpacking 0
mike_offerman Death Valley and Joshua Tree suggestions Trip Planning 2
IntrepidXJ Leaving Death Valley Hiking & Camping 2
IntrepidXJ All Around Death Valley Hiking & Camping 2
mtthwlw Death Valley in March Trip Planning 17
Nick What to do in Death Valley National Park Trip Planning 7
F Little Death Hollow Backpack Trip Planning 2
canadug Hiker death in Zion National park :( Hiking & Camping 32
climbhigh1119 How doable is the sneak route out of Death Hollow with kids and a dog? Trip Planning 6
Duketogo13 BMT- Death Hollow-Escalante Triangle loop Trip Planning 20
Janice Cosmic Ashtray via Wolverine/Little Death Hollow & Escalante River? Trip Planning 16
napatony13 DEATH & DESTRUCTION-Incredible Video of Rockslide in Northern India General Discussion 1
Bob Death Hollow - Top Half a revist..... Backpacking 0
RyanP Conditions (water/bugs) for Escalante/Death Hollow Trip Planning 27
J Trip first week of April 2021 Southern UT/Anywhere AZ - Death Hollow, Coyote Gulch, or other suggestions? Trip Planning 9
R Boulder Mail Trail to Death Hollow Trip Planning 1
norwegianxplorer Death Hollow from Hells Backbone road 7 day loop with My Own Frontier Canyoneering 0
Mountain of Youth Death Hollow Loop in mid-September Trip Planning 11

Similar threads

Back
Top