Archive for June, 2009
Jun
2009
Cottonwood / Marble Canyon
June 30th, 2009 at 06:21 pm by admin in Jeep TrailsLocation: Directly west of Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park
Difficulty: Moderate. Starts easy then drops into rocky wash. If you are the first vehicle in after a heavy rain, you may have to blaze your own trail and condictions could be difficult. The most challenging section is at the end of the Cottonwood Canyon. Do not drive this trail if rain is forecast.
Jun
2009
Chloride City
June 29th, 2009 at 07:21 pm by admin in Jeep TrailsLocation: Southwest of Beatty, Nevada, northeast of Stovepipe Wells.
Difficulty: Moderate. Starts easy then climbs mild, rocky switchbacks. Suitable for stock SUV’s with high ground clearance and 4 wheel drive.
Features: A fun trail in a remote area. Many mines and a few small cabins. Scenic view of Death Valley from Chloride Cliff. Street legal vehicles only.
Jun
2009
Titus Canyon
June 28th, 2009 at 06:49 pm by admin in Jeep TrailsLocation: Southwest of Beatty, Nevada, northeast of Stovepipe Wells and north of Furnace Creek.
Difficulty: Easy. A well-maintained gravel road but steep and narrow in a few places. Four-wheel drive seldom necessary under dry conditions. Road is closed when rain is expected due to extreme flass-flood danger though narrowest part of Titus Canyon. May also close with winter snows.
Features: Perhaps the most popular backroad in Death Valley National Park. Very scenic after the first 10 miles. A few buildings remain at the Leadfield Mine. Interesting geological rock formations and a few petroglyphs. The road is one-way east to west. Street legal vehicles only.
Time & Distance: Total 26.8 miles. Allow about 2 hours plus travel time.
To get there: Head northeast on Highway 374 towards Beatty, NV. Turn left about 7 miles east of Daylight Pass on a well marked road.
Trail Description: Head west on a wide gravel road. After about 10 miles, drop into Titanothere Canyon and begin a long climb to Red Pass. In places, the road is narrow with significant drop-offs. Cross Red Pass at 12 1/2 miles before reachign Leadfield at 15.7 miles. Watch for interesting folded rock layers at 16.1 miles after you’ve entered Titus Canyon. The canyon narrows at 22.7 miles before ending dramatically at 24.1. A parking area begins two-way traffic down a wide gravel road which reaches paved Highway 267 at 26.8 miles.
Return Trip: Turn left on Hwy 267 to return to Highway 190. Right goes north to Scottys Castle. Picnic area just north of Highway 190 on Highway 267.
Historical Highlights: The town of Leadfield never delivered on its promise of rich lead claims and lasted less than a year despite getting a post office in 1926. The canyon is named after mining engineer Morris Titus, who died prospecting the canyon in 1906.
