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Bicycle Tour of Death Valley, California

6 Days • 404 Miles • 25,000' • $2,495.00

Death Valley is famous for striking views, colorful geologic formations, and scenic vistas. On this cycling vacation we'll tour the park by bike, exploring it's scenic roads, rock formations, sand dunes, ghost towns and even castles.

The National Park Lodge will be our base camp for the week. From here we explore all the park has to offer by bicycle, alternating climbing days with flatter routes down the valley. We'll also hike a few spectacular trails that must be seen when visiting the area.

This California bicycle tour is the perfect winter and spring training camp. Because Death Valley is located below sea level, the winter temperatures are mild, and as a bonus, the roads are practically empty of cars!

Day	Weekday	Ride Day	Route	Elevation Gain	Miles
1	Sunday	...	Shuttle - Las Vegas to Death Valley	---	---
...	...	1	Artists Drive	2,500'	25
2	Monday	2	Badwater	2,500'	89
3	Tuesday	3	Dante's View	5,600'	50
4	Wednesday	4	Scotty's Castle	4,000'	55-109
5	Thursday	5	Panamint Range	6,000'	89
6	Friday	6	Daylight Pass	2,800'	42
	Friday	...	Return Shuttle to Las Vegas (by 3pm)	---	---
...	.	...	Total	25,000'	404

Scroll down for Itinerary

Day 1 - Shuttle / Meet in Death Valley, California

Our base camp for the week on this bicycle tour is the Furnace Creek Ranch Resort in Death Valley, California. Fly into Las Vegas where a shuttle will pick you up and take you to the park. After checking into our hotel we'll have a brief orientation, pass out route slips, set up the bikes, and go for a late afternoon ride up Artist's Palette, the most stunning road in Death Valley.

Artist's Palette

All our bike rides begin and end at the Furnace Creek Resort. After a short climb from the hotel, we'll drop down below sea level into a geological wonderland. Artist's Palette is a one lane road carved out of the side of the mountain. We climb up into the hills before diving down through canyons carved by flash-floods.

Fact - In July 1913 it hit 134°F (57°C) at what is now Furnace Creek Ranch. Although this was the world record at the time, it has since been exceeded by two degrees Fahrenheit at a weather station in Libya.

25 miles / 2,500 ft. elevation gain

California Cycling Tour Day 2 - Badwater

Where else can you cycle below sea level all day long! We start our cycling vacation with an out and back from Furnace Creek that spends almost the entire ride below sea level. Ride either 89 or 100 miles.

We'll also ride by Devil's Golf Course, which is not actually a golf course at all, but rather an expansive salt field caused by evaporated bodies of water. You can actually see the crystallization process at work as you walk along the surface.

Fact - Badwater Basin, in Death Valley National Park, is the lowest place in North America and one of the lowest places in the world at 282 feet below sea level. The Dead Sea, between Israel and Jordon, is the lowest at 1371 feet below sea level.

89 miles / 2,500 ft. elevation gain

California Cycling Tour Day 3 - Dante's View

Today we bike from below sea level to 5,400' above it! Dante's View is a lookout that commands a view of the entire 140 mile long Death Valley basin. It's a 25 mile gradual climb up to the top, which means it's also a 25 mile downhill back to the hotel!

After the ride hike down Golden Canyon for a view of Death Valley's geological wonders. Or just relax in the pool or take afternoon tea on the balcony of the Furnace Creek Inn.

50 miles / 5,600 ft. elevation gain

California Cycling Tour Day 4 - Scotty's Castle

Death Valley Scotty told everyone he built this castle with the riches made off his secret gold mine. But that wasn't quite the truth! Albert Johnson, a Chicago businessman, built the castle and let his cowboy "mining partner", Scotty, live there as a guest.  

Choose to ride 55 or 109 miles. We start north along the valley floor, gradually climbing up to this desert oasis. After lunch, we'll tour the castle, where guides dressed in period costume and with a 1930's mindset show us around. Then it's a mostly downhill ride back to Furnace Creek.

55 or 109 miles / 4,400 ft. elevation gain

California Cycling Tour Day 5 - Panamint Range

Today we ride by the most photographed sand dunes in the world on our way to the west side of the valley. The Panamint Range is home to 11,049' Telescope Peak, but we'll only climb part way up this dramatic landscape. Along the way, Devil's Cornfield is named for the stalks of arroweed plants that seem to sprout straight up from the ground. Like our ride up to Dante's View, a big climb deserves a 19 mile downhill!

Fact - The highest mountain in Death Valley National Park is 11,049 foot Telescope Peak. The vertical drop from the peak to the Badwater Basin is twice the depth of Grand Canyon.

89 miles / 6,000 ft. elevation gain

California Cycling Tour Day 6 - Daylight Pass

Today we cycle up to Daylight Pass, a 10 mile climb up the east side of the valley. From here we can see all of Death Valley spread out below us, the Sand Dunes to the right, Badwater to the left. A great descent ends our cycling tour as we head back to the hotel to shower and pack for the trip back to Las Vegas.

42 miles / 2,800 ft. elevation gain

Return Shuttle to Las Vegas, Nevada

After todays ride we shuttle back to Las Vegas, arriving late Friday afternoon around 3:00pm. Riders have the option of leaving Friday night, or staying over in Las Vegas.

Similar Tours: Lake Mead & Valley of Fire

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