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Death Valley-Southern

Southern Death Valley region of California, including the Greenwater, Funeral, Black, Owlhead, and Panamint mountain ranges

60 posts

Arcturus Mine and Buckwheat Wash Dunes

Arcturus Mine and Buckwheat Wash Dunes

Down in the southern end of Death Valley, a small group of mines lies hidden in a low set of hills. Also known as the Ibex, it was first prospected for copper and silver in the 1880s but was developed as a mine in 1914 by the Ibex Spring Mining

Geologist’s Cabin

Geologist’s Cabin

Geologist’s Cabin is an icon among the many Death Valley backcountry cabins. It stands picturesquely at the western end of Striped Butte Valley above Anvil Spring with a majestic view of the Striped Butte itself. It is a fantastic place to visit. The cabin itself is a fine, well-built

Wildrose Pictographs

Wildrose Pictographs

This is a small pictograph site in Wildrose Canyon inside Death Valley. Most of these pictographs have faded due to weathering and time, but a few vibrant ones remain. No directions to this site. If you visit this hidden spot, please respect it. Soon, these pictographs will be gone forever.

Greenwater Canyon Pictographs

Greenwater Canyon Pictographs

Dan, Niki, and Jamie (of Dzrtgrls fame), Alysia, my dad, and I went on a long and blistering hike in late April of 2006 to try to find a set of pictographs in Greenwater Canyon. They are not easy to find and require some searching across a few canyons by

Big Bell Mine

Big Bell Mine

The Big Bell mine was discovered in 1904 by Johnnie Cyty, a prospector with the nickname “Johnnie-behind-the-Gun.” He earned this name because he was known to draw his machine pistol on more than one heated occasion. Johnnie optioned out the mine for a small fortune, but the operators only worked

Panamint City Pictographs

Panamint City Pictographs

Panamint City is mainly known for its mining boom, but it also has some lesser-known native American sites, and what awesome sites they are! It is a bit of a trek to get up there these days, and probably best done as an overnight backpack. The trip is well worth

Panamint Wickiup #1

Panamint Wickiup #1

There are a few petroglyph sites high in the Panamint mountains, but the main attraction here is the village site with its lone remaining wickiup. I would bet there are more around. We visited the area in 2007. The hike up to this area isn’t that bad, but you