Activities
Barker Ranch to the dunes
Part of the desert adventure: we did a Barker Ranch to Mesquite Dunes trip, including Gold Canyon and the oasis hike.
If you go
This is deep Death Valley. Barker Ranch, way back in the Panamints, is the old hideout where the Manson family was caught — a rough 4×4 push to get there. From the remote west side over to the Mesquite Flat dunes near Stovepipe Wells is a big swing across the park. September is still very hot down here, so it’s an early-start, lots-of-water day, and the back roads want high clearance.
Route
On the map
Distance5.9 miAscent1,061 ftTime2h 26m