Panamint Valley is a vast desert basin wedged between the spectacular mountain peaks of the Panamint Range to the east and the Argus Range to the west. Both ranges are filled with amazing four-wheel-drive trails and replete with adventure and history. This has been the perfect setting for one of the California Association of 4 Wheel Drive Club's (CA4WDC) best-known events for the last 23 years-Panamint Valley Days.
Each year, as the desert starts to cool, the members of CA4WDC start ramping up for the event. The 2008 event, even in this tough economy, brought in participants from across the state and enjoyed a marked increase in registration and attendance. We think this is due to the amazing trails and the exceptional camaraderie of tight-knit four-wheeling friends.
The trails in Panamint offer...
The trails in Panamint offer plenty of off-camber, rocker-scratching fun. The possibility of body damage and rollovers on trails like Isham Canyon is always very real. But under the watchful eye of a good spotter, participant vehicles at PVD usually fare reasonably well.
PVD is also a great escape from the hassles of everyday life-after all, Panamint Valley is so remote, there's almost no communication with the outside world.
The main camp is located in the middle of the valley, making it a perfect base from which to head off to the 13 trail runs during the three-day event. Under the umbrella of CA4WDC, a number of four-wheel clubs bring everything together for the event: Desert Dawgs, Eastern Sierra 4x4 Club, Out for Fun, San Diego 4 Wheelers, Bakersfield Trailblazers, Gear Grinders, Off-Highway Voyagers, West Coast Four Wheel Drive Club, and Dirt Devils. The clubs and sponsors pool their resources for this action-packed event, which includes awesome trail adventure for family fun, great food, and a cool raffle on the last night. Everyone leaves Panamint Valley Days with a smile on his or her face, a message about responsible four-wheeling, and the hope of returning to next year's event.
For information on next year's event, visit www.cal4wheel.com.
Do Your Part To Save Our Trails
Panamint Valley and Death Valley are battlegrounds under extreme pressure from environmentalists to have all off-highway travel eliminated from the area. It's important that all rules and regulations set up by the Bureau of Land Management and National Park Service are followed to the letter of the law. In the last few years we have lost our rights to explore numerous areas and canyons of this region by four-wheel drive. Surprise Canyon, Stone Canyon, Happy Canyon, Tuber Canyon, Lemoigne Canyon, and Hall Canyon have been shut down and may never reopen. This makes it nearly impossible for anyone to enjoy these rugged and beautiful trails. We are hearing about legislation to define the entire area as a wilderness, which would shut the area down to any motorized off-highway travel. This closure would be a travesty for everyone, so stay on the trails, pack out what you pack in, and respect others around you that use the trails.
 |  |  There are a number of famous...  There are a number of famous obstacles on these runs, such as Zero Waterfall on Cummings Cutoff trail, that test a driver's skill. The waterfall doesn't look that tough, but it's deceptive the way it forces a rig to twist up over a large boulder patch, usually leaving the vehicle high-centered. |
 Most trails wind though narrow...  Most trails wind though narrow and rocky canyons on the way up to a mine or historical point of interest. The trail leaders and trail hands are always ready to spot and lend a hand. If you are thinking about attending your first four-wheel-drive event, Panamint Valley Days would be a great place to start. The mountains, canyons, and valleys in this area are a great place to explore by 4x4. |  The trails of Panamint Valley...  The trails of Panamint Valley range from extreme to mild, so there's a trail for participants of every skill level. The event's 13 trails wind through some of this country's most historic mining areas. Trails like Cummings Cutoff and Isham Canyon almost always guarantee a little body damage, and trails such as Look Out City offer a spectacular sunset view. |  There's nothing like watching...  There's nothing like watching a well-built Jeep making its way through tough trails. Vehicles attending Panamint Valley Days are diverse. The predominant vehicle is Jeep, but lots of other rigs are in the mix like Toyotas, Samurais, and early Ford Broncos. This is a great way to check out the latest vehicle modifications and what works and what doesn't. |
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