Death Valley Changed Our Plans… Then the Adventure Really Began

Plans changed fast when Hunter Mountain was closed again — but Death Valley had another route waiting. From forgotten mining relics to Lippincott Pass, Racetrack Playa, and camp beneath the Eye of the Needle, our 2026 adventure was just getting started. Our Death Valley 2026 Adventure begins at the base of Mount Whitney, where we set up camp with the Sierra Nevada towering above us and the promise of desert trails waiting just beyond the horizon. The next morning, we roll into Lone Pine for a great breakfast before heading east on Highway 190 toward Saline Valley Road. Our goal for the day is to finally make the route over Hunter Mountain, past Hunter Cabin, and down to Tea Kettle Junction — a trail we had attempted before, only to find it closed due to winter damage. But before making our way into the heart of Death Valley, we take a quick detour down an old mining road and discover abandoned relics and forgotten cars from the 1940s and 1950s — a perfect reminder of the history hidden all across this desert landscape. From there, we climb over South Pass with wide-open views of Panamint Valley, only to find that Hunter Mountain is closed once again. With our original route shut down, we make a new plan and descend into Saline Valley, where we come across a broken-down Toyota waiting for help and a long tow back to civilization. After crossing the valley floor, we begin the rugged climb up Lippincott Pass on our way to one of Death Valley’s most iconic destinations: Racetrack Playa. We stop for lunch on the playa, take in the strange and beautiful landscape, then continue north to Ubehebe Crater before turning south for a long push toward Echo Canyon. By the end of the day, we make camp beneath the Eye of the Needle, where Noelle pulls together chicken Caesar salads for dinner before we take Cooper and Kaia for a walk through the brilliantly colored canyon walls and settle in for a peaceful desert sunset. This is Episode 1 of our three-part Death Valley 2026 Adventure Series — a day filled with changed plans, rugged trails, desert history, remote breakdowns, iconic landscapes, and an unforgettable camp deep in the canyon. Thanks for watching and coming along for the adventure! 👉 Don’t miss an adventure — Subscribe to Goldens Gone Wheelin (   / @goldensgonewheelin  ) 🐾 We’re sharing Jeep Wrangler Rubicon overlanding adventures with our golden retrievers — camping under the stars, exploring backroads, and discovering trails across California, Nevada, Oregon, and beyond. 🚙⛰️🐕 ⸻ 📺 Watch More Adventures     •    Overlanding Destinations and Adventures -    • Overlanding Destinations and Adventures       •    Off-Roading Adventures -    • Off-Roading Adventures       •    Gear and Equipment -    • Gear and Equipment       •    Rigs, Routes and Recaps -    • VLOG: Rigs, Routes and Recaps   00:00 Starting at Mount Whitney 01:03 Breakfast in Lone Pine 01:43 The Adventure Begins 05:31 Discovering Death Valley Relics 13:57 Diagnosing the Jeep 18:38 Panamint Valley View 20:19 Descent Into Saline Valley 21:32 Ascending Lippencott Pass 22:33 Racetrack Playa 31:16 Echo Canyon 36:23 Sunset Wrap up, Ep2 Preview