California Photo Scout

Death Valley Racetrack

The Racetrack Playa is a uniquely fascinating feature of Death Valley. A mysterious force moves the rocks across the lakebed, leaving intriguing tracks in the dry lakebed. Nobody can back up any theory with conclusive evidence, since no one has been able to observe the rocks actually moving, yet.

The tracks are a favorite subject for photographers and for visitors who muse over the mystery. Those who take the long and harsh drive to this remote valley reap plentiful rewards. No picture can prepare you for the fascination that will grip you once you walk on the playa and see the tracks. No other photo subject is like this.

The Racetrack is also one of the best places in California for celestial photography. Mountains surround the Racetrack Playa on all sides, eliminating light pollution. I witnessed the clearest night of my life, with the stars appearing closer than ever before.

Visit the Racetrack for a once in a lifetime experience!

How to get there

Death Valley Racetrack Map (click to enlarge)

From the CA-190 junction, take Scotty’s Castle road north. A little over 33 miles and shortly after the ranger station, turn left onto Ubehebe Crater Road. Take the Racetrack Valley Dirt road after about 5 miles and continue on this road for about 20 miles to Teakettle Junction (picture below).

Keep going straight at Teakettle Junction, after you satisfied your picture taking needs at this place. You will reach the Racetrack Valley after six more miles.

Teakettle Junction with Hidden Valley Road

Consider an overnight stay at the primitive campsite about two miles south of the Racetrack. The sites are hard to identify, consisting mostly of a fire pit and a spot for your tent.

Fill up at the Stovepipe Wells gas station. Gasoline is cheaper here than at Furnace Creek, but only regular gas is available while Furnace Creek has all grades, diesel and propane. I usually get gas in Olancha on CA-190 just outside Death Valley. The station at the CA-395 / CA-190 intersection is the last cheap gas before Death Valley. I then top off in Stovepipe Wells before going on a long dirt road drive. You easily underestimate the distances in Death Valley. There is no other gas station north of Stovepipe Wells.

GPS position

N36 39.935 W117 33.791

How to photograph the Death Valley Racetrack

The best area to photograph the sliding rocks is from the southern end of the dry lakebed, near the GPS marker of the previous section. Here are the most rocks with the deepest impressions. The area north, near the Grandstand, barely has any rocks and those that I found had no visible tracks.

The rocks appear to break off the mountains to the east of the valley, with the largest concentration in the southeast.

You will find even more stones further east from the GPS marker, but the stone density distracts rather than enhances your pictures.

Death Valley Racetrack Black and White

Find a stone that looks interesting, preferably with its track leading towards an interesting background feature (see image at the beginning of this article). Curved tracks add a dynamic feeling that improves the image even more. Amazingly, you will find stones with tracks in all directions. This makes it hard to imagine how the winds alone could have this strange effect. Use this to your advantage and find a track that is lit the way you want and points to an area of the background you like. Scout the area to find your stone.

Once you find your stone, consider where you want to place it in your picture. A very good choice is the bottom right of your image. According to the Golden Rule of Photography, this is the most interesting part of your image. Viewers often “read” images like they read a book, ending in that corner. The stone will keep the viewers concentrated while the track will lead them back into the image.

In the first image, I simply placed the stone left, because I liked the background to the right of the track better and wanted to include more of this area. The resulting split between sky and earth at around the top third of the image is more pleasing and the blue sky nicely balances the yellow/reddish hues of the lakebed.

I used a wide-angle lens in my images to emphasize the foreground, including the pattern on the dry lakebed. The wide-angle lens also helps me to achieve a very large depth of field and to stretch the distance between foreground and background, making the track appear even longer. This also helped me to isolate the stones from their nearest neighbors, reducing background distractions.

Vary your angle between the pictures, stand up, crouch down and lay down. Put the horizon high or low in your picture. Shoot vertical and horizontal images. The stone and track subject can get boring after a while, but the more you try, the more you will learn and come up with better compositions. Shooting standing up from eye level is not always the best option.

You can combine multiple exposures to increase the Depth of Field of your images. Mount the camera on a tripod and photograph the same composition several times, varying the focal distance from near to far. Use software like Combine ZM or Photo Acute Studio to stack the single frames and create a single picture with unlimited Depth of Field.

I took the images on this page without tripod, since I prefer the free movement of hand-held shooting whenever the light allows.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Avoid this area during the warm season, especially if you plan to venture beyond the racetrack.

Spring offers the best choice for photography. Winter rains soak the dry lakebed, making access difficult and leading to foot tracks all over the lake. Irresponsible visitors move stones around and trample the area around each stone, making fall photography less desirable.

Time required

You will spend most of the time getting here and back again. Depending on your driving style, the dirt road from Ubehebe Crater will take between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours one way. Add one more hour each way to the CA-190 intersection east of Stovepipe Wells.

Considering at least two hours for photography at the Racetrack Playa, you are easily looking at a full day adventure. I recommend to stay overnight at the primitive campsite south of the Racetrack to take advantage of the late and early sun. My article “Hybrid Off-Road Adventure” details the trip and overnight stay.

Equipment

• Wide-Angle Lens
• Normal Lens
• CP Filter
• Lens Hood
• Tripod
• Spare batteries or power inverter and charger for your car
• Storage (memory cards, netbook/laptop, image tank)
• Water for two days
• Tire repair kit, tire sealant, spare tire, jack
• GPS device / maps
• Food for the expected length of your trip
• Flashlight

Fees

Death Valley NP charges a $20 entrance fee that you can pay at the machine in Stovepipe Wells or at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. If you have a National Park Pass, show it at the visitor center to get your window sticker.

Difficulty Getting There

You need a high clearance vehicle with good tires. The park rangers do a good job at turning people away, which is understandable considering the distances they need to drive to assist stranded motorists. However, I believe there is no reason to fear the road. I spotted several sharp rocks, but I was able to steer around them easily. I even saw a family sedan on its way back. I believe that it is foolish to drive here in a normal car. Rental car companies use low-jack devices and may punish you for taking the drive.

Any stock car with higher clearance like a Subaru Outback can master this road. Bring tire sealant, a small compressor, a spare tire and sufficient water supplies to last you a couple of days. During my visit, I was never alone on the road for more than 30 minutes.

Close Locations

• Lost Burro Mine
• Ubehebe Crater
• Scotty’s Castle
• Titus Canyon and Leadfield Ghost Town
• Wildflowers in Death Valley
• Mesquite Flat Dunes (near Stovepipe Wells)
• Badwater
• Salt Pan Polygons
• Zabriskie Point
• Saline Valley
• Saline Valley Dunes
• Father Crowley Point
• Darwin Falls
• Cerro Gordo

Useful Resources

Death Valley Backcountry Roads and useful camping information

Death Valley Photos

Death Valley National Park Site

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