Walking Wild & Free

Johnson Canyon Road 1

Johnson Canyon Road

Johnson Canyon Road 1

Johnson Canyon Road

High clearance-required 4×4 road up an alluvial fan to Johnson Canyon and Wilson Spring.

Total Distance: 9.8 miles point to point (dead end)	Elevation Gain: 4,128ft. up, 46ft. down (-250ft. to 3,837ft.)
Road Difficulty: 1.8+ for the first 6.5 miles; 2.3+ beyond	Bicycle Difficulty: More Difficult
View Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0	Author’s Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars3.0
Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]	Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]
Pets: Leashed	Horses: Yes
Best Seasons: October-May	Special Permits: None
Water Availability: No potable water	Overnight Options: Yes at least 1 mile from the West Side Road
Amenities: None	Crowd Factor: Solitude to Moderate
Uses:	Road surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Johnson Canyon Road

0.0 Johnson Canyon Road Junction on the West Side Road (-250ft.). Begin driving up the alluvial fan. Per the National Park Service, high clearance, 2WD vehicles can usually make it to the top of the alluvial fan, about 6.5 miles from the West Side Road. However, the road is rocky and rough; take your time and be prepared to turn around if it’s too much for your vehicle. As you ascend the road, be sure to look back down at Badwater Flats and the Black Mountains across the valley. (36.098192°, -116.845458°)

6.5 Drop into Johnson Canyon Wash (2,304ft.). The road goes south to continue up Johnson Canyon. 4×4 is required beyond this point. There is more foliage in the canyon than on the alluvial fan, but it’s still pretty barren. Keep your eyes open for a rusting 1934 Chrysler Airflow. The further you go upcanyon, the rougher the terrain becomes, including some boulders that must be negotiated – possibly creating a difficulty of 2.3. (36.085068, -116.956533)

9.8 Cottonwood Trees (3,837ft.). This marks the end of the road (actually, the road continues a short distance further, but it may be closed – it’s still best to continue on foot). A campsite nearby (across the stream) is nice if you don’t mind dragging your gear across a few muddy places. Wilson Spring is nearby – be sure not to camp within 100 feet of the spring – and the trail to Hungry Bill’s Ranch continues beyond the spring. (36.088866, -117.006300)

History & More

The first 6.5 miles of the road are usually ok for high clearance vehicles. That said, the rocks that make up the road surface make it a very rough, even bone-jarring, ride. Be sure to have a spare tire with you.

Several boulders in the wash can’t be avoided, making the track a bit of a 2.3 difficulty. However, the lack of steep grades, off-camber sections, and ledges makes it easier than it might be otherwise.

Johnson Canyon Road is less popular with campers simply because it’s further from a paved road. Be sure to drive at least a mile up the road before pulling over for the night.

Johnson Canyon was the site of a Shoshone village. The locals still used the spring in the early days of settlement and prospecting in Death Valley.

William Johnson established a ranch in the canyon that bears his name in the 1870s. By building irrigation channels and terraces, he was able to successfully raise squash, melons, corn, beans, and even fruit and nut orchards. It wasn’t just a homestead – William carried his produce five miles over the Panamint Mountains to the swelling mining town of Panamint City. As the town began to dwindle, William abandoned the ranch.

History melded when, in 1907, a Shoshone man by the name of Hungry Bill and his family moved into the canyon and was approved for a homestead on the land. The family planted more trees and gardens and lived on the site of their ancestral village until Hungry Bill’s death c.1919.

There was some discussion after the filing of the homestead whether or not an American Indian man could, indeed, file a claim. The state of California upheld his rights to the land.

Hungry Bill was famous for his ravenous appetite. We don’t know if any of his family inherited that trait, but it’s possible that hunger drove the family to build ever-increasing numbers of gardens.

The gardens of Hungry Bill’s Ranch included alfalfa, grapevines, peaches, beans, wheat, and corn.

The exact history of Hungry Bill’s family is nebulous. It’s known that he had a wife, two sons, and two daughters. However, records conflict as to exactly when each was born – and in what order – and when each died. Even more confusing are his grandchildren: Exactly how many and by whom is still a matter of debate. T.R. Goodwin, the first official superintendent of Death Valley, attempted to untangle the family tree in 1937 and partially succeeded. He was able to establish that Hungry Bill was a leader in the tribe.

Hungry Bill was a scout for the US Army in the Madoc War.

I haven’t read how Wilson Spring received its name, but it’s possible the name came from Hungry Bill’s son-in-law, Tom Wilson.

Johnson Canyon was also rich in mineral resources. Gold and silver were extracted by prospectors and natives (each with their own claims). It’s said that some miners tried to jump a claim owned by several Shoshone men. The men went to a nearby city, rounded up some (possibly drunken) miners, and ran the jumpers off of their land.

After Hungry Bill’s death, his land was deeded to his children. However, they left the canyon, and it’s possible that it reverted to the US government. In 1953, Fred and Leah Rosser purchased the homestead. Upon learning of the transaction, the National Park Service offered the Rossers a land grant outside of the borders of the park in exchange for Johnson Canyon. The couple agreed, and the canyon became National Monument property in 1954.

At one time, the road up Johnson Canyon ascended all of the way to Panamint Pass and then down Surprise Canyon to emerge not far from the ghost town of Ballarat. In 2001, Death Valley National Park and nearby local agencies closed the road beyond Wilson Spring. A few people each year still walk the old route.

Download Route Map

Driving Directions

On the West Side Road, 20.7 miles south of the northern terminus and 15.2 miles north of the southern terminus.