Death Valley Racetrack Road
Where rocks mysteriously move themselves
The Racetrack Road starts innocent enough at Ubehebe Crater but quickly turns into 27 miles of kidney-jarring washboard that’ll rattle your fillings loose. This gravel nightmare winds through stark desert mountains before spilling onto the Racetrack Playa, where 700-pound boulders mysteriously slide across the flat lakebed leaving arrow-straight trails in their wake. The phenomenon baffled scientists for decades until they figured out thin ice sheets push the rocks during rare winter floods.
Any high-clearance vehicle can make it, but the washboard will destroy anything without decent shocks. Bring extra water, spare tires, and patience — this isn’t a speed run. Winter offers cooler temps but possible ice, while summer turns the playa into a furnace. No cell service, no facilities, just you and one of America’s strangest geological mysteries in the most desolate corner of the Lower 48.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance |
| Surface | Gravel |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 27 mi / 43.5 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 3708 ft |
| Best season | October-April |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 2WD |
| Nearest town | Stovepipe Wells, CA |
| Land manager | Death Valley National Park |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| 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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