Primitive car camping trip is at the Saline Valley hot springs Thursday, May 22 through Memorial Day, May 26th. This is primitive camping and you must bring EVERYTHING including drinking and cooking water, food, fuel, necessary medication and everything else.  There are no services or supplies at the area and the nearest is Lone Pine 50+ miles away. The Park Service maintains a few pit toilets.  

Saline Valley is a very remote part of the western Death Valley National Park and the drive to get to the hot springs is an adventure, requiring you to traverse about 40 miles of a rough dirt roads. You don't need a Jeep or 4WD, but you will need a reliable vehicle with good ground clearance.  Make sure your spare tire is in good shape too. There are two routes into Saline Valley, the southern route off Route 190 from Hwy 395 in Olancha, CA; and the the northern route off Route 168 from Lone Pine. The northern route into Saline Valley is the preferred, as not as much elevation change along the dirt road as the Southern Route. Both routes can be quite rough. Southern and Northern route driving directions below. AAA ‘s  Death Valley National Park Guide Map is the best map that shows the dirt road.

Saline Valley has several hot springs with built-up tubs suppling hot thermal spring water. The first is the the Lower Springs where there are several pools, grass and the volunteer “caretaker”.  About 1 mile up is Palm Hot Springs featuring two hot soaking pools - the Wizard and Volcano.  It is not “cool” to camp directly next to the hot springs tubs. Camp in areas surrounding the two Palm Hot Springs  where camps have been before. There is an open air shower and a dishwashing sink, all supplied with spring water. The entire area is clothing optional, and this is one of the few National Park areas for an opportunity to camp “textile free”. The National Park Service is currently conducting an “environmental review” and alternatives analysis... which means the public may soon lose use of the pools, clothing optional and primitive camping depending on what “preferred option” is ed by the Park Service  http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?projectID=39438 .  

Expect miles of isolating desert, little vegetation, not shade (shade structure or tent is highly recommended), mountain views, hot days and isolation from from the "real" world, and likely no cell service. Clear night sky will be filled with stars and in the day an occasional buzz by Navy fighter jets on low altitude training training.  

Maintenance of the pools and the cleanliness of the entire area is handled on a voluntary, cooperative basis by all the campers.  BYO toilet paper, help keep the area clean and be prepared to pack out all of your trash.  

All the rules of Death Valley National Park apply, which means no firearms and no fireworks. There are no none fees and no reservations. Show up and pick a spot. Try to find a spot by the either the Volcano or Wizard pools at the upper "Palm Hot Springs".

Northern Route Into Saline Valley

(NOTE: A GPS device will be helpful to identify the turn from Saline Valley Road onto Steel Pass Road, described below.)

From ROUTE 395 in Big Pine, California, go east on ROUTE 168 about 2.5 miles to DEATH VALLEY ROAD.

0.0 RIGHT onto paved DEATH VALLEY ROAD. Proceed about 12.5 miles.

12.5 RIGHT onto gravel SALINE VALLEY ROAD. The sign will say "Waucoba Saline Rd." Shortly you will come to a fork. Both forks descend the hill and rejoin. The left fork is more gradual and a better choice if you are hauling a trailer.

19.1 enter Death Valley National Park and Marble Canyon. Mining remains are found in this area.

20.1 RIGHT to stay on SALINE VALLEY ROAD, which is the obvious main road to follow. Eventually you will see the white salt lake in the middle of Saline Valley.

39.2 LEFT to stay on SALINE VALLEY ROAD. The road to the right goes into Willow Creek Mining Camp. As you go along here you may be able to pick out your destination ahead and to your left across the valley. The area of the springs is covered in white travertine and dotted with a couple of oases. On a red hillside near the springs you may be able to make out a peace sign.

43.7 LEFT onto unmarked STEEL PASS ROAD. This is the turn that will take you across the valley to the springs. STEEL PASS ROAD is an obviously well-used road. There should be the standard, small National Park boundary signs on either side of it, but they may be missing.

If you find yourself bearing to the right to go around a brushy (mostly mesquite) area or if you begin to see residences on your left, then you missed the turn onto Steel Pass Road. Go back.

The GPS coordinates for this intersection are (choose your preferred notation, all four of these identify the same spot):

51.7 arrive at the Lower Springs. During your 8-mile drive across the valley you'll pass some art work on your left. As you near the Lower Springs the road may appear to fork a few times. All routes go to the same place (so long as you don't follow the fork to the landing strip). At the Lower Springs you will see a small sign pointing to "Palm Hot Springs" three-quarters of a mile away. Follow that sign, driving slowly and carefully along the route marked with rocks on the white travertine.

Page 1 of 2There are small turnoffs to the right and left, but continue forward. When the road levels off, there is a large area mostly clear of creosote. You will see two tubs with their respective growths of palm trees, one on your left, one on your right. There is a roundabout that circles around the source spring. That is not a tub. You do not go into the source spring at any time.

52.5 arrive at Palm Hot Springs. We will try to grab campsites to the left, near the tub there. But if that doesn't work out, we'll be to the right where there is a lot more space. Pick any spot where rocks have been cleared away.

If you overshoot Palm Hot Springs (maybe you're driving in after dark?) STEEL PASS ROAD continues off the travertine. The ground color changes from white to standard desert brown. You've gone too far! Come back!