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California Trails

Butte Valley

5/5 (2 reviews)

Furnace Creek, California (Inyo County)

Last Updated: 08/10/2022

Trail Information

Highlights

Altitude

Camping

Desert

Ghost Town

Iconic

Mine

Overland

Sand

Snow Wheeling

Wash

In the middle of nowhere on the backside of the Panamint Mountain Range lays a secret of the desert. Even though it is extremely remote (60+ miles to the nearest town) this gem of the desert is a popular place for overlanders and off-road enthusiast to visit. Butte Valley, on the southeastern corner of Death Valley, is a unique and exciting place only accessible by 4wd on very old Jeep Trails. While visiting the area be prepared for some amazing views of lands where very few humans have ever been. You will dive into the old mining days of Panamint Mountains as you enter an area that was constructed back in the late 1800's. Becuase of the immense history, offroad enthusiasts have been visiting this unique wonderland for a long time, both enjoying its beauty and preserving it for future generations. Thus, the next time you are visiting Southern California or looking for something near Las Vegas, plan a trip to Death Valley and check out Butte Valley. To spice things up, make this into a weekend overland adventure including Warm Springs Road, Butte Valley, Mengel Pass, and Goler Wash. This just might be the best 4wd trip you have or will ever take.

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Josh Noesser

Official Crew

Trail Navigation

Butte Valley (aka Butte Valley Road) is one of the secret off-road overland adventures of Death Valley. Up on top of the Panamint Mountain Range rest a small mining town from a long time ago. The area is known for the stunning views and old mining cabins you can still camp in. Just be prepared because there are no services of any sort for over 4 hours away at the fastest. The roads to the east are the easiest route while the road out to the west is the shortest. The trails in Butte Valley and on Warm Springs Road are rated easy and are mostly dirt roads with some small rocks. This trip is perfect for all off-road enthusiast including beginners and novice off-roaders. Always leave the area in better condition than when you showed up. Pack out others trash if you find any and never remove any historical items. Milage will not be given since you take can many different routes to navigate the area. The mileage shown at the top is stopping at all the locations in a clockwise manner.

1. Butte Valley and Mengel Pass (0 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 1: Butte Valley and Mengel Pass

The south side of the valley is connected to Mengel Pass. Mengel Pass is the hardest part of the overland adventure that a 4x4 enthusiast will have to complete when traveling over the mountain range to or from Panamint area.

2. Russell Cabin (0.8 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 2: Russell Cabin

The first cabin from when heading north is Russell Cabin. The cabin is tucked back up a small valley to the left and can be easily missed. Russell Cabin was the first cabin built in Butte Valley by Asa Russell and was believed to be built around the late1880's.

3. Mengel Cabin (1.2 mi)

Mengel Cabin is the next along the route if heading clockwise through the Valley. The cabin was built by Carl Mengel, a German Prospector. He built the cabin around 1924 after filling for claims near the Anvil Spring.

4. Geologist Cabin and Anvil Springs (2.2 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 4: Geologist Cabin and Anvil Springs

The Geologist Cabin built in the 1930's is relatively young compared to the other cabins in the area. The cabin was built by Asa Russell aka Panamint Russ when he started working a nearby claim. At the foot of the cabin is Anvil Springs. This used to be the location of a 3 stamp mill because of the water source.

5. Redland Canyon (3.6 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 5: Redland Canyon

Not far past the Geologist Cabin is Redlands Canyon. Redlands Canyon heads off to the west. The canyon does not go through thus you have to exit back through Butte Valley. There is an additional mining camp down Redlands Canyon.

6. Stripped Butte Turn Off (4.6 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 6: Stripped Butte Turn Off

There is a small road that takes you to the base of the Stripped Butte. The Stripped Butte is one of the attractions of the area is the "Stripped Butte". This hill is comprised of several different minerals making for vivid colors that have been trusted out of the earth in a sloping motion, thus looking like a desert zebra.

