Death Valley Road Conditions Nov 17, 2013

FYI in case you're considering a visit to Death Valley soon…

Originally shared by +Jeff Sullivan

Death Valley Road Conditions Nov 17, 2013
FYI, as of 3 weeks ago the 2/3 of Death Valley's roads that are unpaved were still in sad shape following heavy rains back in August. Some of the paved roads washed away as well.

The Emigrant Canyon Road nine miles west of Stovepipe Wells Resort heading towards Agueberry Point? Closed.
The road through Panamint Valley? Not only closed, but a large section of the road was undermined and got carried away in the flood. They don't even know where it went.
Maybe you could approach from the south near Ballarat up Wildrose Canyon towards Mahogany Flat and the trail head to Telescope Peak? Nope, closed.
West Side Road leading to the other side of Badwater Basin? Closed.
The Cottonwood Canyon road from the Stovepipe Wells airport? Open to the mouth of the canyon, but washed out and closed after that.

The road to The Racetrack? Rutted with heavy washboard, with some decent-sized rocks in the road. Definitely not in any shape for low clearance vehicles, or any vehicle with anything less than all terrain tires (reinforced off road tires), and even then be prepared for one or two flats. The visitor center is questioning everyone heading up there about their preparation and ability to self-rescue, so nearly everyone I saw up there in November was using the rental Jeeps you can get at Furnace Creek for about $200/day. The road north from Ubehebe towards Big Pine had washboard as well. Blading either road with a grader could temporarily make them worse, since that turns up new sharp rocks that only come off the road by sticking into tires (I've gotten 3 flats on those roads, including 2 at once). Carry extra food, water, tools and tire repair options, and clothing/bedding in case you get stranded overnight.