Owl Hole Spring Road – Death Valley National Park
Access road into one of the most remote areas of Death Valley. The road is generally an easy 4×4.
| Total Distance: 29.8 miles point-to-point (Harry Wade Road to a dead-end) | Elevation Gain: 5,632ft. (149ft. to 3,991ft.) |
| Road Difficulty: 2.0 | Bicycle Difficulty: Very Difficult |
| View Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars | Rating: 2.0 out of 5.0 stars |
| Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] | Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] |
| Pets: Leashed | Horses: Yes |
| Best Seasons: November-April | Special Permits: None (do not go south into the Fort Irwin Military Reservation) |
| Water Availability: None | Overnight Options: Dispersed camping permitted within NPS guidelines |
| Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Solitude |
Uses:         | Road surface:    |
Features:  | Hazards:       |
Mile-by-Mile: Owl Hole Spring Road
0.0 Owl Hole Spring Road Junction on the Harry Wade Road (149ft.). The road is marked by a notice indicating that the road is 4×4 only and dead ends 25 miles ahead. Drive west on the Owls Hole Spring Road. (35.692766°, -116.490982°)
10.0 Owlshead Mountains Viewpoint/Black Magic Mine Road Junction (1,912ft.). The Owl Hole Spring is just north of this junction (if you visit the small intermittent spring, keep your eyes open for wildlife, including desert tortoises and desert bighorn sheep). Continue left (southwest at this point) on the main Owl Hole Spring Road. The road becomes rougher after the junction; use care in washouts and drainage crosscuts. (35.638766°, -116.647654°)
11.2 Randsburg Road Junction (2083ft.). Turn right to continue on the Owl Hole Spring Road. You cannot go left down Randsburg Road, as it almost immediately enters the Fort Irwin Military Reservation, which is closed to public access; a gate with warning signs blocks progress. The park border runs just south of the Owl Hole Spring Road and is marked with a fence. The road eventually enters a wash; use care in the soft gravel sections. The road may be difficult to follow after floods. After mile 16, the road turns to leave the wash and head west. (35.627232°, -116.661960°)
23.7 Road Junction (2,604ft.). A small road goes off on the left (south). Continue straight on the main road. The road continues to degrade in quality as it gets further from the Harry Wade Road. About mile 27.5, the road takes a sharp turn to the north and begins the final climb up to the abandoned radio/microwave tower at the end of the road. (35.685000°, -116.843316°)
29.8 End of Owl Hole Spring Road (3,991ft.). A building inside a fenced-in area is at the end of the road. While the radio towers are not currently in use, it was once a military repeater/microwave tower. Respect the privacy of the area, and retrace your way back down the Owl Hole Spring Road after enjoying the view from outside the fence. (35.710178°, -116.888845°)
History & More
The Owl Hole Spring Road was likely first used by miners in search of gold, though the area has long been part of roads into and out of Death Valley. The current road was used by the military for access to the microwave/radio tower at the end of the road, as well as other parts of the Fort Irwin Military Reservation/Navel Air Weapons Station China Lake.
Be careful not to go south into the military reservation. If you see a suspicious object, do not touch it – it might be an unexploded ordinance. Take a picture of it, take a GPS coordinate, and show your picture to a ranger.
There are no official trails along the Owl Hole Spring Road. However, travelers have created their own routes, often following old mining roads, to destinations like Owl Lake, Lost Lake, and the Crystal Hills.
On October 31, 1994, Death Valley National Monument became Death Valley National Park. At the same time, the area around the Owl Hole Spring Road was added to the federally protected public land named Death Valley. As one of the newest additions to the park, it is almost completely undeveloped without water, restrooms, or any kind of service. It is also very rarely visited.
The rare desert tortoise is found along the road. Be very careful and respectful of these gentle and endangered desert dwellers.
Download Route Map
Driving Directions
The Owl Hole Spring Road begins along the Harry Wade Road, 19.2 miles south of the Jubilee Pass Road/Badwater Road junction and 12.4 miles from CA-127 via the Saratoga Spring Road and Harry Wade Road (6.5 miles beyond the turnoff for Saratoga Springs).
It is extremely dangerous to enter a mine due to unstable shafts, gasses, and more. Do not enter mines, even if they are apparently open!
Walking on, climbing, entering, ascending, descending, or traversing any mine, structure, feature, or ruin is prohibited.
Toxic chemicals or ore may be present around mine sites. Enter at your own risk.
Possessing, destroying, injuring, defacing, removing, digging, or disturbing any mine, structure, feature, or ruin is also prohibited.
Always be wary of flash floods in a canyon.
Camping in a canyon is discouraged due to the danger of flash floods.
Remember, it may be easier to climb up dryfalls than down them (or vice versa). Be sure you can climb in the other direction before climbing up or down a dryfall.
Camping is not allowed within one mile of a paved road, developed area, or dirt road that is closed to camping.
Camping is not permitted within 100 feet of a flowing stream, spring, or other natural body of open water.
No camping is permitted on the floor of Death Valley, within one mile of Darwin Falls and Greenwater Canyon, on the active/shifting sand dunes, and certain other canyons and backcountry areas.
Camping is also prohibited within one mile of the Ubehebe Lead Mine, Leadfield Mines, Keane Wonder Mill, and Skidoo Mill.
Camping is limited to 30 days per calendar year within the park.
Fires are permitted in NPS-provided fire grates or grills ONLY.
Leave No Trace Principles are enforced
Drones and model aircrafts are prohibited
Camping is permitted only in designated sites or in areas open to dispersed backcountry camping
All park rules and regulations
12 Month Pass: $55/Death Valley Annual Pass (valid at Death Valley National Park). $80/America the Beautiful Annual Pass (valid at all national park and federal fee areas). $20/Annual Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/4th Grade Pass (Valid Sept. 1-August 31 of the child’s 4th Grade school year). Free/Military Pass (valid for all active military personel and their dependents with a CAC Card or DD Form 1173).
Lifetime Pass: $80/Lifetime Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/Access Pass (available to all US citizens with perminent disabilities). Free/Access for Veterans and Gold Star Families Pass (valid for all military and veterans with a CAC card, Veteran HJealth Identification Card, Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on state-issued drivers license or identification card.)