7. Major Connector - 4-Way (7.1 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 7: Major Connector - 4-Way

Towards the center of the valley is a 4-way crossroad. The trail heading off to the north takes you to Warm Springs Road The trail heading to the west takes you to the cabins and Redlands Canyon The trail heading to the south takes you to Mengel Pass The trail heading to the east takes you to Willow Spring

8. Turn Off To Lower Springs Area (8.6 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 8: Turn Off To Lower Springs Area

As you approach Willow Springs, you have the option of making a left turn which takes you to the lower springs area. There was a trail that used to leave this area, but it is now closed.

9. Willow Spring (8.8 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 9: Willow Spring

Willow Springs is in the southeast corner of Butte Valley. The area is has been rather dry lately, thus you will not likely see any water.

10. Lower Springs (9.3 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 10: Lower Springs

Lower Willow Springs Area. This is also the lowest point in Buttel Valley, thus the water if it rains will drain through this narrow canyon.

11. Trail Closed (9.4 mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 11: Trail Closed

Old trail that has been closed by the park service.

12. Warm Springs Road ( mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 12: Warm Springs Road

If you plan on exiting through Warm Springs Road into Death Valley National Park. You will follow this road to the north past Stripped Butte.

13. Stripped Butte ( mi)

Butte Valley - Waypoint 13: Stripped Butte

One of the attractions of the area is the "Stripped Butte". This hill is comprised of several different minerals making for vivid colors that have been trusted out of the earth in a sloping motion, thus looking like a desert zebra.

Trail Reviews

5/5 (2)

Matstock4

2200

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 12/06/2020

Difficulty Accuracy: Easier

Coming from Mengel pass this trail was a cakewalk... but the beauty here is legit. We were strapped for time, but I am really glad that we at least stopped at the geologist cabin... it's legit.

Andrew Earle

6300

Open

Rated 5/5

Visited: 02/24/2020

One of the best places we camped in the 4 nights we spent in Death Valley. Seeing the sun set over Striped Butte while cooking dinner was pretty awesome. We did see several donkeys that the NPS is trying to humanely relocate and we let the visitor center know. Lots and lots of donkey poop. We heard coyotes howling at 5AM behind our camp site near Willow Spring. The drive is pretty easy going and is a good trail for novice drivers in stock rigs.

Butte Valley

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Trail Navigation

1. Butte Valley and Mengel Pass (0 mi)

2. Russell Cabin (0.8 mi)

3. Mengel Cabin (1.2 mi)

4. Geologist Cabin and Anvil Springs (2.2 mi)

5. Redland Canyon (3.6 mi)

6. Stripped Butte Turn Off (4.6 mi)

7. Major Connector - 4-Way (7.1 mi)

8. Turn Off To Lower Springs Area (8.6 mi)

9. Willow Spring (8.8 mi)

10. Lower Springs (9.3 mi)

11. Trail Closed (9.4 mi)

12. Warm Springs Road ( mi)

13. Stripped Butte ( mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Josh Noesser

Butte Valley

Trail Information

Highlights

Trail Difficulty and Assessment

Recommended Vehicle:

Concerns:

Summary:

Community Consensus

1 votes

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Trail Navigation

1. Butte Valley and Mengel Pass (0 mi)

2. Russell Cabin (0.8 mi)

3. Mengel Cabin (1.2 mi)

4. Geologist Cabin and Anvil Springs (2.2 mi)

5. Redland Canyon (3.6 mi)

6. Stripped Butte Turn Off (4.6 mi)

7. Major Connector - 4-Way (7.1 mi)

8. Turn Off To Lower Springs Area (8.6 mi)

9. Willow Spring (8.8 mi)

10. Lower Springs (9.3 mi)

11. Trail Closed (9.4 mi)

12. Warm Springs Road ( mi)

13. Stripped Butte ( mi)

Trail Reviews

From the Community

Josh Noesser

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