Death Valley Nat’l Park - views and some short gravel sections

Nice weather was predicted for DVNP the week of Feb. 16-20, so mrs levity and I loaded up the cross bikes.  It was nice, days in the 80s with mostly clear skies and light winds and cooling to about 60 at night.  Thought some photos might warm the souls of those in other parts of the country who might be experiencing winter’s “polar vortex.

The “gravel” roads in DV tend to be rough and rocky, better suited for dual-sport motorcycles, but there are a few short sections that are smooth enough to add to the road rides we planned.  We rode Mustard Canyon a couple of times from our camp at Texas Springs, added the 20 Mule Team Canyon to our haul up to Dante’s View, and went a short distance down Westside Road detouring from our Badwater - Artist Drive tour.

These first shots are from short rides to the Harmony Borax Works and Mustard Canyon.  Here’s the last car and water tank of the 20 Mule Team Wagon at the Borax Works 

heading over to Mustard Canyon (those are borax salts, not snow!)

Our first full ride day’s ride was up to Dante’s View - the last pitch is steep!

view from the top (5500’) looking down at Badwater Basin (-280’)
Telescope Peak (11,000’) can be seen across the valley

we took a short detour through 20 Mule Team Canyon on the way down - smooth hardpack with great views

After a hiking day we got back on the bikes for a ride down to Badwater.  Along the way we took a short detour down Westside Road.  Views from the valley floor were beautiful, but the road was rough with washboards and plenty of sharp rocks.  Lacking a spare tire we turned back to pavement after a few miles. 

a view from the parking area at Badwater

 

 some final pics riding over the Artist Drive loop