Lippincott Mine Road
Death Valley NP
April 10, 1999
By: Steve Spangler (steveanita@worldnet.att.net)

I think most Death Valley 4X4 travelers have heard of Lippincott Mine
road just because all travel guides say it is only fit for a dirt bike,
stay off of it. The park service cleaned it up, and in January 1998 it
was as good or better than any dirt road in the park.  The following
storms with El Nino driven rain undid the parks service work.  So check
the dates on Lippincott reports.

On 4-10-99 we traveled up the road from Saline Valley,it was easy and
fun in a S-10 Blazer ZR2.  There are some tight spots around wash-outs
and a few boulder on the switchbacks make for a tight fit.  Any narrow,
short wheelbase 4Xs will find a safe, fun road.  Full size, mid to long
wheelbase 4Xs will get a work-out, and depending on if the boulder
moves at the switchbacks may need a spotter, no matter what your
wheelbase is.  Heading down should not be any harder then going up.

Road is about 6 to 7 miles long, the bottom 2 miles is across a fan.  I
took 45 to 60 minutes to complete, I drove slow, made a few photo stops
and vidio taped parts of it, and talked to a down-ward traveler who was
just starting from the top.  At the top is the Racetrack with the
moving rocks.  The road here is traveled by sedans

The park service has signs at both ends, read them and make sure you
fit the requirments

I like Hunter Mountain / Hidden Valley road better than Lippincott Mine
Road.  Both get you to Teakettle Junction.  I traveled Lippincott so I
could show the moving rocks and make a loop out of the area.  Hunter
Mtn. Road gets snow and had some this weekend.  Snow makes it slick,
but adds to the scenery.  If you travel over Hunter Mountain, stop and
check out the Hunter cabin, if you time it right the cabin area is a
good lunch spot.