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Homestake Dry Camp
Hiking Around Las Vegas, Death Valley National Park
Homestake Dry Camp
Homestake Dry Camp
Overview of Homestake Dry Camp (view N)

Overview

Homestake Dry Camp, located deep in the heart of Death Valley National Park and surrounded by the Death Valley Wilderness Area, is the last legal place to camp along Racetrack Road and the closest camp to the Racetrack Playa.

Homestake Dry Camp is not much of a campground. It is merely a few graded areas along the turn-around loop at the end of Racetrack Road. There are no amenities except one outhouse. Campfires are illegal (despite the existence of campfire rings), and gathering firewood is unlawful. The Racetrack Playa Trailhead, with its famous moving rocks, is only 2.0 miles away, and the route to Lippincott Mine starts from the south end of the campground loop.

Link to map.

Homestake Dry Camp
Camping in Site #2 (view S)

Watch Out

Other than the standard warnings about hiking in the desert, ...there are no particular hazards in this area, but watch for people driving too fast on "Racetrack" road. Ensure that your spare tire is in good condition, and bring plenty of water. There are a number in interesting holes in the ground at the nearby Lippincott Mine, but remember -- holes in the ground are never safe to enter.

For details of issues associated with the journey, see the Racetrack Road webpage.

Homestake Dry Camp
Outhouse along the entrance road (view S)

Getting to Homestake Dry Camp

Homestake Dry Camp is located along Racetrack Road in the north end of Death Valley National Park, about 5-1/2 hours northwest of Las Vegas.

From town, drive out to Death Valley. From the Furnace Creek Visitor Center (Table 1, Site 0712), drive north about 50 miles to the Grapevine Ranger Station. Continue north for 0.2 miles, then turn left onto Ubehebe Crater Road and drive northwest for 5.7 miles to Racetrack Road (Site 0756). Turn right onto Racetrack Road and drive 19.5 miles to Teakettle Junction (Site 0757) and the well-adorned road sign. Continue straight for 8 miles to the Racetrack Playa Trailhead, and then straight 2.0 more miles to Homestake Dry Camp. For details of the journey, see the Racetrack Road webpage.

Homestake Dry Camp
Camp overview
Homestake Dry Camp
Entrance signs
Homestake Dry Camp
Site #1 (view W from Racetrack Road)
Homestake Dry Camp
Site #2 (view S)
Homestake Dry Camp
Site #3 (view NW)
Homestake Dry Camp
Site #3 (left) and #4 (right; view N)
Homestake Dry Camp
Site #3 and #4 (view N)
Homestake Dry Camp
Site #4 (view N)
Homestake Dry Camp
Exiting camp area; outhouse on left (view NW)
Homestake Dry Camp
Exiting Homestake Dry Camp (view S)
Homestake Dry Camp
Illegal campfire pit in Site #2 (view W)
Homestake Dry Camp
Entrance Road and outhouse (view N)
Homestake Dry Camp
Camping in Site #2 (view SW)
Homestake Dry Camp
Camping in Site #2 (view W)
Homestake Dry Camp
Billions of stars (view up)
Homestake Dry Camp
Stars rotating in the night (view up)

Table 1. Highway Coordinates (NAD27; UTM Zone 11S). Download Highway GPS Waypoints (*.gpx) file.

Site # Location Latitude (°N) Longitude (°W) UTM Easting UTM Northing Elevation (feet) Verified
0712 Furnace Creek Visitor Center 36.46159 116.86574 512030 4034954 -186 Yes
0756 Ubehebe Crater Rd at Racetrack Rd 37.01291 117.45699 459345 4096199 2,515 Yes
0757 Racetrack Rd at Teakettle Jct 36.76008 117.54142 451674 4068192 4,143 Yes
0821 Homestake Dry Camp 36.63752 117.57326 448751 4054614 3,760 GPS
1051 Racetrack Rd at Saline Valley Rd 36.64157 117.57365 448719 4055062 3,803 GPS

Happy Hiking! All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240324

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