Mar 7 – Daley Ranch Hike, Escondido (15 miles) Training #3 for the PCT hike 7:30 am at the trailhead

This hike will help prepare you for the PCT Hike in April and for summer backpacking as well.

The hike will start at the parking lot and there are a couple options of hike distance.

The strenuous hike will go 15 miles. There are inclines and it will take anywhere from 6 hours to 7 hours to complete. There will only be one stop at the Ranch House where there are restrooms and water.

For more moderate hikers you can turn off at the Ranch House and head back to the parking lot (5.9miles total). There is also an option to go (8 miles total) turning off instead at on the Jack Creek Meadow loop trail.

DIRECTIONS FROM CARLSBAD
Take I-5 North to the 78 East. Take 78 East, where the freeway ends at Broadway and becomes Lincoln Street. Keep going straight for a couple of miles. Turn left on El Norte. (Note: if you look to the right it will say Citrus). Then, make an almost-immediate right onto La Honda Drive, the road that goes uphill about one mile to Dixon Lake and Daley Ranch. Take a left into Daley Ranch Parking Lot.

3024 La Honda Drive
Escondido, CA 92027

PARKING AREA/FEES/RESTROOMS: No parking fees. There are restrooms and water at the Ranch House (at ~5 miles).

RAIN: We will be hiking rain or shine. If raining, dress accordingly and wear sturdy shoes with good tread to overcome the mud element.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABLED: not this trip

CHILDREN / STROLLERS: not this trip

TERRAIN: All trails are wide soil surfaces, which may be muddy in areas if recent rain. There are many trees shading some of our trails, but most trails will be in the sun, unless it’s raining.

DOGS: Allowed on-leash (double check with Daley Ranch – website below)

BRING:  Daypack, hiking poles, snacks, hat, sunscreen, 2 liters water minimum + the 10 essentials (see backpacking resource section of this webpage).

Looking forward to our time on the trail!

Orville Stanton, Hike Leader

DALEY RANCH WEBSITE: https://www.escondido.org/daley-ranch.aspx

“Death Valley is one of the lowest areas of land on Earth; Furnace Creek is at an elevation of 196 ft. below sea level. The region is generally sunny, dry and clear throughout the year. Winter is the park’s peak season; temperatures are mild with occasional winter storms, and visitors should bring warm clothing and light or medium jackets. Sun-protective clothing and a broad brimmed hat are recommended. Rainfall averages less than two inches per year.

Natural Features:

Death Valley has sunk below sea level through geologic processes over time. It lies within the Mojave Desert and is the hottest, driest and lowest location in North America. Yet despite its extreme conditions, the park boasts a diversity of ecosystems, including colorful badlands, snow-covered peaks, desolate sand dunes, rugged canyons and flat, dry basins called playas.

Furnace Creek is on the edge of a playa at the bottom of the valley floor. It is fairly open with sparse vegetation, though some sites do have trees that provide shade. The facility offers a wide view of the mountains to the east and west, which glow with hues of orange, red and yellow during sunrise and sunset.

Recreation:

Explorers of all ages can enjoy educational programs and exhibits at the visitor center adjacent to the campground. Birders may have luck spotting local and migratory birds around the campground and along Airport Road, especially in the cooler months. Visitors can access a paved bike path within the facility. Trails to a natural bridge, the Golden Canyon badlands and the salt flats of Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, are a short drive away. Some of these attractions are reachable via a dirt road.”

Entrance Fee $30/vehicle: Covers entrance and standard amenity fees for a driver & all passengers in a personal vehicle at per vehicle fee areas (or up to 4 adults at sites that charge per person). Kids 15 & under are free. Or buy the America the Beautiful Annual Pass for the National Parks.  The annual pass can have two “owners” and it is one year from date of purchase (not calendar year). Free Military pass at recreation.gov  (verify pass prices and info online)

Things to Do

There is so much to see and do; it all depends on your personal interests. Everyone can travel and enjoy the trip at their own pace.

Dante’s View (bring a jacket and lunch), 20 Mule Team Canyon & Zabriskie Pt , Check out Museum and Visitor Center at campground

Titus Canyon is a 26 mile one way dirt road. The road travels up and over a mountain pass and goes down into a narrow wash. At the end the road is quite narrow and the shear rock walls rise hundreds of feet above you. The road is well graded and easily passable by most SUV’s and trucks.

Keane Wonder Mine, Rhyolite Ghost town, Travel thru Titus Canyon, Lunch at Leadfield Mine, Ubehebe Crater, Sand Dunes

Charcoal Kilns (bring a jacket and lunch, there will probably be snow), Salt Creek and see the Pup Fish, Aguereberry Point

Lunch at the Charcoal Kilns, Mosaic Canyon short hike, Artists Palette, Devil’s Golf Course, Badwater

Website to Plan Ahead

www.nps.gov/deva

Getting There

GPS Info. (Latitude, Longitude):

36.46306, -116.86778

36°27’47″N, 116°52’4″W

Death Valley is in eastern California on the Nevada border, 130 miles WNW of Las Vegas, NV and 106 miles east of Lone Pine, CA. Furnace Creek Campground is a half-mile north of Furnace Creek Visitor Center on State Hwy 190. (From Carlsbad it’s about 340 miles) (760)786-2441

Directions:

From NCCC take I-5 North to Hwy 78 East to I-15 North. Continue north on I-15 (Do not take I-215) go thru Barstow and on to Baker. (212 miles on the I-15) In Baker take Hwy 127 toward Shoshone / Death Valley Junction. Continue thru Shoshone toward Death Valley Junction.

Take Hwy 190 from Death Valley Junction to Furnace Creek Campground, 328 Greenland Blvd, Death Valley, CA. Campground entrance is on the left about a half mile past the gas station. Stop at the ranger kiosk at the entrance for directions to  group site 1

The drive should take approximately 5 hrs.

Camping:

$40 per adult  $15 per child age 3 and up (nonrefundable)

Death Valley Register HERE

Essentials 1-5:  Protection from the sun, Illumination, Navigation, Hydration and Nutrition

Essential 6:  Insulation

Essential 7- 10:  Medication (first aid supplies), Incineration (Fire – Waterproof matches), Fabrication (Repair kit and tools), Protection (Emergency shelter).

Clothing layers with boots and socks

Other important things beyond the ten essentials to consider: hiking poles, supplies for Bio brakes (trowel, toilet paper, wipes and bags to carry off used paper), and a bandanna.

Backpack with all the gear plus 2 liters of water. It weighs out at 15 lbs. I used my regular backpacking pack as my daypack, gained a few lbs, because I don’t have a 30 liter pack anymore only the 54 liter one.

Gear and Essentials Info from REI

Backpacking Checklist

Backpacking for Beginners

Day Packs

Hiking Boots

Trekking Poles

Headlamps

The 10 Essentials