{"id":4460,"date":"2015-10-31T18:38:28","date_gmt":"2015-10-31T18:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/?p=4460"},"modified":"2022-09-21T19:53:56","modified_gmt":"2022-09-21T19:53:56","slug":"salt-creek-hills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.backroadswest.com\/blog\/salt-creek-hills\/","title":{"rendered":"Salt Creek Hills: on the edge of Death Valley"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n

Located at the southeastern tip of Death Valley and just outside of the park boundary are the Salt Creek Hills.<\/strong>\u00a0 This small oasis offers an easy hike through the oasis to the old gold mines of Amargosa Spring and is a great place to stop, stretch your legs and enjoy the desert serenity for an hour or two.\u00a0 The small parking area that leads to the trailhead is just off of Hwy 127 which is the main road leading to Death Valley from the I-15 at Baker.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

\n \n
\n
\n \"Salt \n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n \n
\n
\n \"Salt \n <\/div>\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

The Salt Creek Hills are located very close to Dumont Dunes, a popular place for OHV\u2019s and dune buggies, so the Bureau of Land Management (B.L.M.) felt it necessary to designate Salt Creek Hills as an ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern) to help protect this historical and fragile riparian area.<\/p>

Providing a rare source of water in this wide desert expanse, Salt Creek Hills is rich with history of the Old Spanish Trail, mining operations from the 1800’s and, no doubt, prehistoric Native Americans were here, too.\u00a0 Today, Salt Creek Hills is home to the oldest standing structure in San Bernardino County.\u00a0 The rock building known as the Amargosa House was built in the early 1850’s.<\/p>

Interestingly, Salt Creek drains a significant portion of the Mojave Desert. \u00a0The entire area to the south of the Salt Creek Hills area and about 30 miles to the east, which includes draining half of the large\u00a0Kingston and Clark Mountain ranges. \u00a0You wouldn’t have guessed it, but a lot of water can potentially pass by this point. \u00a0After passing by the oasis located here, it travels a short distance to the Amargosa River just 4.5 miles northwest. \u00a0From there, water in the Amargosa River drains into Death Valley and ends roughly near the lowest spot in the USA – Badwater.<\/p>

The B.L.M. has put a lot of effort into this area.\u00a0 The trail is well-marked and easy to follow with many interesting interpretive signs, making this hike particularly enjoyable.\u00a0 They have also put picnic tables underneath the nice, big trees that are just a short distance from the parking area.\u00a0<\/p>

Getting There<\/h3>

Located along Hwy 127, the trailhead for Salt Creek Hills is 29 miles north of Baker or 27 miles south of the small town of Shoshone.\u00a0 The turnoff to the parking area is well signed and restrooms are located there.<\/p>

The Hike<\/h3>

This is an easy, relatively flat hike. \u00a0There is a lot to see if you include wandering around the old mine sites and inspecting the area.\u00a0 And, if you include a stop under the big shade tree for lunch or a snack, you could easily spend several hours.\u00a0 Time is easily forgotten when you’re distracted by the beauty of nature.<\/p>

From the parking area, follow the well-marked and well-maintained trail northeast towards a large group of trees.\u00a0 Be sure to stop and read the interpretive signs that are all along the trial; they are very informative.\u00a0 The trail runs along the left (west) side of Salt Creek and, after 0.2 mile, the trail crosses Salt Creek itself via a wooden bridge.\u00a0 Look to your right, under the trees, for the picnic tables.<\/p>

More…<\/p>

<\/a><\/div><\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n
\n

Pictures<\/h3>

Below are some pictures of what you will see along the way.<\/p> <\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \"Salt