Burnt Wagons

Overview

About Burnt Wagons

Burnt Wagons (also signed as Burned Wagons Point) is a small historical monument in the Stovepipe Wells area that marks one of the grittiest chapters of the Forty‑Niners’ desert crossing. Think of it as a bite‑size, roadside history stop: you pull over, read a concise plaque, and suddenly the landscape around you feels a lot heavier.

Why stop

Gold Rush story told right on the plaque
Quick roadside stop in the Stovepipe Wells hub

Heads up

Only a monument—no original artifacts or deeper exhibits
Little shade and no on‑site facilities

This is California Historical Landmark No. 441, and it commemorates a pivotal survival decision during the Lost ’49ers saga. Standing here, with the open desert all around, it’s easy to picture the calculus those travelers faced and why this exact spot is memorialized.

Parkwolf’s verdictWhy It Matters

Map

Where it is

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Full map

Historic markerBurnt Wagons36.60677, -117.14618

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Burnt Wagons

Pair with Mosaic Canyon for a quick history‑plus‑geology combo.
Use Stovepipe Wells services; the monument has no on‑site facilities.
Stop at golden hour for better light and cooler temperatures.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Open at all hours, this works whenever you’re passing Stovepipe Wells. For softer light (and cooler temps), swing by early morning or late afternoon. It’s generally quiet, though evenings—especially Fridays—can see more activity thanks to the nearby services.

Planning Your Stop

Expect a very short visit—most folks spend a few minutes reading and reflecting.
The marker sits within the Stovepipe Wells cluster, so it’s easy to pair with other nearby sights like Mosaic Canyon.
Facilities are in Stovepipe Wells village, not at the monument itself; plan accordingly.

3 active Death Valley alerts

ClosurePark roads closed or hazardousPlan around multiple closed roads and use extra caution on damaged routes. - Paved roads: North Highway and Beatty Cut-off are closed due to flooding and debris from the October 22 storm.Official details
ClosureSaline Valley Lower Springs closed after wildfireLower Springs at Saline Valley Warm Springs remains closed after the September 15 wildfire; stay out because the fire left safety hazards, including potential hazardous chemicals.Official details

See all 3 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Death Valley Tour Guide

Your drive to Burnt Wagons, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Death Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Death Valley audio tour

Recorded for this place

Stovepipe Wells Village: Desert Outpost and Dune Gateway

Listen

“You're coming up on Stovepipe Wells Village, a classic desert crossroads and service hub.”

Plays as you drive up to Burnt Wagons in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.

More about Burnt Wagons

What You’ll SeeYou’re here for the monument and its plaque.

You’re here for the monument and its plaque. It summarizes how a Jayhawker group of 1849 gold seekers, desperate and short on options, burned their wagons, dried meat from some oxen, and struck out west on foot. There’s no surviving wagonry—just the marker and the stark desert setting that frames the story.

TipsPair this stop with Mosaic Canyon for a tidy history‑plus‑geology hour.

Pair this stop with Mosaic Canyon for a tidy history‑plus‑geology hour.
Use Stovepipe Wells for restrooms, water, and food; the monument area itself is bare‑bones.
Bring sun protection—even quick roadside reads feel long under direct desert sun.

NearbyYou’re in the park’s Stovepipe Wells hub, so snacks, a store, gas, and other services are a…

You’re in the park’s Stovepipe Wells hub, so snacks, a store, gas, and other services are a short hop away—making this an easy add‑on while you refuel and regroup.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Death Valley

All Death Valley wildlife maps

71 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

101 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map

458 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

28 sightingsFeral BurroMost seen around 5 PMSighting map

30 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

62 sightingsKit FoxMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.