Trip Date: 1/23/2016

Location: Death Valley National Park

Permit/Pass: Vehicle Entrance Fee: $20 for 7 Days. This permit allows all persons traveling with the permit holder in one single private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.

Trail maps: mappery.com

Directions: Exit Interstate 15 in Baker, CA, and take CA Highway 127 north for 57.6 miles. Just after the tiny town of Shoshone, turn left onto CA Highway 178 (also Jubilee Pass Rd.) and head west for 25. Take a right turn onto Badwater Rd. and travel north 2.1 miles to a left turn into the parking lot for the Ashford Mill ruins parking area.

[Note: as of January 2016 CA Highway 178 was closed due to flood damage. It is expected to be re-opened in late spring 2016.]

Synopsis: Ashford Mill is a set of ruins down at the southern end of Death Valley. It's a nice little spot to break up the long drive in from Baker and Shoshone. There's a picnic table and a restroom. Also, look for wildflowers after substantial rains.

Trail sequence: Parking use paths

Type: Out and back

Distance: 0.1 miles 

Elevation: Min. - 0', Max. - 11'

Rating: Easy (factors: heat)

Notes: This is essentially spot to take in as you're on your way north to Badwater or Furnace Creek, or if you've got an overwhelming interest in Death Valley historical spots.

Track: Ashford Mill - Death Valley NP

Turn by Turn:

  -- Not much direction needed here. The ruins are mere steps from the gravel parking area, and can be visited at leisure. Only in the heaviest of fogs would it be possible not to find your way back to your car.

Photos: Flickr