Death Valley Jan/Feb 2011

[Quahog03]

Has anyone cycled Death valley in the winter ?
I realize the cold nights,but temps during the day seem to be good for cycling.
I would be self contained,however would also doing lodging.
Thanks,
 Ed

[aggie]

This is the rainy season with fronts coming in from the Gulf of Alaska.  The weather can be quite variable.  It can be warm and pleasant one day and cold, wet, and windy the next.  There are several roads that are paved and many that are not.  There are several places to stay in the park.  This is the parks website and it should have all the information you need.  http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm

[MrBent]

I ride through Death Valley in the winter almost every year.  We're doing a run this year from Lone Pine, at the base of Mt. Whitney, through Death Valley and all the way down through the East Mojave, Joshua Tree to finish in Palm Desert.  Death Valley is fantastic!  Day time highs are usually in the low 60's with nights in the high 30's.  Rain, of course, almost never falls, but it can get windy as hell, usually out of the north.  The climbs in and out are pretty major.  The easiest way out is via Death Valley Junction from Furnace Creek.  This is a nice, moderate grade, excellent pavement, generally good shoulder, which gains over 3,000 ft. in about 20 miles.  Coming in from the west is the toughest: Towne's Pass or Immigrant Pass.  I've done Immigrant several times and doing Towne's from the west for the first time this year.  Immigrant is wild, rarely traveled, snow and ice possible up high depending on the year/and time since recent storms.  Rangers will have all the info. you need.

In short:  Go do it!

Scott

[Quahog03]

Thank you for both replies,great information.
Ed

[tonythomson]

Hi Ed,
how you doing?  Sounds like a great trip let me know how you get on.
I love Death Valley - take your golf clubs 
Don't suppose your down in Florida at the moment?
Tony

[bikeman]

Hi Ed,
          One problem I had cycling Death Valley was camping is not allowed along the road unless you go a mile or two off the road. I assume the park rangers still enforce it, it's a park rule with a big fine.  I know you said you would use the lodgings but if you get caught between places on a windy day you may not make it to the next lodging.
           I  thought you bought a RV you retired?

Clyde (Your Southern tier to El Paso pafrtner)         

[MrBent]

Re. non-standard camping:  The rules are one thing, the reality another.  On most occasions, we end up doing a little camping outside the usual campgrounds.  If you can get far enough away from the main centers--Stovepipe, Furnace Creek, Scotty's Castle, you can usually fine a spot to throw down, but for us that has meant the far south of the valley where few people go.  Part of the trick is, where possible, to find a dirt road, then just ride/push down it far enough.  Of course, stay only one night and leave no trace.  We've camped off the southern end of the West Side road a couple of times.  We've also thrown down a couple times closer to the road near Mormon Point.  A few roads and commando camps can be found off the climb to Death Valley Junction, too.  Study the maps and find the dirt roads, you'll be fine.

Scott