4×4 Road: Warm Spring Canyon Road – Death Valley National Park
High clearance-required 4×4 road up past old talc mines and Warm Spring to the scenic Butte Valley. Beyond the valley, the road crosses Mengel Pass and continues – albeit much rougher – down into Panamint Valley.
| Total Distance: 33.2 miles point to point | Elevation Gain: 5,428ft. up, 4,080ft. down (-218ft. to 4304ft.) (E-W) |
| Road Difficulty: 2.0 to 3.0 | Bicycle Difficulty: More Difficult |
| View Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars |
| Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] | Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] |
| Pets: Leashed (on the road) | 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; no camping within 100ft. of the springs |
| Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Solitude to Moderate |
Uses:         | Road surface:    |
Features:       | Hazards:       |
Mile-by-Mile: Warm Spring Canyon Road
0.0 Warm Spring Canyon Road on the West Side Road (-219ft.). Turn up the dirt road as it as it heads for the mountains – this part of the road tends to be accessible to high clearance 2WD vehicles as long as they take it slow. At first, the road is gravelly/sandy and washboarded but otherwise quite passable (a hump in the middle of the road may make high clearance advisable). The road crosses Anvil Spring Canyon and begins working its way up into the mountains and near (but at first not in) Warm Spring Canyon. (35.954105, -116.746626)
7.2 Y in road (1,274ft.). The left fork is a spur that takes you to Anvil Spring Canyon and several old mines. This guide turns right to continue on the main road. (35.960060, -116.867529)
7.5 Sideroad on right (1,274ft.). The sideroad is a rough and possibly impassable route back to the Queen of Sheba Road near its junction with the West Side Road. Continue on the main road as it takes a sharp turn to the left. (35.961605, -116.871778)
8.9 Sideroad to Grantham Mine on left (1,742ft.). The road leads a short distance up to the remains of the mine and nearby ruins. It’s well worth a stop. As the main road progresses up Warm Springs Canyon, you’ll pass by several old mine dumps and various sideroads to the dumps. (35.962107, -116.897999)
10.7 Y in Road for Warm Spring (2,276ft.). The left fork takes you up to the Warm Spring Camp. It includes several buildings, an old swimming pool, old mining equipment, and more. Continue up the main road (right fork), passing another sideroad to the same area on left a quarter mile later (this area is the one with the old mining machinery – an old tramway is visible to the north across the main road). Even if you’ve made it this far in a 2WD vehicle, chances are that you’ll need 4×4 if you go too much further. After Warm Spring, the road continues to ascend Warm Spring Canyon, passing a few old mining spurs that lead up to old prospects. (35.969185, -116.927096)
15.3 Road junction on right (3,648ft.). The sideroad on right (north) would take you up to old prospects and toward Arrastre Spring. You want to continue straight (westward) on the main road. At this point, Warm Spring Canyon opens up into a broad valley – also known as the very scenic Butte Valley and the destination of most people who drive the Warm Spring Canyon Road. The road winds through the valley and to the south of Striped Butte. (35.985453, -117.000449)
20.4 Road junction on right (northwest) (3,791ft.). This is a connector to the Redlands Canyon Road. Continue straight (left) on the Warm Spring Road. (35.944765, -117.062668)
22.2 4-way Road Junction (4.158ft.). This is the Anvil Spring/Willow Spring Road. Turning right (west) would take you to the Geologist’s Cabin and Anvil Spring; turning left (east) would take you to Willow Spring and the beginning of the Anvil Spring Canyon “trail” (route). Continue straight (south) on the Warm Spring Canyon Road. (35.923551, -117.082607)
22.4 Road enters from right (4,235ft.). This is the Redlands Canyon Road. It winds up past the Geologist’s Cabin and Anvil Spring to access old mine sites and the narrows of Redlands Canyon. (35.920898, -117.084017)
22.6 Stella’s Cabin Road junction on right (west) (4,231ft.). The sideroad leads to Stella’s Cabin (Mengel Cabin) and nearby mine areas, including Greater View Spring and (via another road) Russell’s Camp/Russell’s Cabin. Continue south (left) on the main road. (35.918512, -117.083674)
22.8 Russell’s Camp Road Junction on right (west) (4,215ft.). Turning up the road would take you to Russell’s Camp/Russell’s Cabin as well as crossing the Stella’s Cabin Road. Continue straight (left/south) on the Warm Spring Canyon Road. (35.916099, -117.083328)
22.9 Stella’s Cabin Road Junction 2 on right (west) (4,170ft.). Ehis is the end of the road that struck off earlier. Continue south on the Warm Spring Canyon Road. The road continues up to the head of Butte Valley at Mengel Pass. (35.914344, -117.082625)
23.7 Road junction on right (west) (4,062ft.). The road to the right goes a remarkably short distance down the wash. You want to continue on the main road (south). (35.904113, -117.078045)
24.2 Mengel Pass (4,304ft.). A sideroad goes off on left up to the top of the nearby hill. The main road beyond this is very rough as it descends Goler Wash and is unsuitable for any vehicles except for 4×4, off-road vehicles (for example, jeeps). The difficulty of Goler Wash is usually 2.5-3.0 difficulty, depending on current conditions. Pass a short spur on right (west) about mile 26.7. (35.899957, -117.082298)
27.2 Spur road on left (east) (3,179ft.). The road leads to old mining areas, cabins, possible private property (Myers Ranch), and more. (35.861725, -117.094156)
27.4 Spur road on left (south) (3,115ft.). This is more of the Myers Ranch roads. Continue straight on the Goler Wash Road as you pass Sourdough Spring. (35.860704, -117.096681)
27.6 Drop into a larger wash (3,044ft.). A road turns left (south) here; you want to continue downstream by turning right. You also exit Death Valley National Park at this point. Pass another spur on right (south) about mile 28.3. (35.858683, -117.099157)
29.7 Lotus Mine Road (2,720ft.). The mine may be active, so obey all signs. Continue straight (west) on the main road. (35.860729, -117.117973)
29.5 Road to Newman’s Cabin on left (east) (2,471ft.). The cabin is a short sidetrip. Continue straight on the same road. (35.861794, -117.127959)
33.2 Wingate Road (1,136ft.). Turning right here will take you up to the ghost town of Ballarat and also Panamint Valley Road. (35.859111, -117.179870)
History & More
High clearance, 2WD vehicles can usually make it up to the talc mines. Beyond this, 4×4 is required.
