Easy 5 minute detour just past the Chevron and we find a little town gem here! Basically they are…read morecaverns carved from miners in the 1920s and people lived there til the 70s. From Highway 127, there's an unpaved road that leads past the cemetery next to Chevron. After the Cemetery, there's a small spot to park. A lot of the homes are locked (Probably cause of vandals, anyways it seems like the locals are taking care of this place), though you can look in through the windows. Apparently some people took refuge here in cave #7 from Charles Manson after they found that that they were targeted next by him. Nice place for some creative photo ops, but definitely a place to check when passing through!

Gayle and I took a morning walk through Dublin Gulch (past the cemetery) and enjoyed the various…read moreminer-carved caverns that also provided home spaces well into the 70s and beyond. It's an easy stroll, and I found peering into these abodes to be fascinating.

The staff at Shoshone Campground tipped us off to this great hike close to the Shoshone High School…read more(just a quick walk from the campground). The trail is relatively well-marked and I would rank it as an easy hour-long walk. The Dublin Gulch houses built into the limestone hillsides near the end of the hike were definitely a highlight of this trail.

This could have been a five star hike. Unfortunately, some parts of the hike were clearly marked…read moreand then the trails would disappear, leaving us to guess where to go. It's in the back of the Death Valley High School in Shoshone, Ca. And parts of the hike were through bushy shrubs that poke your legs. I'd recommend wearing pants and good hiking shoes. We went in the later afternoon and after getting lost, fortunately saw a hiker who looked like a local and knew where he was going. We took his path back and found our exit out. Whew! The views are stunning, and peaceful with nobody around you. I would be careful though I'm hiking alone, and bring lots of water and sunscreen- there is no shade and you're at elevated heights throughout the hike exposing you to the sun quite fiercely. We saw a couple of jackrabbits on our hike and luckily saw no rattlesnakes or coyotes.

Fantastic little spot. A great break for drivers heading out to Death Valley to get out and stretch…read moretheir legs.

This hiking trail is another treat from the Amargosa Conservancy and starts across Highway 127 from…read morethe Shoshone Campgrounds marked by red poles. The trail goes into the grasslands to the famed Amargosa River and loops. The loop connects with another trail marked by blue poles and follows the river and deviates into the bandlands in the Amargosa desert. This trail is amazing for birders, as there is birdlife everywhere! The trail eventually connects with another trail, which is marked by aqua poles and heads back to Shoshone behind the Crowbar Cafe. The entire trail is about 2 miles long, maybe a little longer and takes you through grasslands, marshes, springs, and salty desertland. Along this trail we saw many species of birds, rabbits, and other insect life. Make sure you bring water, sunscreen, and wear boots! Have fun!!!! If you stop by the Shoshone Museum, there are brochures with the trail maps!

Enjoyed going thru this river and canyon on a side by side! We camp at Dumont Dunes and this is…read morelocated in that vicinity. This river is an underground river but when it rains hard there's so much water on the trails it looks so cool! Such a great experience seeing this canyon! Totally recommend!

