Places of Interest - Northern Death Valley

Keane Wonder Mine     Rhyolite      Titus Canyon      Scotty's Castle     Ubehebe Crater

This section will explore the attractions found along the two northern routes out of Death Valley. T he route coming off of Hwy. 190 going to Scotty's Castle and Ubehebe Crater The Beatty Cut Off road going north to the Keane Wonder mine, Rhyolite and the town of Beatty, Nevada      See Lodging, Shopping, Dining, Campgrounds and RV Parks and Other Services directory for amenities along these routes. Keane Wonder Mine      Discovered by Jack Keane and Domingo Etcharren in December, 1903, the Keane Wonder strike and its subsequent mine became one of the largest producing gold mines in the Death Valley area. An aerial tramway system was constructed to bring the ore from the mine down to the 20 stamp mill. The system had 13 towers with the longest span between them at 1200 feet. The vertical fall was 1500 feet. The mine was operated off and on through the 1930's and by the end of that time the tramway had deteriorated beyond repair. In 1940 it was refurbished with plans to put in a new mill. By 1942 everything but the new tramway had been hauled to another site. Foundations, old cyanide tanks and ruins of the tramway can be viewed when you visit this site.

Rhyolite      She was called the "Queen City of Death Valley" and certainly Rhyolite was the most ambitious and permanent of the boom towns in Death Valley's mining era. Estimates are that 8,000-10,000 people lived in Rhyolite between 1905-1909. In 1904 Shorty Harris and E.L.Cross discovered the Bullfrog strike which launched the towns of Rhyolite and Bullfrog. Rhyolite had electricity, banks, churches, hotels, stores, saloons, an ultra modern school completed in 1909, train depot, a bottle house that is still standing, jail and citizens from all walks of life. Today you can stroll the streets and imagine the activity that took place here during the town's heyday. The Cook bank building is one of the country's most photographed ghost town ruins. In the 1980's Belgian sculptor Albert Szukalski came here and created the Last Supper, twelve ghostly figures in a ghost town. In subsequent years he invited other artists to create their artwork launching the Goldwell Open Air Museum and making Rhyolite a town with an engrossing history even after it was deserted. Most of the town is on BLM land and the removal of artifacts is strictly prohibited. Rhyolite is on a paved road, easily accessible by any type of vehicle.

Titus Canyon      Named after Morris Titus, a man who is believed to have perished somewhere in this canyon in the early 1900's, Titus Canyon is one of the most breath-taking canyons in the park. It is a 27 mile, one-way, narrow, unpaved road that can sometimes require four wheel drive but usually requires a high clearance vehicle. It winds through marvelous geologic features, remains of the last Death Valley boomtown of Leadfield, petroglyphs and extraordinary vistas. This is a drive that one must allow a morning or an afternoon to savor. Check with rangers before heading up to Titus Canyon since it is vulnerable to road closure in bad weather. In summer there is very little traffic to help someone who may have vehicle trouble. The best time to visit Titus Canyon is during the winter and spring months.

Scotty's Castle      Many Americans came to know of Death Valley through Death Valley Scotty whose exploits routinely appeared in American newspapers from the early 1900's until his death in 1954. Scotty didn't own Scotty's Castle but he did hold court there. The Castle was actually built and owned by Albert Johnson, a Chicago millionaire. Today's visitor can experience the castle through a living history tour with park rangers. The Castle is open every day with tours beginning at 9:00 and ending with the 5:00 tour. There is also an exhibit area, walking trails and a path to Scotty's gravesite. An added feature at the Castle is the technology tour, which explores the innovations at the Castle including the underground tunnels and heating and cooling system. The living history tour of the Castle is wheelchair accessible but the technology tour is not. Visitors in wheelchairs need to let the staff at the ticket office know at the time tickets are purchased so arrangements can be made to take them on the lift.

Ubehebe Crater      Ubehebe Crater is evidence of the volcanic history of Death Valley. 3,000-5,000 years ago this crater was made when hot magma came into contact with water. The resulting steam explosion blew a hole in the ground about 600 feet deep and half a mile across. Walking around the rim to the west you will come to Little Hebe crater, which was smaller, but perhaps younger, than Ubehebe. Throughout the area you can see the cinders from the explosion and imagine what it must have sounded like. A paved road leads up to Ubehebe Crater, which can be viewed, from the parking lot.