Guides/Overland routes/California
Overland route95 midifficulty: difficult

Saline Valley Road

RegionCaliforniaAgencyNational Park ServiceLast verified—
Saline Valley Road — overland route near Big Pine, California, California
Photo by Jesse Pluim / BLM California via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)
Trail vitals6 facts
Length
95mi
Technical difficulty
Difficult
Direction
Point to point
Vehicle
High-clearance 4WD with off-road tires, two spares, and full water and fuel for two to three days. AWD vehicles can complete the route in dry conditions but the corrugations and rocks demand serious tires.
Best months
Oct, Nov, Apr, May
Cell coverage
None on the route
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Saline Valley Road is a 95-mile remote 4WD route through the western edge of Death Valley National Park, running between State Route 168 near Big Pine in the north and State Route 190 in the south. Built in the early 1900s to haul borax and salt out of Saline Valley, the road traverses one of the most isolated valleys in the lower 48, with elevations ranging from 1,094 feet at the valley floor to 7,593 feet at Hunter Mountain.

The surface is sporadically maintained native dirt, often heavily corrugated and strewn with rocks. Inyo County signs the road "closed" after every major storm; visitors who pass closure signs do so at their own risk and recovery cost. The route accesses the Saline Valley warm springs, the Cerro Gordo road network, and is the western approach to the Racetrack and Lippincott Mine Road.

Hazards

Read before you go

  • Corrugation and rock damage. Heavy washboard and embedded rocks puncture sidewalls. Two full-size spares is the standard load.
  • Heat. Valley-floor temperatures exceed 115°F May through September.
  • Snow and mud. The Hunter Mountain section receives snow from late November through April. Mud after spring snowmelt.
  • Closure signs. Inyo County signs the road closed after storms. Driving past closures means recovery is at the driver's expense.
  • Remote terrain. No fuel, water, or cell coverage. Mechanical breakdowns require self-recovery or a satellite call.
  • Cultural sites. Salt tramway and other historic structures are federally protected.
  • Warm springs etiquette. Volunteer-maintained. Do not damage infrastructure or pollute the pools.

Location

95 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 37.066, -118.000

Trail facts

5 fields
AgencyNational Park Service
Nearest townBig Pine, California
Websitewww.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/saline-valley.htm
ClosedJun, Jul, Aug, Dec, Jan, Feb
Approx. location37.066, -118.000

Getting there

Directions

Northern access. From Big Pine on US-395, drive east on State Route 168 (Death Valley Road) for 14 miles to the Saline Valley Road turnoff on the right.

Southern access. From Stovepipe Wells, drive west on State Route 190 to the Saline Valley Road turnoff on the right.

Approximate northern access coordinates: 37.066° N, -118.000° W.

Photos

1 photo

Photos · 1

Field notes

Getting Oriented

Saline Valley sits in eastern Inyo County, between the Inyo Mountains to the west and the Cottonwood Mountains to the east. The valley is the largest enclosed basin in the western US that drains nowhere — water flows in and evaporates rather than reaching an outlet. Big Pine on US-395 is the closest service town, 15 miles west of the northern access on SR-168. Death Valley NP administers the road and the surrounding land.

Trail Overview

The northern access leaves SR-168 at Waucoba Wash, climbs over Waucoba Pass, and drops 6,000 feet into the valley. Mid-route the road passes the Saline Valley warm springs, an undeveloped clothing-optional hot-springs area maintained by volunteers under an agreement with NPS. South of the springs the road climbs back over Hunter Mountain at 7,500 feet through a Joshua Tree forest before descending to State Route 190 west of Stovepipe Wells.

Driving the full 95 miles takes one long day or two days with stops. Most travelers spend a night at the warm springs. The road's corrugations punish soft tires; serious off-road sidewalls and a full-size spare are essential. Two flats over 95 miles in a single trip is normal for this route.

Points of Interest

  • Saline Valley warm springs. Three developed natural hot pools volunteer-maintained on NPS land. Clothing-optional.
  • Salt tramway. Remnants of an early-1900s aerial tramway used to haul salt out of the valley over the Inyo Mountains.
  • Sand dunes. A small dune field at the valley's south end visible from the road.
  • Lippincott Mine Road junction. Connects east to the Racetrack Playa, a more technical alternate.
  • Hunter Mountain Joshua Tree forest. Dense stand of Joshua Trees at 6,500 feet, atypical for Death Valley NP.
  • Cerro Gordo ghost town. Accessed via a separate spur. Privately owned but the road touches Saline Valley Road.

Where to Camp

Dispersed camping is allowed along the road on NPS land subject to Death Valley's roadside-camping rules. The Saline Valley warm springs has informal camping near the pools. There are no developed campgrounds on the route. Big Pine and Lone Pine on US-395 have commercial RV parks. Mesquite Spring Campground inside Death Valley NP is the closest developed campground to the southern terminus.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

  • Visit October through May. Summer temperatures top 115°F in the valley floor.
  • Carry two spare tires, a plug kit, and a compressor. Sidewall punctures from rocks are common.
  • Travel in two or more vehicles. Recovery from a single-vehicle breakdown is days, not hours.
  • Carry full fuel and water for two days plus emergency reserve. There are no services.
  • Check road status with Death Valley NP before driving. Inyo County closes the road after storms and snowmelt.
  • The warm springs are clothing-optional. The community asks visitors to respect the volunteer-maintained infrastructure and pack out everything.
  • Cell coverage is absent. Carry a satellite messenger or PLB.
  • Park admission required (Death Valley NP entry fee).
  • Contact Death Valley National Park at 760-786-3200 for current conditions.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Saline Valley Road?
Saline Valley Road is rated difficult. The route runs 95 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for Saline Valley Road?
High-clearance 4WD with off-road tires, two spares, and full water and fuel for two to three days. AWD vehicles can complete the route in dry conditions but the corrugations and rocks demand serious tires.
When is the best time to visit Saline Valley Road?
The best months are Oct, Nov, Apr, May. Avoid Jun, Jul, Aug, Dec, Jan, Feb.
Is there cell service at Saline Valley Road?
None on the route