Category: Destination4x4

Hole in the Rock

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Recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, the Hole in the Rock trail is an old Mormon trail in Utah that was used to establish colonies on the east side of the Colorado River in 1879. The Hole in the Rock from which the trail is named, is a narrow canyon from the rim of the canyon down into the Colorado River Valley. This canyon provided access to the Colorado River and the much needed water require to survive in these remote locations. Months were spent widening the narrow canyon to allow “safe” passage of all the wagons and cattle.

Hole in the wall trail in Escalante, Utah
Hole in the wall trail in Escalante, Utah

The original trail was bisected when the Glen Canyon damn bottled the Colorado River and started to fill up Lake Powell in 1966. However, thE road continues to exist and allows access to the Escalante Canyon system, along with access to the Devils Garden, numerous slot canyons and lots of back country hiking and camping opportunities.

Devils Garden off the Hole in the Rock Trail, Lake Powell, Utah
Devils Garden off the Hole in the Rock Trail, Lake Powell, Utah

The road passes between the Kaiparowits Plateau and the Escalante River. This area is a labyrinth of roads and trails.  The trail leaves the small town of Escalante and travels 44 miles south along a sandy road.

Camping at Dance Hall Rock, Hole in the Rock trail
Camping at Dance Hall Rock, Hole in the Rock trail

Do not underestimate how cool this area is to visit. The rock formations, remote locations and sunsets are beyond comprehension. One can get the feeling of isolation on just a short visit.

Escalante Canyon, Utah
Escalante Canyon, Utah

Hole in the Rock Trail Map

Achy-Breaky

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Achy-Breaky is a very difficult, trail which circumnavigates Watkins Peak in San Bernardino County, California. This trail is one of many on the Stoddard Wells OHV.  The trail requires a well built 4×4 and a GPS to even stay on the trail which a network of difficult to navigate trails.

California Desert Tortoise emerging from a hiding place just off of Achy-Breaky Trail
California Desert Tortoise emerging from a hiding place just off of Achy-Breaky Trail

Located south of Barstow, in the Stoddard Wells OHV Area. The trail is quite a popular destination for people who are looking to test their 4×4, and not suitable for stock vehicles. Skid plates, differential lockers, high ground clearance and a capable truck are required to navigate the desert terrain with numerous steep, rocky climbs. Tire damage is a real possibility from the large, sharp rocks. Although technically challenging, the trail does not offer much in the scenery department, unless you hike up towards to top of the peak.

The trail is best run from November to March each year due to the high heat of the Mohave Desert. More information on Stoddard Wells OHV Area can be found at the Barstow Field office of the Bureau of Land Management at 760-252-6000.

Arcy-Breaky Trail Map

References

White Mountain Road

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Locathed in Inyo County, the White Mountain Road is a high altitude road that travels north from Highway 168 out of Big Pine and into the Bristle Cone Pine Forest of the White Mountains.  The road is partial paved as far as the Schulman Grove visitors center and beyond the road is graded dirt.

Bristle Cone grove located high in the White Mountains.
Bristle Cone grove located high in the White Mountains.

As the White Mountain roads winds north, it follows the ridge line of the White Mountains climbing higher in elevation and offers up amazing vistas of Owens Valley to the west.

A Bristlecone Pine (not the oldest) located in the White Mountains, CA
A Bristlecone Pine (not the oldest) located in the White Mountains, CA

The bristlecone pine tree is found in this mountain range, and is the oldest living thing on the planet and are known to live 5,000 years.  The bristlecone pine trees live in groves in arid sub alpine mountain tops in the western United States, including the White Mountains in California and around Mount Charleston just north of Las Vegas.  The harsh environment, high elevations over 12,000 above sea level, dry conditions, high winds twist a bend the trees and they slowly grow across the millennium.

Bristlecone pine wood contorted with age and environment.
Bristlecone pine wood contorted with age and environment.

The very high elevation takes its toll on car and driver a like. While climbing the route, the power of the jeep was quite noticeable. I did not notice the elevation until I got out for a bit of a hike among the Bristle Cones. Once must be careful to catch their breathe, and the suns intensity was rather noticable.

Over 11000 feet above sea level
Over 11000 feet above sea level

White Mountain Road Map

Fish Canyon Escape Trail

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William Lewis Manly (April 6, 1820 – February 5, 1903)
William Lewis Manly (April 6, 1820 – February 5, 1903)

The Fish Canyon Escape Trail is a route discovered by William Manly as an escape route from Death Valley in 1849.  The group tried to navigate the hot and dry Mojave desert with hand drawn maps, which supposedly showed short cuts across the desert. After being lost of months in the wilderness of Death Valley, William Manly and a group of emigrants headed to California. William Mandy set off and finally discovered a route out of Death Valley.  

