Saline

[TomsBeast]

N36 48.731 W117 45.938

The only thing that's a little tricky is the turn off Saline Valley Road (left or right, depending on which way you come in) to head out east across the sand and low-land to the springs, a couple miles.

As I understand it, the National Parks Service removed the old sign, after they annexed the land that includes the hot springs.

Half mile or so after your turn off Saline Valley Rd, you'll see the famous post and metal bat sign, which you continue past to the springs.

[illking]

anyone know the road condition or if theres any closures.Im thinking of driving my 2wd SMB to the hot springs coming from 395 this weekend. DerPo did you go already?

[TomsBeast]

Death Valley Jim on Facebook is pretty up to date, Death Valley Road Conditions Facebook page gets updated periodically, haven't checked in a while.

A word of caution about who you ask about road conditions out to the springs, my experiences: Their is usually a sign on the Panamint Springs south entrance, that says "road closed". This has almost no bearing on the road conditions, I drive right past it. If you ask the folks in the Panamint Springs store, you'll either get "I don't know" or, a year ago, the douche bag twenty something kid who works there tells me, and another guy inquiringly "I don't know man, ice, a couple guys yesterday had to winch their way out!" I went any way. That advice was such a pant load. In fact, I didn't see a spot I couldn't get through with a lightly loaded Honda... Civic!

Having said that, I could see how if the road was real icy, there are places where a guy would want to be careful, that are in the shade in winter. So precip at Darwin, ca, and temps are a good thing to pay attention to before you go.

If you go, stop into the Panamint Springs store. If you see a poser kid with a red MSR fuel bottle caribeanered to a belt loop, with his dirt bike in the parking lot, don't bother to ask him anything but "hey, hipster-dufuss , where's the BAGS of ice?" That, he might be helpful with...

[illking]

Haha, thanks Tom. Ive ridden to the springs on dirtbike (camped at panamit springs) around march 2014 and I agree, didnt seem like anything a civic couldnt handle. But with all the rain lately im wondering what its like up there. Thats a funny story about the guy in PSR.