Panamint Valley is a vast desert valley located in eastern California, in the United States. The valley is surrounded by several mountain ranges, including the Panamint Mountains to the west, the Cottonwood Mountains to the east, and the Argus Range to the south. The valley is part of the larger Death Valley National Park and is known for its stunning natural beauty and unique geological formations.
The valley is situated at an elevation of approximately 2,000 feet above sea level and has a desert climate with hot summers and mild winters. The valley receives very little rainfall, with most of it occurring during the winter months.
One of the main attractions of Panamint Valley is its unique geological formations, which include ancient lava flows, sand dunes, and salt flats. Visitors can explore these formations on foot, by car, or on an off-road vehicle. The valley is also home to several natural hot springs, which are a popular destination for visitors looking to relax and unwind in a beautiful and peaceful setting.
In addition to its natural attractions, the location also has a rich history. The valley was an important transportation route during the early days of settlement in California, with several wagon roads and stagecoach routes passing through the area. Visitors can explore the remains of these historic routes and learn about the pioneers who braved the harsh desert conditions to settle the area.
The valley also has several camping options available, including primitive campsites and developed campgrounds with basic amenities like pit toilets and fire rings. Visitors should be aware that there is no potable water available in the valley, and they will need to bring their own supplies.
In summary, Panamint Valley is a stunning and unique destination that offers visitors a chance to explore the beauty and history of the California desert. Its natural hot springs, geological formations, and historic sites make it a popular destination for visitors looking for a unique and off-the-beaten-path experience.
Panamint Valley Trail Map
Panamint Valley Points of Interest
 Ballarat California – Inyo County Ghost TownBallarat, California, is a near-ghost town and unincorporated community in Inyo County, located in the Panamint Valley at the base of the Panamint Range, west… |
 Barker RanchThomason/Barker Ranch is a five-acre property within Death Valley National Park. This historic site is located off of Goler Wash in the southern Panamint Range… |
 Darwin California – Inyo County Ghost TownDarwin is a unincorporated community, gold mining town and ghost town located in Inyo County, California about 22 miles from Keeler. The town was named… |
 Darwin FallsThe waterfalls of Darwin are located on the western edge of Death Valley National Park near the settlement of Panamint Springs, California. Although there exists… |
 Harrisburg California – Inyo County Ghost TownHarrisburg, California, a now-abandoned ghost town in Inyo County, was a fleeting but significant mining camp in Death Valley’s history. Established in 1905 following a… |
 Myers RanchMyers Ranch is a privately owned ranch located in Goler Wash in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley National Park, California. The forty acre ranch… |
 Panamint City California – Inyo County Ghost TownPanamint City is one of the most legendary ghost towns in the Panamint Range of Death Valley National Park, California. Perched high in Surprise Canyon… |
 Skidoo California – Inyo County Ghost TownSkidoo, California, once a bustling gold mining town in the early 20th century, now stands as a ghost town within Death Valley National Park. Located… |
 Wildrose Charcoal KilnsThe Wildrose Charcoal Kilns stand in Wildrose Canyon in the Panamint Mountains of Death Valley National Park, California, at an elevation of roughly 6,800–6,900 feet.… |
 Wildrose StationWildrose Station in Death Valley National Park (California) is a historic site in Wildrose Canyon on the western side of the park, in the Panamint… |
Panamint Valley Ghost Towns
Ballarat California – Inyo County Ghost TownBallarat, California, is a near-ghost town and unincorporated community in Inyo County, located in the Panamint Valley at the base of the Panamint Range, west… |
Darwin California – Inyo County Ghost TownDarwin is a unincorporated community, gold mining town and ghost town located in Inyo County, California about 22 miles from Keeler. The town was named… |
Harrisburg California – Inyo County Ghost TownHarrisburg, California, a now-abandoned ghost town in Inyo County, was a fleeting but significant mining camp in Death Valley’s history. Established in 1905 following a… |
Panamint City California – Inyo County Ghost TownPanamint City is one of the most legendary ghost towns in the Panamint Range of Death Valley National Park, California. Perched high in Surprise Canyon… |
Skidoo California – Inyo County Ghost TownSkidoo, California, once a bustling gold mining town in the early 20th century, now stands as a ghost town within Death Valley National Park. Located… |
Panamint Valley 4×4 Trails
 Aguereberry Point RoadDeath Valley National Park 4x4 and Back Country Roads Aguereberry Point Road is a roughly 6–6.5-mile unpaved side road off Emigrant Canyon Road (also called… |
Butte Valley RoadDeath Valley National Park 4x4 and Back Country Roads Butte Valley is a remote and captivating backcountry destination in the southwestern corner of Death Valley… |
 Emigrant Canyon RoadEmigrant Canyon Road is a scenic, paved mountain road in the western portion of Death Valley National Park, California. It provides the primary paved access… |
 Goler Wash and Mengel PassGoler Wash and Mengel Pass over a route into Butte Valley from Panamint Valley. Although not technically in Death Valley, this trail is consider part… |
Hummingbird Spring RoadDeath Valley National Park 4x4 and Back Country Roads Hummingbird Spring Road (access spur off the Wildrose/Mahogany Flat Road) in the Panamint Mountains of Death… |
Indian Ranch RoadDeath Valley National Park 4x4 and Back Country Roads Indian Ranch Road is a scenic, graded dirt road located in the Panamint Valley within the… |
Pleasant CanyonDeath Valley National Park 4x4 and Back Country Roads The Panamint Mountains, forming the western boundary of Death Valley National Park in California, offer some… |
Skidoo California – Inyo County Ghost TownSkidoo, California, once a bustling gold mining town in the early 20th century, now stands as a ghost town within Death Valley National Park. Located… |
Skidoo RoadDeath Valley National Park 4x4 and Back Country Roads Skidoo Road (also called Skidoo Trail) is an approximately 7–9 mile one-way (roughly 8 miles by… |
Persons of Interest
 Asa Merton Russell “Panamint Russ”Asa Merton Russell “Panamint Russ” (1895–1970) was a California prospector, small-scale miner, desert homesteader, and occasional writer whose four-decade presence in the Butte Valley district… |
 Carl Mengel – Panamint Valley MinerCarl Mengel (1868–1944) was a German-born American prospector and small-scale miner whose decades of solitary toil in the rugged Panamint Mountains of California’s Death Valley… |
 Charles Ferge “Seldom Seen Slim” – A Ballarat ProspectorCharles Ferge "Seldom Seen Slim" Charles Ferge “Seldom Seen Slim” (c. 1881–1968) was one of the last of the classic “desert rats”—solitary prospectors who embodied… |
 Charles Milles MaddoxCharles Milles Maddox AKA Charlie Manson was a serial killer and most of the bad parts of the Old Testament sort of criminal. He briefly… |
 Frank “Shorty” HarrisFrank “Shorty” Harris (1857–1934) was one of the most colorful and enduring figures of the American desert West—a short-statured, hard-drinking, single-blanket jackass prospector whose 1904… |
 Pete Aguereberry – A Panamint Valley MinerJean Pierre “Pete” Aguereberry (1874–1945), universally known as Pete Aguereberry, was a Basque-born prospector and miner whose four-decade solitary vigil at the Eureka Mine in… |