I have been hiking in the area for over a decade and it's always been a very special…read moreplace--history, great geology, and a date shake--all are part of hiking here. The Amargosa Rover Canyon offers several trails in China Ranch and beyond. There are two ways to hike the canyon itself. The best way to enjoy most of the entire canyon is to spot cars. Leave one at China Ranch and drive the other to Tecopa, California and park where there's public parking behind the post office. From here, hike south following the trail. Mostly you'll hike on the railroad bed of the T&T Railroad (Tonopah and Tidewater) bed as it follows the Amargosa River through the canyon. At places, the trail leaves thew railroad bed and makes wide arcs on the east side of the trail. After 5 miles, you'll reach the turnoff for China Ranch and where the spur from the T&T was built to bring gypsum from the mines above the ranch from the Morrison Siding. Along the way through the canyon from Tecopa, you'll see areas with barbed wire. This is where horses and cattle were fenced in to keep them off the railroad tracks. You will see no track. The railroad stopped operating in 1940 and the rails were pulled up and used for World War II needs. About a mile and a half from the Ranch, there's a turnoff to the west (right) and this leads to a little waterfall on the river. Beyond this about 1/4 mile, there's another turnoff--again to the west--that leads to a slot canyon that is blocked by a huge chockstone. Both side trails have signs but they have faded a lot over the years. When you almost reach the 90º bend in the river, the trail goes up a hill and heads east (left) toward the ranch. Before going up the hill, take time to look at the wood left from when this was where the gypsum was loaded onto ore cars over 100 years ago. Follow the trail from here to China Ranch. On this last bit, you'll come to a building. My first photo of this building is from 2005. The building was called the Tuff Building and the sign that was there said it was first a bar and then an assay house. The building was supposed to have been repaired that years. 1w2 years later, another portion has fallen over including the concrete piece from the doorway with the 1903 construction date in the concrete. I'm sure when I hike here next year, the rest of the southerly wall will be down too! What a shame! There are several hikes. After this 6.5 mile hike, you'll want to have a date shake and perhaps some date cookies. You earned them. On another day(s), you can explore the other trails in China Ranch. After your shake, take the car you left at the ranch and ride back to Tecopa to get the one where you started your hike. This is the way to see almost the entire canyon.

We visited last saturday, which turned out to be a FREE entry day. This was a nationwide promotion…read morefor state parks. But not highly advertised. I think that this happens several times a year, every year. (Otherwise, it was $18 last year. This is the private area. Less people here. More people are at the free areas.) It was beautiful, the trees, the mountains, the scenery. Sunny, with it getting dark (chance of rain), at times, and some wind. At first, we went to a table that didn't have any shade. So we went a little further away. We went to Parking section H, which was not busy at all. Table number 71. Overlooking large white boulders. We saw chipmunks, a hawk high overhead, huge butterflies, and pesky horseflies. Also, a loud grasshopper making a mating call. (Section E was Reserved.) TIP: wipe off the tree sap with wet wipes! Good thing, my MIL brought a table cover to use. We had sandwiches, chips, cookies, bottled water, and sodas. (Some people were barbeque'ing. There are grills, but I suggest using foil, because they are black.) The blue dumpsters are in the parking lots. The dual bathroom, also located in the parking lots, is porta-potty style. There is a sign to "place the lid down". No trash bins inside. No soap to wash your hands. Good thing, I have hand sanitizer on my purse, always. (There is a purse hook inside, which is handy to use.) We went on a trail, which logged in 43 minutes of hiking, Past Discovery Trail, to the Fossil section, overlooking the mountains. Gorgeous. We brought the new pup along, and he didn't have any issues. He even jumped over a huge log on the ground! There was a random bench near the Bridge, which we noticed last year, too.

Amazing views at the top! I went in June, and parking is fairly easy on weekday mornings. By 9 AM,…read moremost spots are full. There are bathrooms in the parking lot but like any park bathroom, they're pretty gross. I always bring my own wet wipes and toilet seat covers just in case. The elevation gain was pretty rough as a casual hiker, and there isn't much shade. There are a couple benches along the trail here and there. The most difficult part was the loose rocks/gravel that paved the trail, making it pretty difficult to get stable footing with every step. I'd recommend bringing hiking poles just in case. If I were to do it again, I'd probably start at around 7-7:30 am because it gets hot pretty quickly.

Pro-tip: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a must for anyone in Southern Nevada visiting…read moreDeath Valley National Park. Ash Meadows is located in the Nevada portion of Death Valley National Park. It is sometimes referred to as the Galápagos Islands of North America considering it has the highest concentration of endemic species in the United States & the second highest in all of North America. The Devils Hole desert pupfish found at Ash Meadows was actually the first ever species to be listed as endangered (by President Truman). Additionally, the wildlife refuge is one of the last remaining natural desert springs oases in the Mojave Desert, where turquoise water, grapevines, and aquatic species are abundant.

I was really looking forward to seeing this place based on the pictures posted by others. Let me…read morejust say that I didn't walk the entire trail because of my bad back. Where I did walk to was nothing like the pictures I saw. The boardwalk was very nice and well maintained. It was hot and long. We didn't see any wildlife at all. We heard a couple flies and finally heard a bird. Maybe if it was cooler I would have been able to go further. There is a building with videos and pictures. There is also a volunteer staff and a gift shop. I was just a bit disappointed. If you can walk a distance and it's not too hot, you might enjoy it.

