Death Valley Road Projects Complicate Scotty’s Castle Access and Ubehebe Crater Parking

Repaving of the Bonnie Clare Road, also known as the Scotty’s Castle Road, has already begun. Effective January 12, 2010 through January 14, 2010, this road will be closed to traffic so that two major drainage culverts can be installed. This section of park road runs north from California Highway 190 for 33 miles to the Grapevine Ranger station near Scotty’s Castle. Visitors will still be able to access Scotty’s Castle, during this temporary closure, from Nevada by traveling north on Highway 95 to Scotty’s Junction and Nevada Highway 267. Once the new culverts are in place the Bonnie Clare Road will be reopened. Visitors should expect delays as long as 30 minutes during the length of the project which is expected to be completed by late spring 2010.

In addition to repaving the Bonnie Clare Road, the park is also getting a five mile section of park road from Grapevine Ranger Station to Ubehebe Crater repaved this winter/spring. Beginning January 4, 2010, the parking lot at Ubehebe Crater will be closed during the entire construction phase of this project. This project is expected to be completed sometime in March 2010. Visitors wishing to access the backcountry roads that lead to the Race Track as well as the Big Pine Road to Big Pine, California will still be able to do so. The only closure will be the Ubehebe Crater parking area. Some traffic delays should be expected during the construction period.