Nevada Camera Club members will be visiting Death Valley this coming weekend, February 21 & 22. Ed Stiglitz requested cellphone numbers from all those planning to go and sent out text messages to everyone this morning. If you did not get a text and plan on driving over either Saturday and/or Sunday, please share your cell number with Ed at 702-271-5011. Death Valley National Park in the largest National Park in the continental U.S. It is 156 miles from north to south. Death Valley has 300 miles of paved roads and another 700 miles of back country roads. The accompanying information below was also sent out and details our plan for the weekend.
One or Two Day Death Valley Field Trip
Come join the Nevada Camera Club for Flowers, Landscapes and Stars in Death Valley National Park on Saturday and Sunday February 21-22. Make it a weekend or day trip, your choice. Here is the primary itinerary for both days.
Saturday South of Furnace Creek: Jubilee Pass and Badwater Basin
8:30 am Meet at the junction of CA 127 (Shoshone) and CA 178 (Jubilee Pass)
4 pm Badwater Basin 10-30 minute walk, sunset, milkyway (no core), star trails
Free time: Flowers, Ashford Mill, Willow/Sidewinder Canyons, Natural Bridge, Devil’s Golf Course, Artist Drive
4WD high clearance, gravel, rock, sand: Ashford Canyon and Harry Wade Road
Sunday Central and northern part of park
9:00 am Main Park road 190 and Scotty’s Castle Road, to Ubehebe Crater (gravel road)
3:30 pm Mesquite Dunes parking area, 10-30 minute hike in soft sand walk one way
Free Time: Mosaic Canyon hike, Father Crowley/Star Wars Canyon, Panamint Valley, Panamint Range Road (gravel)
5:30 am Optional: Can be a demanding 30-60 minute hike in into dunes, Mesquite Dunes
parking along south side of CA 190 3.5 miles west of Scotty’s Castle Road for sunrise
Places to stay
Beatty:
Death Valley Inn and RV Park 775-553-9702. Rooms and camping full hookups
Atomic Inn. 775- 553-2250
Motel 6 775-314-8940
Exchange Club Motel 775-553-2333
Amargosa Valley:
Death Valley RV Resort and Casino (Longstreet) 775-372-1777 Camping and rooms
In the Park:
Inn at Death Valley 760-786-2345 Very expensive
Stovepipe Wells 833-778-9290 (sold out when I checked)
The Ranch/Oasis at Death Valley (rooms sold out when I checked)
Camping:
Beatty Death Valley Inn and RV Park full amenities
Beatty RV Park 775-553-2732 full hookups, showers
Furnace Creek Area:
Free The Pad Coordinates: 36.3414272,-116.6382369 dry camping, Google Maps halfway between Death Valley Junction and Furnace Creek off of CA 190.
Oasis/Fiddlers Campground Dry camping with water and dump station near visitor center closest to Badwater Basin
Furnace Creek Campground (sold out when I checked)
Stovepipe Wells Campground dry camping, first come first serve $18. No water or dump station, closest to Mesquite Sand Dunes
Places to eat in the park
Death Valley Inn Restaurants, Saloon, Tavern
The Ranch/Oasis Restaurants
Stovepipe Wells Restaurant and Saloon
Panamint Springs Resort Restaurant
Suggested Camera Gear
Tripod
Zoom or long lens for isolated compositions
Wide Angle lens for larger landscape compositions and Milky Way shoot
Lens suitable for macro photography and shade screen for flowers
Lens filters – Polarizer/ND filters will help if shooting during midday
Extra pair of shoes if you are going to walk out at Badwater Basin or Devils Golf Course