Trike Trails of Death Valley

In Death Valley National Park, triycles are only allowed on roads open to automobile traffic. Roads listed on old maps may no longer be in existence. Check at the Visitor Center for current road conditions.

Trikes are NOT ALLOWED to travel cross-country or on hiking trails (for example: the salt flats or Golden Canyon), but are allowed on the hundreds of miles of dirt and paved roads. A high clearance mountain trike would work the best, although many of these dirt roads will be okay for a standard trike.

There are hundreds of miles of main paved roads in this national park of 3.4 million acres. Any of them are outstanding for triking due to the very low traffic encountered. For most folks, just triking the paved roads are all that is necessary for a very memorable experience! But for those who want to take their triking challenge to the limit, a few of the ones listed below may well do it. For the most grueling paved challenges, trike the 9 miles of Artist’s Palette, or the 17 miles of Towne Pass from either side. Better bring A LOT of food and water!

Easy Roads:

Bicycle Path (paved)

Start: Furnace Creek Visitor Center

Distance: 1 mile to Harmony Borax

Works; 1 mile one-way through

Mustard Canyon (graded dirt)

Road type: paved and flat to borax

works; gravel through canyon

Level of use: moderate

Salt Creek Road (paved, dirt)

Start: 13.5 miles west of Furnace

Creek on Hwy.190.

Distance: 1.2 miles

Road type: graded dirt road

Level of use: moderate

20-Mule Team Canyon Road (graded dirt)

Start: 4.5 miles east of Furnace Creek

on Hwy.190

Distance: 3 miles, one-way loop

Road type: graded dirt road

Level of use: medium

Moderate Roads:

Hole-in-the-Wall Road (rough dirt)

Start: 6.5 mile east of Furnace Creek

on Hwy.190

Distance: 4 miles

Road type: loose gravel & lots of rocks

Level of use: low

Skidoo Road (dirt)

Start: 9.5 miles south of Hwy.190 on

Emigrant Canyon Road

Distance: 7 miles

Road type: wash-board gravel

Level of use: low

Aguereberry Point Road (graded dirt)

Start: 12 miles south of Hwy.190 on

Emigrant Canyon Road.

Distance: 6 miles

Road type: gravel, some rocky areas

Level of use: low

Lake Hill Road (dirt)

Start: 3 miles east of Panamint Springs

on Hwy.190

Distance: 5 miles

Road type: rutted gravel

Level of use: low

More Difficult Roads

Artist’s Drive (paved)

Start: 9 miles south of Hwy.190 on

Badwater Road

Distance: 9 miles, one-way … 1,123 foot elevation gain in first 3 miles!

Road type: paved with steep hills

Level of use: high

West Side Road (graded dirt)

Start: 6 miles south of Hwy.190 on

Badwater Road

Distance: 40 miles

Road type: level but wash-board gravel

Level of use: medium

Trail Canyon Road (rough dirt)

Start: West Side Road

Distance: 8 miles

Road type: rough rocky uphill into canyon

Level of use: low

Greenwater Valley Road (graded dirt)

Start: 7.5 miles south of Hwy.190 on

Dante’s View Road

Distance: 30 miles

Road type: slightly uphill gravel road

Level of use: low

Titus Canyon Road (graded dirt)

Start: 2.7 miles east of park boundary

on Nevada Hwy. 374

Distance: 28 miles, one way

Road type: steep grades, loose gravel

Level of use: medium

Cottonwood Canyon Road (rough dirt)

Start: west of Stovepipe Wells

Distance: 18 miles

Road type: gentle grade, sand, rocky

Level of use: low

Racetrack Road (graded dirt)

Start: Ubehebe Crater Road

Distance: 27 miles

Road type: washboard first 10 miles

Level of use: medium

Hidden Valley Road (graded dirt)

Start: Teakettle Junction, on the Racetrack Rd

Distance: 10 miles

Road type: gravel

Level of use: low

Avoid triking in canyons if there is a storm approaching. Sunglasses, first aid kit, proper clothing, and extra food and water are recommended for a safe trip.

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Learn more at the DVNP website HERE.

You may also learn more at The Death Valley Journal.

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