Death Valley Snow & Road Report 2011/2012

[2on2off]

No snow at this time. Temperature was 100 at Ballarat and Saline Valley Warm Springs. It was 52 degrees on the same day at Squaw Flat not that far to the north.

I found out this last weekend, September 24, & 25, 2011, that reports on road conditions are very important even this time of year especially if you are riding an "Adventure" bike.

Here is a report from this last weekend on current road conditions in the Death Valley area:

Escape Route (also known as Manly Pass) from Trona to Ballarat:
- The condition of this road has been the same ever since I began riding it several years ago. It is easy on a 650cc or smaller dual sport but can be very challenging on a heavy "adventure bike". Deep sand and a rock garden on the east side of this route

East side of the Escape Route heading north on the west side of the lake bed:
- good condition with some loose sand. Flat and rideable on dual sport or adventure bikes

Indian Ranch Road from Ballarat to Trona Road:
- Smooth graded dirt with no washouts. You could ride a Harley on it right now

Saline Valley Road heading north from highway 190 to South Pass:
- There is a permanent "Road Closed" sign on Saline Valley Road just off highway 190
- Road is full of pot holes and as you begin to climb there is silt, rocks and ruts on the road. Easy for dual sport bikes but challenging for Adventure Bikes

South Pass:
- South Pass has not been graded now for over a year and the Inyo County Road Maintenance Staff told me it is not being maintained and anyone who drives in on this road is "on you own".
- There are rocks, ruts and some deep sand all they way into the turnoff for Saline Warm Springs

Road to Saline Warm Springs:
- Smooth with some mild whoops
- This road into the springs from Saline Valley Road is in good condition with a few mild washouts

North Pass:
- North Pass has some washouts, ruts and rocks but a local Talc Miner has been filling in some of the washouts so he can get his trucks in and out. We stopped and talked with him.
- Inyo County said they are maintaining North Pass and have a grader and loader at the north end of the road. It has been graded at the north end but the south end has not been graded or filled as of today. It is not clear how far south they grade this section of Saline Valley Road.

Squaw Flat to Mazouka Canyon to Independence - 37 miles long:
- The road to Squaw Flat and Mazouka Canyon is 2 miles west of where North Pass meets Death Valley Road:
- This was my first time riding this trail and it is the most spectacular trail I have been in the area
- Conditions were excellent and somewhat challenging on a dual sport bike
- This trail would require a rider with advanced skills to ride it on an Adventure Bike
- Trail goes over 9,200 feet and I'm sure it will be closed once the snow begins to fall
- We rode it north to south and the views coming into Squaw Flat were stunning
- North end is tight and technical two track. MIddle is dirt road and 4x4 trail with rocks. South end is smooth graded road with no washouts
- If you have never ridden this road, do it before the snow falls as I would rate it "Epic"

Silver Canyon Road from Bishop to White Mountain Road:
- water crossings were shallow as of 9/25/11
- road in good condition
- easy on a dual sport but could be challenging on an adventure bike because of sand and rocks
- All gates open as of September 25, 2011

White Mountain Road:
- well graded all the way to the locked gate and in very good condition

[rider914]

Thanks for the write up

Originally Posted by 2on2off

Squaw Flat to Mazouka Canyon to Independence - 37 miles long:
...
- This was my first time riding this trail and it is the most spectacular trail I have been in the area
...
- North end is tight and technical two track. MIddle is dirt road. South end is smooth graded road with no washouts

Indeed, this is a great ride

I recall a couple seriously rocky 4x4 sections between Papoose Flat and Mazourka Peak, not what I would simply call a "dirt road". I'd say more two-track technical than from Papoose Flat out to DV Road. Maybe it has been 'improved'

Lots to explore in the Harkless/Papoose/Squaw Flat areas

-M

[2on2off]

Originally Posted by rider914

Thanks for the write up


Indeed, this is a great ride

I recall a couple seriously rocky 4x4 sections between Papoose Flat and Mazourka Peak, not what I would simply call a "dirt road". I'd say more two-track technical than from Papoose Flat out to DV Road. Maybe it has been 'improved'

Lots to explore in the Harkless/Papoose/Squaw Flat areas

-M

I checked my map today and saw I didn't ride through Papoose Flat but rode the route to the east through Squaw Flat.

There are many more trails that I didn't ride so your info is appreaciated. I didn't ride "the narrows" and would like to know more about that route as well as it looks like it might connect to North Pass.

