Panamint Valley — BLM South Valley Floor Dispersed Camp
The south end of Panamint Valley is BLM land, and it’s as open and raw as it gets. You can pull off onto the alluvial fans flanking the playa and camp with nothing between you and the Panamints to the east or the Argus Range to the west. The ground is firm hardpan and gravel at the fan edges — most rigs with decent clearance can navigate confidently. Zero facilities. Zero people on most nights. The kind of camp that reminds you why you built the rig in the first place.
Access from Trona via Trona-Wildrose Road heading northwest — BLM jurisdiction covers the valley floor before you hit Death Valley National Park boundary. Standard BLM rules: pack it in, pack it out, no campfires during high-risk periods, 14-day stay limit. Check BLM Ridgecrest Field Office for current conditions and fire restrictions. Cell service is nonexistent. Water: none — tank up in Trona before heading out.
Playa-edge desert camp between two mountain ranges.
Place Details
| Type | Dispersed Camping |
|---|---|
| Elevation (ft) | 1650 ft |
| Nearest town | Trona, CA |
| Miles from pavement | 2.8 mi |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD |
| Access road surface | Dirt |
| Cell service | None |
| Cost (USD/night, 0 = free) | Free |
| Reservation required | No |
| Stay limit (nights) | 14 nights |
| Best season | October-April |
| Land manager | BLM |
| Permit required | No |
| Coordinates | Open directions |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