Excellent place to go hike and explore and if you're into camping, their facilities are well…read moremaintained. The location is just far enough to be a good day trip (from LA), but far enough to feel adventurous. Even if you're coming from nearby Barstow, it's isolated enough to block out the world. Some reviews of the trails online takes about trails that were non-existent in spots, but if you consider yourself a hiker those "nonexistent" trails will stick out to you like neon; if you're not an avid hiker, you can still easily find your way. The best way is to download the AllTrails app and use this "Rainbow Basin Loop" guide for a good 9-mile hike: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/rainbow-basin-loop Some people also complain about lack of colors, but if you go on a sunny day and use those eyeballs in your head, the colors are right their in front of you. I'm sure a light rain would POP them even more, but you don't want to be In these canyons during a rainstorm because of the obvious signs (and dangers) of flash floods. The slot canyons are cool and WIDE, definitely not a true slot canyon where you have to strategically contort your body through, but rugged and fun and beautiful. You'll enjoy your trip out to Rainbow Basin.

Extremely beautiful area!! Similar to the painted hills in Oregon, this rural wonder is a must if…read moreyou're near Barstow. The road is a little ways off but there's helpful signage once you've typed in the location. The winding and rolling road has many spots to stop and get out of the car to look at the gorgeous rock formations. Peak sunset spot and view is right by the destroyed green piano and then the loop takes you back out to the main road. We came in December and we were all alone !! While it may not be as grand as the Grand Canyon the multi colored rocks and stacks are similarly beautiful here and the opportunity to get closer is even better. Practice leave no trace and be aware of your surroundings as the rocks can look quite precarious.

I've been on a LOT of tours in a LOT of places around the world, and Willy is in my top 10! The…read morecaverns are pretty cool, but Willy's knowledge, humor, pacing, and care made this a five-star experience. Our group ranged in age from tween to 60s and everyone was engaged for two hours. I'm a California Naturalist with high standards and Willy knows his stuff! As a native Californian I especially loved knowing he's local, young, and a former CCC "graduate". His contributions and energy are why these government programs are so important. Must see if you're visiting the area, but be warned -- you need reservations and these fill up weeks ahead of time. The paved road, nature center, views, and well-organized everything made this a real treat!

Tours are offered on Friday-Sunday and Holiday Mondays at 11am and 2pm from October to May. In June…read moreand September, tours are on the same days but only at 10am. Reservations are highly recommended, as tour size is limited to approximately 12 people; and reservations are only taken via phone on Mondays between 8am-5pm. Cost is $10 per adult 17+ and parking is $10, payable at the visitors center upon arrival for the tour. The tour itself takes approximately 2 hours, and is about 1.5 mile round trip. It may feel strenuous for some people walking back up to the parking area from the caverns. Our guide was very knowledgeable and informative. I recommend bringing food and drinks to eat before or after the tour, as none is available. Also, leave your bags/belongings in the car. You will be asked to put these items at the entrance of the caverns, including water bottles.

The only hike we really did at Death Valley NP. It's about 2-3 miles RT with some incline and a…read morelarge stretch of uncovered trail so bring sunscreen and plenty of water! There are some challenging climbing pieces through slot canyons and some parts where you have to decide what is actually the trail. Then the end it kind of abruptly has a rock wall so there's no 'viewpoint' at the end but the rock marbling and mosaic rocks along the way are very cool to see. We saw a lot of groups here doing like discussion circles so seems like a popular spot to walk a little in and hang out.

Beautiful dry hiking trail. Reminds me of Zion Narrows without the water. Some bottleneck boulder…read morescrambling from time to time. Arrows made of rocks point the way. Stay on trail. One guy had to be rescued by helicopter in the last year. Very dry terrain. Bring extra water. Limited shade. I suggest using the restroom at Stovepipe Wells first. No cell service. Better go near wintertime. Can be cold, so layer up. Summer can reach over 120°F. We hiked almost 4 mi for about 2 hr.