You are correct in that there are some rocky 4x4 sections and I have edited the first post to reflect that. Thanks for clearing that up. I remember one in particular which was a right hand hairpin with an up hill, off camber section that you didn't want to stop on. I loved it all and there are many more trail I would love to explore in this area.

Do you happen to know if most of these trails are closed once the snow starts falling? We were rarely below 8,000 ft for most of this ride and only dropped down to 4,000 ft when we reached the flats nead Independance.

If you know of a ride report for this area, please post a link.

In your opinion, which is easier? Riding this route north to south or the opposite way? We rode down one very steep hill heading to Squaw Flat that I wasn't sure we could have ridden up so I'm going to have to go back and ride the route south to north to find out. It reminded me of the steep hill riding down from Middle Park to Butte Lookout east of Ballarat.

Thanks.

[Baja Ho]

Thanks for the road info.

[rider914]

Originally Posted by 2on2off

I checked my map today and saw I didn't ride through Papoose Flat but rode the route to the east through Squaw Flat.

Far as I know , you gotta go thru Papoose Flat to get from Squaw (or Harkless) Flat to Mazourka. Papoose is the one with all the cool rock formations.

Originally Posted by 2on2off

There are many more trails that I didn't ride so your info is appreaciated. I didn't ride "the narrows" and would like to know more about that route as well as it looks like it might connect to North Pass.

The Narrows is an interesting place. I rode down the wash a little, beyond any trace of other tracks. Don't think it easily connects with North Pass, though a couple determined guys on small bikes might make it. There is a stretch of sand wash from Squaw Flat to The Narrows that is the worst I have ever ridden.

Originally Posted by 2on2off

Do you happen to know if most of these trails are closed once the snow starts falling? We were rarely below 8,000 ft for most of this ride and only dropped down to 4,000 ft when we reached the flats nead Independance.

I'm sure it snows up there, probly alot. Would be spectacular riding with a couple inches of fresh powder on the ground.

Originally Posted by 2on2off

If you know of a ride report for this area, please post a link.

I've made a few trips thru the area, but never did a ride report. Shame on me
http://rider914.smugmug.com/Motorcyc...astern-Sierra/
http://rider914.smugmug.com/Motorcyc...-SalineValley/

Originally Posted by 2on2off

In your opinion, which is easier? Riding this route north to south or the opposite way? We rode down one very steep hill heading to Squaw Flat that I wasn't sure we could have ridden up so I'm going to have to go back and ride the route south to north to find out. It reminded me of the steep hill riding down from Middle Park to Butte Lookout east of Ballarat.

I don't think either direction is easier/harder than the other. If heading north, you don't need to go up that hill above Squaw Flat. You can either go around past The Narrows (sand and rocks) or the easy way thru Harkless Flat.

My dad starting down... (~1k ft drop in ~1 mile)


-M

[2on2off]

914:

Great information and pictures. I did see the cool rock formations so I guess I did ride through Papoose Flat. It is hard to know exactly where it is using my GPS and map software.

The "Hill" is very steep and I almost walked by bike down it but then decided to ride it.

This area has the most breath taking views I have ever seen. Middle Fork between Pleasant Canyon and South Park east of Ballarat is very similar.

I shot some pictures and video with my hand held camera but haven't had time to edit it yet. This is an area where I would want to bring my helmet cam to film with, especially the north section and technical sections of the trail.

Anyone interested in spectacular routes should ride this trail before the snow begins to fall.

[Baja Ho]

Great pic. Would not have guessed that was D.V., almost looks like Colorado.

[2on2off]

I have been riding in DV for a number of years and have taken over 10 trips. I'm still discovering new routes each time I take a trip there.

My next trip out I want to ride to the "Salt Tram" east of Lone Pine. Last time I rode to Cerro Gordo, I ran into a locked gate to a dirt road that headed west from Cerro Gordo but I'm not sure that was the road to the tram.

A good loop would be Lone Pine to Cerro Gordo to the Salt Trams, then into Saline Valley over South Pass to Steele Pass, Eureka Dunes and back to Lone Pine through Squaw and Papoose Flat and Mazouka Canyon. That would be a 240 mile loop with no gas stop and about 270 mile loop if you stop in Big Pine for gas.

The loop possibilities are almost endless in Death Valley and the surrounding area.

[rider914]

Originally Posted by 2on2off

My next trip out I want to ride to the "Salt Tram" east of Lone Pine.

