Death Valley and Sonora Pass

[Bogart]

Here are the photos of my road trip through Death Valley and Sonora Pass on May 25 and 26.

http://nivek.smugmug.com/gallery/558004

Our route went like this: Hwy 88 and 89 over Luther Pass and Monitor Pass, past Topaz Lake into Nevada and Hwy 95, down to Shoshone (and the worst motel I've ever stayed in, the Shoshone Inn), then up through Death Valley and over Sonora Pass back home. Due to time constraints, we did not go to Zabriskie Point or Scotty's Castle.

[Mark Sedenquist]

Our route went like this: Hwy 88 and 89 over Luther Pass and Monitor Pass, past Topaz Lake into Nevada and Hwy 95, down to Shoshone then up through Death Valley and over Sonora Pass back home. Due to time constraints, we did not go to Zabriskie Point or Scotty's Castle.

I wasn't even aware that Sonora Pass was open, so thanks for the field report. The parking area at Zabriskie Point is still closed to visitors and so you probably couldn't have stopped even if you had wanted to.

So all cross-Sierra routes are now open except Tioga Pass and they are working on that one every single day...

Thanks for posting the photos on SmugMug. You have a typo on the title on that page -- Sonoma instead of Sonora Pass...

Mark

[NY Joe]

Bogart -

Great pictures. After seeing these, I'm even more excited for my cross-country trip in July, as I plan on spending some time in Death Valley.

I have a quick question that just occurred to me - how far are the gas stations spaced apart down there? Just looking at the photos you can see miles of open road, and I'm just curious if there are any special considerations one would need to make about gas before driving there? Or are there enough gas stations that it shouldn't be an issue?

Thanks,
Joe

[Bogart]

Bogart -

Great pictures. After seeing these, I'm even more excited for my cross-country trip in July, as I plan on spending some time in Death Valley.

I have a quick question that just occurred to me - how far are the gas stations spaced apart down there? Just looking at the photos you can see miles of open road, and I'm just curious if there are any special considerations one would need to make about gas before driving there? Or are there enough gas stations that it shouldn't be an issue?

Thanks,
Joe

There are enough gas stations to get you by. There are gas stations at Beatty and Amargosa Valley on the east side of the park. There's one at Shoshone on the southern end of the park. I saw at least one gas station inside the park, on Hwy 190 on the way out the western side. Then there's gas at Lone Pine and Independence headed north on Hwy 395.

But I wouldn't let the gage get down below, say, a quarter tank.

There was a decent amount of traffic on the roads in the park, BTW. Not exactly rush hour, but enough to ensure you aren't going to die of heat stroke if your engine burns out.