So, we were all geared up to hit Titus Canyon, but guess what? The road was closed due to flooding! No worries, though—we took a little detour to the absolutely gorgeous Chloride Cliffs instead. Come along with us on this epic overlanding adventure through the jaw-dropping landscapes of Death Valley! We’re cruising in our Jeep Gladiator Rubicon EcoDiesel, towing our Xventure XV-3 Off-Road Trailer, and of course, our adorable American Eskimo Dog, Freya, is tagging along for the ride!
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Titus Canyon At Death Valley Was Shut Down: We Discovered Chloride Cliffs
Hey there! If you're looking to explore some epic natural wonders, Death Valley National Park has got you covered with over 3 million acres to roam around. Even if your first-choice trail is closed, don't sweat it—there are plenty of other awesome paths to check out. Now, we all know Death Valley is famous for being one of the hottest spots on the planet in the summer, but we like to hit it up in the winter instead. Just a heads up, though: the weather can throw some curveballs your way during this season. So, make sure to pack your long underwear and get ready for some seriously strong winds!
Check out these other Blog Posts On the Muddy Ruttzz Gazette:
On The Way To Death Valley An Opportunity to Discover the Mojave Desert
BLM Dispersed Camping at Walker Pass (Crossing the Southern Sierras)
Home is far from Death Valley and Chloride Cliffs, necessitating a journey across the Southern Sierras. This involves traveling east over Tehachapi Pass or taking Highway 178 along the Kern River. We set up camp at the lesser-known yet fantastic Walker Pass Campground located along Highway 178. Traveling west from Bakersfield on Hwy 178 through the Kern River Canyon, you can enjoy free camping at this BLM site situated at an elevation of 5000 feet. See Map Here:
We Finally We Reach Death Valley Father Crowley Vista Point: Stunning View of Rainbow Canyon
Typically, we travel through the town of Trona and continue on the Panamint Road to reach Death Valley. However, on this journey, we drove further along Highway 395 and entered the Park via Highway 190. The Father Crowley Vista offers views of Rainbow Canyon. With some luck, you might witness a military jet practicing low-altitude flying zooming right past.
Most of my Overlanding Trips are solo adventures but on this one my wife and small dog Freya came along. I really appreciated their company. My wife shares the highway driving does most of the off-road driving.
A West To East Trip Across Death Valley: Camp Near Titus Canyon: The Nevada Triangle
It made sense since we intended to Overland through Titus Canyon to locate a campsite near the entrance. Titus Canyon is a one-way trail accessed from Nevada. We took Daylight Pass Road out of the Park toward Beatty, Nevada, and turned onto this Mining Claim Road on BLM land just outside the Park. We would have been ideally positioned for an early start, but then a friend informed me that the trail was closed due to significant flooding that had occurred several years before.
Death Valley Is Vast: Titus Canyon Was Closed, So We Altered Our Adventure to the Nearby Chloride Cliffs
So, after checking out my Death Valley National Geographic map and doing a little digging on Google, we found out we were in the perfect spot to explore the Chloride Cliffs. The Mining Claim Road links up with Chloride Cliffs Road, and let me tell you, this park is huge! There are tons of amazing Overlanding routes to choose from. Plus, if one of your planned trails happens to be closed, no biggie—there are plenty of other options to keep the adventure going!
We broke camp, packed up the and followed the Mining Claim Road, where we had set up camp, until it met Chloride Cliffs Road.
A brief drive from where Mining Claim Road meets Chloride Cliffs Road leads to the edge of Death Valley National Park. Shortly thereafter, we discovered the left turn that begins the ascent to the Chloride City themselves.
The park service is weary of rescuing vehicles and drivers unable to free themselves when stuck. This situation is complicated. People who bought adventure vehicles like Subarus might feel offended, and it raises the question of who determines which vehicles are suitable for the trail. I believe it's more about the driver's skills, equipment, and knowledge. A set of traction boards and a shovel can help most vehicles get unstuck.
A Sharp Bend Marks the Start of the Steep and Rocky Ascent to Chloride City
With a remarkable 440 foot-pounds of torque, I find towing a trailer off-road to be a breeze. It's hard to argue against choosing diesel when the trail takes a steep turn; the power just makes everything feel effortless. I’ve noticed that trails are often much steeper in reality than what you see in videos and photos, but with my setup, I tackle them with confidence.
Mopar/Bilstein Lift With Reservoir Shocks Gets Put To The Test: Did I Almost Flip My Exventure Trailer?