Ah... the Salt Tram. Thats another good one that I need to do again.

Originally Posted by 2on2off

A good loop would be Lone Pine to Cerro Gordo to the Salt Trams, then into Saline Valley over South Pass to Steele Pass, Eureka Dunes and back to Lone Pine through Squaw and Papoose Flat and Mazouka Canyon. That would be a 240 mile loop with no gas stop and about 270 mile loop if you stop in Big Pine for gas.

Pretty aggressive loop there. Not enough time in the day though. Too many cool places along the way that need to explored and enjoyed.

-M

[joefromsf]

During our week in DV last November, Speed Racer and I did and overnight loop from Panamint Springs Resort. Day 1 was PSR to South Pass to Saline Hot Springs. Day 2 was Hot Springs to North Pass to Harkless Flat to Papoose Flat to Mazourka Peak and Canyon and back to PSR. That area was very cool.

Need to go back and check out Squaw Flat and the Narrows.

Pics of the section between Papoose Flat and Mazourka Pk.









Day 1 track:



Day 2 track:



Rest of pics from that trip are here: http://joefromsf.smugmug.com/Motorcy...4576469_X4p7Xn

All my Death Valley GPS tracks are posted on GPSXchange

[2on2off]

Joe: You and 914 shot some great pictures of the trails around Squaw Flat. That is exactly what it looked like. Really fun trails.

I see there are more trails on the west side of 395 I need to check out as well as the trails you rode south of highway 190. I need more time to explore.

[2on2off]

Here is a video and some pics I shot while riding the second day of a three day loop from Reedley. On this day we rode:
1. Started in Ridgecrest and rode 28 miles on pavement to Trona. There was gas two weeks ago.
2. Rode from Trona on dirt over Manly Pass (the escape route) to Ballarat on the west side of the dry lake
3. Rode from Ballarat on Indian Ranch dirt road
4. Rode Trona road, paved, to highway 190 west to Saline Valley road
5. Rode over South Pass to Saline Warm Springs
6. Rode over North Pass
7. Rode 2 miles west on Death Valley road
8. Turned south on dirt trails and rode through Squaw Flat and Mazouka Canyon
9. Rode highway 395 from Independence to Bishop where we stopped for the night

Here is a summary video of this days ride. This route was a blast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pghyXkGOLE

[RAZR]

Originally Posted by 2on2off

Here is a video and some pics I shot while riding the second day of a three day loop from Reedley. On this day we rode:
1. Started in Ridgecrest and rode 28 miles on pavement to Trona. There was gas two weeks ago.
2. Rode from Trona on dirt over Manly Pass (the escape route) to Ballarat on the west side of the dry lake
3. Rode from Ballarat on Indian Ranch dirt road
4. Rode Trona road, paved, to highway 190 west to Saline Valley road
5. Rode over South Pass to Saline Warm Springs
6. Rode over North Pass
7. Rode 2 miles west on Death Valley road
8. Turned south on dirt trails and rode through Squaw Flat and Mazouka Canyon
9. Rode highway 395 from Independence to Bishop where we stopped for the night

Here is a summary video of this days ride. This route was a blast:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pghyXkGOLE

nice dude!!!

i love Death Valley and i want to get out there before the snow hit the North Pass.

[2on2off]

I talked with Bob Brown this morning who is the Road Superintendent for Inyo County.

He said they hope to get a grader on South Pass by mid November but have a problem getting the material they need to fill in the washouts. They have some agreement with the Death Valley Park Service regarding this but he said they have been taking for over two years with no results.

Bob also said two of his staff that were responsible for maintaining South Pass retired and they have not yet been replaced. Anyone looking for a job in operating heavy machinery might want to give Bob a call.

Bob hopes to get South Pass graded before the snow begins to fall but couldn't promise anything.

I asked him about the "Road Closed" sign on Saline Road/HIghway 190. He said that is there in case someone drives on this road and gets stuck and then wants Inyo County to pay to get them out. It's a liability thing. So it sounds like it is OK to ride Saline Valley Road as long as you understand you are "on your own" and don't expect a tow truck or any help if you get stuck or need help.

"Adventure bike" riders should beware when riding South Pass. Not a good idea to ride alone and anyone riding it should be able to handle sand, washouts and rocks.

[Baja Ho]

Great video Thanks for posting. I need to get back out there and do some camping off the bike and soak it all in.