Rides Around Death Valley?

[Hank R1200RT]

I remember seeing some discussion of a group ride around Death Valley recently.

 

I will be riding up Friday and running in a 10K race on Saturday at Furnace Creek. (Waddling is probably more accurate.) Any not-to-be-missed roads around there? I will be spending the night in Death Valley Junction if that matters. Have to return to Los Angeles that night, so not a lot of time on hand.

 

Thanks in advance,

[realshelby]

I went from East to West through Death Valley in November. Didn't see very many roads to explore. But, I must say I was not expecting Death Valley to be nearly as scenic as it turned out to be. With limited time, I would probably just stick to the main routes. That is not a bad thing at all!

[mrduck]

Get to 395 and head to Olancha.....190 to DV is a great two wheel road......stay on 190 thru park, take a side trip up to Dantes View, the scenery is spectacular!

 

 

Don J

[szurszewski]

We were there in October - it was beautiful in its way. There is an annual bmwst even there (maybe semi annual even?) and though I've never been, I assume that means there is good riding there. Search on here for DVD or Death Valley Days.

 

If you don't come up with any ride ideas and are just rambling through the park, do make sure to check out Stove Pipe Wells (not the campground/station area - the actual site) and imagine walking or even riding through there when there were no roads, counting on a sand covered well you'd never been to before to keep you from dying. Amazing.

 

 

 

 

[JR356]

The annual Death Valley event was mid November,don't see it on the schedule for 2017 yet.

 

JR356

[David13]

2017 Death Valley will be on the calendar later.

 

If you are staying in Death Valley Junction, you should stay at the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel.

 

You should not stay at the Longstreet.

dc

[Hank R1200RT]

Yes, already got a room at the Opera House.

[longjohn]

The annual Death Valley event was mid November,don't see it on the schedule for 2017 yet.

 

JR356

Mr Duck usually schedules it in the first couple of weeks in Nov., and I wouldn't look for a concrete date before Septemberish.

[Hank R1200RT]

Thank you to everyone who provided advice. I stayed at the Amargosa Opera House as suggested - shabby chic might describe it, no TV or telephone and intermittent Wifi via satellite. But the other guests seemed more willing to chat than in many other hotels.

 

Came the dawn, I rode to Furnace Creek and participated in the 10K. After recuperating, took more advice and went to Zabriskie Point. It is near the main road and about a 400' walk from the parking lot, with maybe a 60 foot rise. The scenery is unique and it is worth a stop.

 

Next was a ride to Dante's View, about 13 miles off the main road (126? 190?). Boring ride to start, increasingly technical as it progressed. The views are fantastic! It is about 5300' elevation, and clouds were at eye level over the valley and snow covered the peaks on the west side. Well worth the detour if you are in Death Valley.

 

After that, I decided to ride Badwater Road back to L.A. Passed some cars, noticed four bikes ahead and caught up: two HDs, a Valkyrie, and a Vision. They were keeping a spirited pace, passing more often as we passed the tourist gaggle at Badwater.

 

One pass was a problem - straight follwed by a dogleg right and a blind left behind a ridge. I sized this one up and decided to wait for another opportunity. The two HDs passed on the straight, and the Valkyrie tried to pass at the start of the right corner, and went off the road up the gently sloping ridge.

 

At this point he was OK, and if he had just coasted to a stop it would have been mundane. But he attempted to get back on the pavement, which he did, but kept going and then went off the other (right) side of the road. All this burned off speed and when he eventually dumped the Valkyrie, he was almost at a walking pace and jumped off the bike. The two HDs stopped, the car driver did not.

 

After entreating the rider to check himself for pain, we got the Valkyrie back on asphalt. The two HDs took off in pursuit. The Vision rider and I helped get the Valkyrie rideable - crash bars, handlebars bent, windshield cracked, right mirror gone. We headed south at a reduced pace and eventually came across the two HDs and the Asian tourists in the car. After ensuring that no one was going to start shooting, I headed south solo.

 

Note to self - should have filled up. Badwater is a longish ride. Not on fumes, but low on fuel by the time I made Shoshone. Rest of the trip was uneventful.

 

I had a couple of gear issues, will post those in the Moto Stuff subforum.