Clearance is often more important than 4×4 on the Warm Spring Canyon Road. However, you still want 4×4 to get up beyond the mines.
Regular 4×4 can usually make the road up to Butte Valley without a lot of difficulty. However, the road down Goler Wash into Panamint Valley is very rough – 2.5-3.0 difficulty rating.
Be wary of private property near the road. Some of the cabins, etc. are privately owned. Always honor no trespassing signs.
The talc found near Warm Springs was of very good quality. Unfortunately, low-quality roads prevented high-scale operations in the area. Still, it seems the claims in Warm Springs were a significant source of talc for the US Navy during WWII.
Warm Springs is the site of the sort of land disagreement that plagued mining towns. In 1928, self-taught prospector Louise Grantham leased several acres of land from Bob Thompson, a Shoshone man who owned the area around Warm Springs. Only a year later, and after making only one payment on her lease, Louise sued Bob in hopes of gaining ownership of the property. (From the looks of things, the battle was more about the land and ownership than about cultural concerns.) The battle went on for some years, and while Bob won the case, Louise firmly refused to leave. After trying eviction orders, federal marshals enforcing a court order, and more, Bob gave up. Louise continued to operate the talc mining operation until her death in 1969. Johns-Manville Corporation purchased (from whom, I haven’t read) the claims after Louise’s death.
Operations after 1969 were plagued with issues almost from the first. Poor operational techniques contaminated the most valuable ore; then tremolite (asbestos) was found in the area – in quantities too high to be safe for customer consumption. Johns-Manville Corporation very nearly donated the claims to the National Park Service just to get the land off of their hands but eventually sold their holdings to a Kentucky-based firm in the late 1970s.
Download Road Map
Driving Directions
Along the West Side Road, 32.9 miles south of the northern terminus and 3.0 miles north of the southern terminus.
It is extremely dangerous to enter a mine due to unstable shafts, gasses, and more. Do not enter mines, even if they are apparently open!
Walking on, climbing, entering, ascending, descending, or traversing any mine, structure, feature, or ruin is prohibited.
Toxic chemicals or ore may be present around mine sites. Enter at your own risk.
Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging, or disturbing any mine, structure, feature, or ruin is also prohibited.
Always be wary of flash floods in a canyon.
Camping in a canyon is discouraged due to the danger of flash floods.
Remember, it may be easier to climb up dryfalls than down them (or vice versa). Be sure you can climb in the other direction before climbing up or down a dryfall.
Camping is not allowed within one mile of a paved road, developed area, or dirt road that is closed to camping.
Camping is not permitted within 100 feet of a flowing stream, spring, or other natural body of open water.
No camping is permitted on the floor of Death Valley, within one mile of Darwin Falls and Greenwater Canyon, on the active/shifting sand dunes, and certain other canyons and backcountry areas.
Camping is also prohibited within one mile of the Ubehebe Lead Mine, Leadfield Mines, Keane Wonder Mill, and Skidoo Mill.
Camping is limited to 30 days per calendar year within the park.
Fires are permitted in NPS-provided fire grates or grills ONLY.
Leave No Trace Principles are enforced
Drones and model aircrafts are prohibited
Camping is permitted only in designated sites or in areas open to dispersed backcountry camping
All park rules and regulations
12 Month Pass: $55/Death Valley Annual Pass (valid at Death Valley National Park). $80/America the Beautiful Annual Pass (valid at all national park and federal fee areas). $20/Annual Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/4th Grade Pass (Valid Sept. 1-August 31 of the child’s 4th Grade school year). Free/Military Pass (valid for all active military personel and their dependents with a CAC Card or DD Form 1173).
Lifetime Pass: $80/Lifetime Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/Access Pass (available to all US citizens with perminent disabilities). Free/Access for Veterans and Gold Star Families Pass (valid for all military and veterans with a CAC card, Veteran HJealth Identification Card, Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on state-issued drivers license or identification card.)