Bicycle Travel Adventure: Bicycling Death Valley On Closed Section Of Badwater Road; Nirvana On Two Wheels
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This bicycle adventure story sponsored by Las Vegas Cyclery and ISM bike seats
By Alan Snel, Publisher-Writer
DEATH VALLEY, California — The gate was closed on Badwater Road in Death Valley National Park.
To cars.
But not for bicyclists and hikers.
And that meant bicycle heaven for any cyclist who wanted to explore Badwater Road without cars past the famed Basin area, a big Death Valley attraction for visitors 17 miles down the road from the Furnace Creek area of this national park with out-of-this-world landscape.
It meant bicycling on ribbon of pavement below sea level with views of mountains topped with snow.
And there were no cars.
I realize I already said that.
But for people who pedal bicycles, to not have a motorized vehicle around is nirvana.
And in fact, on this Monday after Thanksgiving, there was not even another bicyclist.
Just me and my super fat-tired, single-speed, steel-framed Surly Pugsley beast of a two-wheeler.
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Why is the road closed to cars past Badwater Basin?
Well, it rained two weeks ago for several days.
A lot of rain. And there were rainstorms even before that. The popular Artist Drive off Badwater Road about nine miles from Furnace Creek was one of the closed roads because of the gravel, dirt, sand and stones that covered the pavement.
At one time, the start of Badwater Road in Furnace Creek, a popular tourist area reachable from the Pahrump and Beatty sides of the national park, was even closed for a while before park rangers re-opened that 17-mile stretch to Badwater.
I was told it will be next year by the time the current closed section of Badwater Road reopens. There are limited ribbons of dirt and rocks crossing the road.
Enough to keep away cars.
But perfectly fine for the Pugsley and its massive fat tires. Take a look.
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The rainwater also created a lake at Badwater, which is 282 feet below sea level.
It offered the most surreal visual: pedaling a bicycle below sea level while also taking in the view with mountains that are topped with snow.
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On Monday, I also took the time to explore even a closed dirt road that was a nice option for walkers and cyclists.
Check out the visuals here at Devils Golf Course site near the closed entrance of the popular Artist Drive. The land is jagged, salt crystal formations — such a bizarre-looking terrain was named for the Devil because only the devil could possibly play golf on this uneven, salty land.
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The Pugsley is quite a hefty bicycle and there’s no motor or battery-powered assisted action going on. But I purposely brought this bike to pedal slowly and absorb the visual bounty.
The rock formation and colors are natural artwork.
And bicycle moving slowly lets me savor the sights.
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Death Valley National Park is my haven from Las Vegas from November to March.
It’s about 12-15 degrees warmer here than Las Vegas.
So, a chilly windy day in the 50s in Las Vegas could be a lovely 70-degree day in Death Valley.
For me, it’s about two hours away, a stress-free car ride that includes travel through Pahrump and its three traffic signals on State Route 160.
I’d go if I was you.
PSA
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