Goler Wash / Canyon

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Status:	Open
Typically Open:	Year Round
Length:	6.45 miles
Highest Elevation:	4200 feet
Duration:	About 4 hours
Shape of Trail:	Connector
Best Direction to Travel:	East
Nearest Town:	Furnace Creek
Nearest Town w/ Services:	Furnace Creek
Official Road Name:	Goler Wash
Management Agency:	Death Valley National Park
District:	Death Valley National Park

Highlights

Goler Wash, also known as Goler Canyon, is an enjoyable off-road cut through over the Panamint Mountain Range from Ballarat near Trona to Death Valley National Park in California. The trial is popular for being the home of Barker Ranch, aka Manson Ranch. In 1969 the FBI raided the ranch when they found out the Manson Family was living there. But don't think this is an easy 4x4 pass through. The trail is known to get washed out making it a go-to place for a mild offroad trail to wild overland adventures. Along the route expect beautiful scenery of the canyons that seem to tower above you while the old mines placed up on the side of the cliffs seem to have no way for people to ever access them. If the trail is washed out, expect an intermediate waterfall that is slick with running water on over it. Today, the park service spends a lot of time maintaining this trail, trying to keep the trail easily passable for even a 2wd. To spice things up, make this into a weekend overland adventure including off-roading Warm Springs Road, Butte Valley, Mengel Pass, and Goler Wash. This just might be the best 4wd Jeep Trails you have or will ever take and the dispersed camping is top notch.

Video

Route Information

Technical Rating

( EASY - MODERATE )

Waypoints

1. Trailhead at Wingate Road (0 mi)

The main road turns off to Goler Canyon aka Goler Wash and heads up towards the canyon. Once in the canyon, the path will get very narrow and wet from the springs that run year around. The center photos is the Ghost Town Ballarat which is the way in to the area.

Directions to Trailhead

Starting Point: Ballarat, CA

From Ballarat, take dirt road (Wingate) south roughly 15 Miles to Goler Wash Road and make a left (east) into the canyon. (The main road takes you into Goler Canyon.

Camping

Dispersed

Improved

Trail Reviews (8)

Questions & Answers (3)

Q: Can you give more details on pinstriping? How severe? How long?

–Art Taylor (11/26/2021)

–Josh Noesser (11/29/2021)

Q: Has anyone driven this trail backwards? From Warm Springs, Butte Valley, Mengel Pass and then onto Goler Wash? Is it allowed? Thanks in advance.

–Carly Cundall (08/07/2021)

–Josh Noesser (08/07/2021)

Q: The trail information says the duration for this trail is about 4 hours. I am planning a trip there right now, and I suspect this is vastly overstated. Especially since the next segment to Mengel Pass is about the same length and apparently a much more challenging segment of the trail, and it says 1 hour for the duration. Perhaps the trail reviewer can explain this, or reconsider these estimates.

–Todd Mabey (02/17/2021)

–Josh Noesser (02/18/2021)

Writer Information

Josh Noesser

Mapping Crew - California

Joshua Noesser grew up in Southern California but has lived in different parts of the country during his young adult life. Josh was first turned to four wheeling when he road with one of his friends dad up Surprise Canyon in the Panamint Valley at age14. After nearly 3 different roll overs later and a half dozen intense waterfalls, Josh was hooked. At 16 he purchased his first Jeep a CJ 7 and by 17 was putting his first locker in it. Currently, Josh is the owner and CEO of Nybble, an IT Solutions Company based in Orange County, California. Nybble isn't your normal IT company where everyone stays in and plays video games. Nybble's average company trip is out on the trails since a good amount of his staff enjoy wheeling too. As Josh likes to say, he offers the only IT Company with the ability to provide services in extreme locations. "If you want a server at the top of The Hammers, we will take care of that for you." Today you can find Josh out on the trail behind the wheel in one of his three different off-road vehicles. See the vehicles below for more information. If you ever run into Josh, please say high, he is a very friendly person and is always happy to have a new person join the group.

Furnace Creek, California (Inyo County)