Road trip guide: Echo Canyon Road in the Death Valley NP

Echo Canyon Road is a very exciting drive in the central part of Death Valley National Park, in Inyo County, in the eastern central part of the U.S. state of California. High-clearance vehicle for the first 3 miles, 4x4 required beyond. The road tends to have deep gravel and is quite rocky 3 miles from the highway.

The road is 16km (10 miles) long running from CA-190 to Inyo Mine, with its old structures and remnants of mining equipment including a mill, residential structures and a powder magazine. Due to frequent flooding in the area, road conditions often vary throughout the park.

It’s one of the challenging Backcountry roads in the Death Valley National Park. Remember to bring your camera. Make sure you leave enough time to make plenty of stops along the way. The Needle’s Eye, a natural arch, is located within the canyon narrows. A side road to the left climbs over a small saddle and eventually leads to Amargosa Valley, but is very rough, requiring a short wheelbase 4x4 and an experienced driver. For the most up-to-date information on road conditions, visit Death Valley’s website at nps.gov/deva.