The Skidoo Stamp Mill began as a gold camp in 1906. It eventually became one the the most…read moresuccessful mills/mines in Death Valley producing over 75,000 ounces of gold. What made it noteworthy as well was the 23 mile long pipeline that brought water to the site for the processing. A small town with a post office great next to the mill but by 1917 it was done and abandoned. The no structures of the town is left but the hillside mill is still intact. The 3 star rating is because it is covered with modern equipment now in an attempt to stabilize or restore the structure, as well as decontaminate the site from all the mining chemicals. As such you cannot get near it safely. It is an impressive structure and I would love to see the stamp mill itself but perhaps in a few years. Now the usual nag. Death Valley is not some kind of hot and dusty Disneyland. It is one of the most extreme environments you will ever find yourself in and it will kill you quickly. The road to Skidoo is an unimproved dirt road / washboard and it get rough. While the path is not technically challenging gets rough and narrow and is one lane for a large chunk of the trip. You need water, recovery gear etc to safely venture off the paved roads here. Oh and no cell coverage in many places like this

Darwin is an old mining town which was operational for almost 100 years. The mines have been closed…read moresince the 1970s, and less than 50 people live there presently. We spent a night at Darwin on our way from Alabama Hills to Death Valley.

I recently watched the 2011award winning independent documentary film "Darwin". I was fascinated…read morewith the very interesting lives of those living in this very small and isolated town of just 35 people located in Death Valley, California. I would highly recommend this film if you want to learn more about this very remote and unique place.

The Sunset Mine is an abandoned gold and silver mine located in the boundaries of Death Valley…read moreNational Park. The mine was last worked around 1940 and there were were 4 claims. They mined over 100 tons of rock out of the vertical shaft. NPS describes the Sunset Mine as a timbered vertical shaft with drifts on three levels. The headframe and parts of the mine itself are still there as well a cabin across the road that gives off "the Hills Have Eyes" vibe. The mine is blocked as all are and sure catastrophe awaits those who venture in. As the DVNP website warns "vertical shafts, rotted timbering, hidden collars, bad air, and old cyanide/metal contamination around some mining sites" are all potientail hazards of going in Aside from that this is more of a stop than a destination. My usual nag for these places - Death Valley is not some kind of hot and dusty Disneyland. It is one of the most extreme environments you will ever find yourself in and it will kill you quickly. The road to the Sunset Mine is an unimproved dirt road / washboard and it gets rough. While the path is not technically challenging it is narrow for a large chunk of the trip. You need water, recovery gear etc to safely venture off the paved roads here. Oh and no cell coverage in many places like this

The Tiny Mine complex is an abandoned gold mine located in Death Valley National Park. According to…read morethe park service, its operational years is a bit murky but archeological evidence (found purple glass and hand-finished bottle necks) suggests occupation sometime from the 1880s to about 1920. However a plaque has also been found dated 1945. The NPS indicates that the mine and site is "three levels of mine workings, an adit on the middle level that had been closed with a tin door, lower-level mill ruins with cement machinery footings, dry-stone masonry foundations, part of a wooden ore bin, and a masonry/cement cistern with a pipe leading toward the mill." I did not fully explore the site but the adit (horizontal mine entrance) and nearly collapsed building are easily accessible off the main road The mine is blocked as all are and sure catastrophe awaits those who venture in. As the DVNP website warns "vertical shafts, rotted timbering, hidden collars, bad air, and old cyanide/metal contamination around some mining sites" are all potential hazards of going in Aside from that this is more of a stop than a destination. My usual nag for these places - Death Valley is not some kind of hot and dusty Disneyland. It is one of the most extreme environments you will ever find yourself in and it will kill you quickly. The road to the Tiny Mine is an unimproved dirt road / washboard and it gets rough. While the path is not technically challenging it is narrow for a large chunk of the trip. You need water, recovery gear etc to safely venture off the paved roads here. Oh and no cell coverage in many places like this

I absolutely loved this space!!! Funky and cozy!!! We were traveling back from Palm Springs to Reno…read moreand called to see if the Lemon House was available! Lucky for us it was!!! The outside featured a stunning view of the mountains and the inside was like a nest! I slept soundly!!!

Cartago, Calif. I…read moredon't know anything about Spongebob except that it's a cartoon after my time. Google had this tourist attraction in Central California on the Eastern Frontier as Sponge Bob's home. The structure is just an area on the side of the road with a bunch of structures and gimmicky things. It's an ideal spot to stretch your legs and take a quick breather before continuing your travel adventures. The house itself appears to be for rent but if you peek inside the windows that doesn't seem to be the case. There's a motel or lodging type structures on the same lot so it can be a gimmick for the children to goof around in since there is nothing around. Access/Roads: Along HWY 395. This highway is paved throughout. Parking: Plenty in a small dirt lot. Costs: Free Nearby Attractions: Many many many things and places. Death Valley NP (Stovepipe Wells) is appx 80 miles East. Mount Whitney Access Point is 30 miles North. Manzanar Internment Camp is appx 30 miles North & I recommend every East Asian (American) to visit Manzanar and related internment camps. Uniroyal Gal (statue) is appx 38 miles South. The Eastern Portions of Sequoia, Kings Canyon, and Yosemite can be accessed from this region. Additionally, the western portion of Mono Lake & Mammoth can be accessed. Distance: Los Angeles is 200 miles South. Reno is 300 miles North. Las Vegas is 250 miles East. Bakersfield is 150 miles West. Travel safely my friends. @cigarcpa

I recently watched the 2011award winning independent documentary film "Darwin". I was fascinated at…read morehow this post office is a gathering place for those living in this very isolated and unique little town of just 35 people located in Death Valley, California. I would highly recommend this film if you want to learn more about this post office, the town of Darwin, and of its' residents.

I drove through this town, and past the Post Office and fell in love. The yard art was one thing,…read moreand it's something that I love to look at, but just the overall feel of the place was great. Then we noticed a black car following us as we headed out the backroads towards the falls. We decided to turn around, and the car passes us and turns around. We drive out the front way, and stop ear the mines and the car stops about 1/4 of a mile behind us. So we get back in the Jeep and drive further out and pull to the side of the road. The black car darts past us, and stops hard and turns around and zooms back. We hauled ass and in the rear-view we saw the car turn around again. We were heading down Darwin Rd., in a raised Jeep, at about 95mph (no joke). So, if you guys do decide to visit this place, please be respectful of the people who live here and respect the barriers of road and yard- we didn't, we decided to check out someone's yard art, and it apparently pissed someone off hardcore. Long Live Darwin.