"Put the hammer down," I told my wife as she tackled that hill. I was itching to see how the new Mopar lift kit I installed would hold up, and let me tell you, it crushed it! The rig handled the rocks and ruts on Chloride Cliffs Road like a champ. Even on the highway, it felt smooth sailing. But then I watched the video we took, and wow, I was taken aback by how much our trailer was bouncing around. The driver's side tire lifted so high off the ground, I couldn't believe it! I’ve heard stories about folks flipping their off-road trailers, and now I totally get how it can happen—definitely something to keep in mind for next time. Next trip, I’m definitely slowing down and maybe letting some air out of those trailer tires. Oh, and I learned the hard way about strapping down the cooler. When we stopped for lunch, it was a total mess—burst cans everywhere, smashed hard-boiled eggs, you name it. What a disaster! Lesson learned, for sure!
Key Takeaways
Test your vehicle's capabilities, but be cautious of the trailer.
Always secure items in the trailer to avoid messy surprises.
Adjust tire pressure for a smoother ride on rough terrains.
Irony of the Adventure
Excited to test the lift kit, but ended up creating a disaster in the trailer.
Thought I was being adventurous, but learned the hard way about safety precautions.
In the pursuit of thrill, I inadvertently turned our lunch into a chaotic cleanup.
Parked The Trailer Explored In Gladiator
So, we hit this flat spot at 4000' and thought, "Why not leave the trailer and go explore a bit?" But, of course, I totally spaced on setting a waypoint on my Garmin GPS Maps 66i. After wandering around for a while, I suddenly realized I had no clue how to get back, and let me tell you, that was a bit nerve-wracking! We ended up driving around until we finally spotted the trailer way across the valley. I started worrying about leaving it unattended—what if someone decided to go through our stuff? I definitely felt some separation anxiety; it was just a weird feeling leaving it behind like that!
Roads Crisscrossing The Mountain, Deserted Mines, and Breathtaking Views of Death Valley: Exploring Chloride Cliffs
Wow, we were totally blown away by the stunning views as we cruised along those winding mountain roads! Seriously, every twist and turn showed us some jaw-dropping landscapes, and those old abandoned mines? So cool and mysterious! When we looked out over the massive stretch of Death Valley, we were just in awe—nature really knows how to put on a show!
Time To Find Our Trailer And Head Down To Furnace Creek To Get A Hot Meal
So, we thought about camping overnight at Chloride Cliffs, but honestly, I was a bit worried about the crazy winds and chilly temps. Plus, our food totally went south in the cooler thanks to a bumpy ride over those rocky trails. After a long day of exploring, we were really craving a good meal. We found our trailer, got it all hooked up, and then, of course, we took a wrong turn trying to get down the mountain. It’s tough to keep track of the right path out there since all the roads kind of look the same. I ended up getting a crash course in backing up the trailer on some pretty gnarly off-road tracks! But hey, we finally made it to Daylight Pass Road.
Awesome Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner In Death Valley
Driving out on Chloride Cliffs Road was a total treat! The desert scenery was just stunning, and the trail was in pretty decent shape, even if it was a bit narrow with not many places to pull over. Thankfully, since I was towing my off-road trailer, I didn’t run into anyone coming the other way. There were a couple of tight bends where I thought the trailer might scrape against the sides, but the XV-3 handled it like a champ, as usual.
We passed by some cool spots that would’ve made for great camp sites. Once we hit Daylight Pass Road, we aired up our tires and made our way to Furnace Creek. We stopped by the visitor center for a quick T-shirt pick-up, then headed to the Oasis for an amazing Thanksgiving buffet dinner. Seriously, what a fantastic way to wrap up a day full of adventure!
Freya Is A Hearty Traveler But Only When It Is Cold
This was Freya's 2nd trip with us. The first was to New Mexico in the summer and was rough on her as temperatures were over 100 degrees traveling through Arizona and New Mexico. Very difficult to find any shade just to let the dog out. This trip in the winter cold of Death Valley was perfect for her. American Eskimos dogs are well suited to cole with a thick double coat of fur. She really liked sleeping in the Roof Top Tent with us, happy dog! It was a pleasant surprise to find the Oasis at Furnace Creek allowed dogs on the outdoor patio. Shout out to the Oasis!
So, we’re not exactly the best at organizing our trips, but this time we had a plan: head to Death Valley and tackle the Titus Canyon Trail. But guess what? It was closed! No biggie, though—we had a bunch of resources to help us figure things out, and this National Park is packed with off-road exploration spots. One of the highlights was Chloride Cliffs. The mining history there is super interesting, and the rugged beauty is just stunning. Plus, the views from over 5000 feet up? Absolutely breathtaking!
Honestly, my only bummer was that we only had one day to explore. With the drive being a bit of a trek from home, we had to make the most of our time. But we still squeezed in some fun adventures on the way there and back! Overall, it was an amazing trip in such a gorgeous setting. And having my wife and dog with me? Total bonus! I really hope you get the chance to experience this place for yourself!
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