Saline Valley Hot Spring Primitive Camp

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".