Day Trip to Scotty’s Castle

Scotty’s Castle

Day Trip

Scotty’s Castle is 53 miles north of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. The road to the Castle is paved and travels along the eastern side of Death Valley. Several points of interest are located along the way. If you plan to return via this same route, it is best to see these points on the return trip. During holiday weekends, tours of the Castle sell out before noon so it is best to start your trip early.

Travel north from Furnace Creek on Highway 190 past the Beatty cut-off. Soon you will pass a graded road to Salt Creek. A self-guided nature trail here meanders through the habitat of the desert pupfish. A few miles further, the road to Scotty’s Castle comes up abruptly and involves a sharp right turn.

Continuing north, you will see a set of old wagon ruts left by wagons travel-ling from Hell’s Gate to Stovepipe Wells. The tracks are nearly 100 years old but still remain as a scar on the fragile desert soil. When viewing these tracks it is easy to understand why off-road travel is prohibited inside the park.
The road climbs slowly through the narrowing valley, passing through colorful badlands of the Kit Fox Hills and swinging out around the bases of large alluvial fans.

Titus Canyon

Distance: …. 35 miles from Furnace Ck. 3-mile side road
Time: …………. 1 to 2 hours
Soon you will come to the Titus Canyon road junction. This two-way graded dirt road climbs an alluvial fan to the mouth of Titus Canyon, where the road then becomes one-way for westbound travel only. If time permits, park your vehicle at the parking area near the canyon mouth and walk a short distance into the Titus Canyon narrows. This beautiful section of the canyon has smoothly eroded walls, polished by the action of running water.
Back on the paved road, after a long but gradual uphill section, you will pass the Grapevine Entrance Station. Just beyond is the left turn to Ubehebe Crater. Save the crater until the afternoon and continue up Grapevine Canyon 3 miles to Scotty’s Castle.

Scotty’s Castle

Distance: …. 53 miles from Furnace Ck.
Time: ………… 3 to 5 hours round trip
Formally known as Death Valley Ranch, Scotty’s Castle is a mansion built by Chicago millionaire Albert Johnson between 1922 and 1933. As soon as you arrive at the Castle, purchase your tour tickets. If you have time before your tour, take a walk around the grounds, up the Windy Point Trail or explore Tie Canyon. Self-guiding booklets are available from the Natural History Association book sales area. If you have a long wait for a tour, you may want to visit Ubehebe Crater beforehand.

Ubehebe Crater

Distance: …. 56 miles from Furnace Ck. 5-mile side road
Time: ……….. 1/2 hour or longer
Retrace your route down Grapevine Canyon toward the Entrance Station, turning right toward Ubehebe Crater, five miles beyond the junction. Ubehebe Crater is a half-mile wide and 500 feet deep. Be prepared for wind at the crater. For the return trip, drive back toward Grapevine Entrance Station and stay to the right to return to Furnace Creek. It takes a full day and 120 miles of driving to visit the Castle and Ubehebe Crater but you will find that it is well worth the effort.