Spring Field Trip: Southern Armagosa Valley

Spring Field Trip: Southern Amargosa Valley (Tecopa Valley)

Friday evening February 28 – Sunday afternoon March 2

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The Southern Amargosa Valley (also known as the Tecopa Valley) is a wonderful place to explore; full of history and natural wonders. It is located just East of the Southern end of Death Valley. We’ll start our journey Friday night (February 28) in the little town of Tecopa with a social and brief overview of the weekend’s activities. Exact time and location will be provided to registered participants as the date gets closer. On Saturday morning (March 1) we’ll meet at the Shoshone Museum at 9 am in Shoshone where a staff member will greet us and walk us through the museum. We’ll have time to explore the history of the area as curated by the museum’s inside and outside displays before reconvening for a short ride (less than a mile) to Dublin Gulch.

Dublin Gulch contains the remnants of homes dug into the hillsides in the late 1800s. After some time to explore the Dublin Gulch area, we’ll drive roughly 20 miles to the Tecopa Mines where we’ll be met by the mine’s owner who will give us a two-hour walking tour of part of the mine and discuss its history. From Tecopa Mines we’ll drive to the China Date Ranch where we’ll have the chance to enjoy one of their famous date shakes or some of their baked goods or dates and eat what will be a late picnic lunch (no host) at the picnic tables near the Amargosa River trailhead. After lunch we’ll take a hike down to the Amargosa River and discuss this amazing wild and scenic river that runs mostly underground. We’ll return via a loop trail to the trailhead and our vehicles. Dinner and the rest of the evening is on your own. There are a few restaurants in Tecopa and one in Shoshone.

Sunday morning (March 2) at 8:45 am we’ll meet for a tour at the famous Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley Junction where Marta Becket once dazzled audiences with her ballet performances.

For those who are interested in extending the tour a bit further, we’ll travel up to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge and take a short hike to see the famous Devil’s Hole and gaze down from a caged catwalk onto the deep pond where a few hardy pupfish reside. We’ll conclude our tour at the Ash Meadows Visitor Center where you can explore the center and take a walk on the catwalks to see the thermal springs and their resident pupfish.

For those interested in taking the tour, book accommodations as soon as possible. There are limited rooms available at the Amargosa Opera House in Death Valley Junction and the nearby Longstreet Hotel and Casino, in Shoshone at the Shoshone Inn, and a couple of hotels in Tecopa. Be aware that accommodations in Death Valley Junction, Shoshone, and Tecopa are a bit rustic. More modern accommodations and eating options can be found in Pahrump NV about 30 minutes from Shoshone.

The drive to the Tecopa mines is partially on a well graded dirt road with about a 1 mile section on an unimproved dirt road.  A high-clearance vehicle is recommended for this last mile (a Subaru or similar should be fine). No 4WD required. Also, should you choose to travel through Death Valley to meet us, you will need to pay the park entrance fee not included in the tour cost.

The tour cost will be $275 for members and $350 for non-members and will include light snacks at Friday night’s social (no host drinks), donation for the Shoshone museum, Tecopa Mine tour fee, and the Amargosa Opera House tour fee. Cancelations prior to the 7th of February will receive a 100% refund. Cancelations after the 7th but before the 21st will receive a 50% refund. Cancelations after the 21st will receive no refund.

Any times listed on this event may be adjusted by the tour leader who will be in touch with paid attendees.