View of Death Valley from the Skidoo Road
Ghost Towns are abundant in Death Valley. Many prospectors tried their luck in this unforgiving landscape. The remote mining site of Skidoo is one of the hidden treasures of Death Valley. The hills around town are riddled with holes like a Swiss cheese. A big warning sign tells you to keep your children at a leash and your dogs close, or the other way around, I forgot.
The road to Skidoo is tough on your equipment, but there is much to see and you may decide to go the distance regardless. Along the road you have a few great views of Death Valley and nearby peaks. About one third of the way you will find a photogenic mining tower and in the Town you will find a large stamping mill that has partially collapsed already.
How to get there
A clearly visible road sign along Trona Wildrose Road (or Emigrant Canyon Road or Highway 178) marks the turnoff to the dirt road leading too Skidoo. Download my GPS track log for reference. I recommend that you do not go down to the town site in a sedan, but you should be able to get to the mining tower site (about one third of the way) if the weather is clear and if it has not been raining for a while. The dirt road is drivable with some minor wash-boarding along the way. Further down the road it gets rougher and I strongly recommend a high clearance vehicle.
GPS position
Skidoo Town Site (Mill):
Mining Tower:
Turnoff from Highway 178:
How to photograph Skidoo, a mining ghost town
Mine Shaft and Air Vent
The main attraction in Skidoo is the old mill perched on a hill. The water operated mill is unique in Death Valley. Prospectors used it to extract gold.
Walk around the structure with a wide-angle lens and look for interesting compositions. Use a bush or a spring flower as your foreground element. Walk closer and use a normal lens to photograph close-up studies of the stamps and other parts of the mill.
The trip to Skidoo offers many great views and the hill drive at the town site has wonderful views as well. Keeping an eye open for oncoming traffic on the winding road, you should go slow and enjoy the outstanding scenery. The road winds along a hill and if you like to annoy other drivers, you can get out and find an angle for hero shots, making you look daring to drive here with your vehicle.
About one third of the way to the town site, you will pass an interesting looking wooden tower on your right side. Once you have come this far, you should stop here and take a few shots and peak down the hole. Walk around the mining shaft tower and look for interesting angles, but always be careful.
Put a short telephoto lens on your camera for the drive. Ideally, you do not need to leave your car to shoot some nice views of Death Valley. There are some really excellent vista shots hiding between the ridges. With a moderate telephoto (135mm) you will be able to isolate them and present them nicely.
Best Time of the Day and Best Season
Afternoons are best for the views. To photograph the structures (mill and tower), mornings are good as well.
If you are mad enough to come to Death Valley during summer, stay in the higher elevations during the day and only drive down to the valley floor for sunrise and sunset photography.
Time required
It takes about 30+ minutes to drive to the city site, depending on your driving style and how hard you like to push your equipment.
Equipment
- A high clearance vehicle makes things a lot easier
- A wide-angle lens
- A normal lens
- A telephoto lens
- A CP filter
- A GPS unit with topographical maps
- water
Fees
Although technically in Death Valley, there is no entrance station on Highway 178. You usually pay your entrance fee at the Stovepipe Wells vending machine or show your interagency pass at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
Difficulty Getting There
The road to the town site requires a privately owned high clearance vehicle. Most rental car companies prohibit off-road usage of their SUVs. Make sure you study the rental contract carefully before embarking on such adventures. Some cheaper rental car operators even track the movements of their cars.
Close Locations in Death Valley
- Aguereberry Camp and Eureka Mine
- Aguereberry Point
- Charcoal Kilns
- Darwin Falls
- Father Crowley Viewpoint
- Mosaic Canyon
- Mesquite Flat Dunes (near Stovepipe Wells)
- Racetrack
Close Locations outside Death Valley
- Trona Pinnacles
- Ballarat Ghost Town
- Darwin
- Randsburgh Ghost Town
- Goldwell Open Air Museum
- Red Rock Canyon State Recreation Area
- Alabama Hills
- Rhyolite Ghost Town
Useful Resources
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