Titus Canyon 4X4 Backdoor To Death Valley

...we enter Titus canyon, proper. An irony is that the truly great backcountry of our National Parks belongs to the aristocracy of the physically fit. But thanks to miner’s roads, as to Kantishna on the other side of Denali National Park, and the way through to Leadfield, retirees traveling in motor homes that are bright enough to tow a high clearance vehicle to campgrounds (as on the cover of this issue) in Death Valley National Park, used as a base to venture forth to Badwater, the Devils Golf course, and Artist’s Pallet— are able to experience something even better than riding a mule down to stay overnight at the Phantom Ranch in the Grand Canyon (at $500 per person). We have also day-tripped Death Valley from Bailey’s Hot Springs just outside of Beatty, Nevada, not far from the also “must see” ghost town (genuine) of Rhyolite.

I have ventured into narrow canyons on what is left of the Colorado River by boat. When younger, I climbed through unexplored labyrinths known locally to Mormons in Utah as a “Devils Gate.”  But I have never been so humbled as “living” as a microscopic man as traveling the narrows —what the NPS calls the “Grand Finale”— of Titus Canyon. Our small and agile FWD, fabric top down so we could look up, was the absolutely perfect way to travel. At the bottom there is a parking lot for hikers headed uphill, but on a hot day I wonder how much water one would have to pack, just to stay alive.

There are risks doing it the easy way. As the canyon gets swept with flash floods, check in at the NPS Ranger Station at Beatty, Nevada, for the latest weather and road conditions. Fill your gas tank as descending safely requires going down in your lowest gear to save brakes for when they are really needed. Make sure your spare tire is fully inflated. I also hope, as with anywhere in our wilderness West, you carry the U.S. Forest Service’s emergency  —yet multiple use— fire-fighting equipment. These are at least five gallons of water, a shovel, and fire axe. 

I also need to remind myself the next time I set off on an adventure as this, to print out a topographic map from some online service, as all I can tell you is the total trip off of pavement was 20 miles long. I really have no idea of the actual heights of the cliffs we could almost touch by extending our arms outside the vehicle, but looking up... and up... and up. Well let me say, if you can pull it off, you have to see this yourself. If you don't feel comfortable going by yourself go to the next page to connect through to a wonderful all inclusive Death Valley wilderness 4X4 tour by SouthwestEcoExperience.com. Next Page>>