Death Valley Backcountry Loop
Ghost towns and big sky in America's hottest desert
This 120-mile loop strings together some of Death Valley’s most remote backcountry roads, connecting ghost towns like Ballarat and Darwin with technical routes through Warm Spring Canyon and the Eureka Dunes. The route crosses the Panamint Range via Hunter Mountain Road, drops into hidden valleys where prospectors once scratched out fortunes, and skirts the edge of the Eureka Valley — home to some of the tallest sand dunes in North America.
Moderate to difficult depending on recent weather, requiring high-clearance 4WD and serious desert preparation. Water is scarce to nonexistent between towns, and summer temperatures can kill — stick to October through April. Cell service is fantasy-land thinking out here. What you get is pure Mojave solitude, mining history you can touch, and night skies that’ll remind you why you started overlanding in the first place.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 120 mi / 193.1 km |
| Duration | 3-4 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7454 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Lone Pine, CA |
| Land manager | Death Valley National Park |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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