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National Parks

First trip to Death Valley

First trip in DV, and I learned a lot — like how much 4×4 there is, and the other things to do. A formal-campground ranger balked at us and told us we should always camp free in different parts of the park, which kicked off future considerations.

March 1, 202036.5323°N 116.9325°W

Distance7.1 MiAscent1,106 FtTime2h 41mActivityMiscDifficultyIntermediate

If you go

Death Valley is enormous and most of the good stuff is down dirt: Echo Canyon, Titus Canyon, the Racetrack, the old mining roads. The ranger’s tip is real — backcountry car camping is allowed for free along most dirt roads as long as you’re at least a mile or two past the pavement and off the day-use areas. Read the park’s current backcountry-roads rules so you camp legally.

When to go: November through March. Summer is the hottest place on earth, no exaggeration. Carry far more water than feels reasonable and don’t trust a low-clearance car on the rough routes.

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