William Many was like many man of the era. He made his living as a guide, fur hunter, farmer and later in life a writer. In 1849, he followed thousands of other young men and travelled to California to join the Gold Rush. He was 29 years old at the time.

Near Provo Utah he joined other travels to cross the great basin to Southern California. In December, the group became lost following the inaccurate maps which they brought with them. For three weeks they struggled in Death Valley. With food supplies depeleted. Manly and John Haney Rogers walked the Mojave for 250 miles, finally reaching Rancho San Fernando.

On his return with food and horses, he discovered that only two families, the Bennett and Arcane, survived his absence. This trail is part of his route.

The trail is mildly rocky and suitable for most SUV’s

Further Reading

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Wildrose Campground

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Wildrose Campground is located at 4100 feet above sea level in the Paramint Mountains within Death Valley National Park. This semi-primative campground is located off of the migrant Canyon Road. This free campground is open all year and sites ar Wildrose Campground is a free, first-come, first-served primitive campground in Death Valley National Park that delivers a quieter, cooler, and more remote experience than the busy valley-floor sites.

Wildrose Campground, Death Valley National Park
Wildrose Campground, Death Valley National Park

Geographic Description

Wildrose sits at about 4,100 feet (1,250 meters) in the Panamint Mountains on the western side of the park, along Emigrant Canyon Road (also called Wildrose Road). The landscape features dirt-and-gravel sites scattered among mesquite bushes and rolling desert hills, with open views toward surrounding ridges. It feels distinctly higher and more mountainous than the famous low-elevation spots near Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells.

Access is via Emigrant Canyon Road off CA-190. The drive involves significant elevation gain and winding sections; total vehicle length (including trailer) is restricted to 25 feet. The campground makes an excellent base for the historic Wildrose Charcoal Kilns a few miles farther up the road and the trailheads for Wildrose Peak and Telescope Peak. Nearest services (fuel, water, supplies) are roughly 30–45 minutes away at Stovepipe Wells or Panamint Springs. Cell service is essentially nonexistent.

Amenities

  • 23 sites (some sources note a tent-only loop for sites 14–23)
  • Picnic table and NPS fire grate/ring at each site
  • Vault toilets (generally reported as clean and well-maintained)
  • Trash and recycling collection
  • Generators allowed 7 a.m.–7 p.m.
  • Quiet hours 10 p.m.–7 a.m.
  • Pets permitted on leash in developed areas
  • Maximum stay 30 consecutive days

What it lacks: Potable water (official NPS guidance currently states none is available in the Wildrose area—bring all you need; nearest reliable source is about 31 miles north at Stovepipe Wells), hookups of any kind, showers, dump station, and shade trees. Fires are allowed only in the provided grates and are typically prohibited June 15–September 15 (or during high fire danger). Ground can be hard and rocky, and the area is often windy.

Best Times to Visit

Wildrose is open year-round and is one of the better options for beating Death Valley’s extreme heat because of its elevation.

  • Best overall: Fall (October–November) and spring (March–April, sometimes into early May). Daytime temperatures are typically comfortable (often 60s–80s°F), nights are cool, and hiking conditions are excellent. Crowds remain moderate compared with the valley floor.
  • Summer (June–August): A solid choice if you want to visit during the hottest months. Nights are far more sleepable than on the valley floor (which can stay over 100°F after dark). Daytime heat is still intense, so plan early starts and bring plenty of water.
  • Winter (December–February): Doable and often quiet, with cold nights and the possibility of light snow. Prepare for freezing temperatures and check road conditions.

Arrive early in the day (especially on weekends or holidays) because sites fill on a first-come basis and there are only 23 of them. The remote setting rewards those seeking solitude, exceptional dark-sky stargazing, and easy access to the charcoal kilns and higher-elevation trails. Bring sturdy tent stakes or weights for the wind, all your water, and a sense of adventure—this is classic Death Valley high-country camping at its simplest and most appealing.

Campground Summary

NameWildrose
LocationDeath Valley National Park, California
Latitude, Longitude36.265848, -117.188184
Sites23
Elevation4100 feet
AmenitiesVault Toilets, Water, Firepits, Tables

Wildrose Campground Map

References

NPS.gov