Store · Death Valley National Park
Jeep rentals and tours to reach the park’s remote backroads
Overview
If you want to push beyond the paved highlights and see the park’s remote corners without risking your own vehicle, Farabee’s is the move. Based in the Furnace Creek area, they rent trail‑ready Jeep Wranglers and also run guided trips. The big draw: their vehicles are set up specifically for local backroads, and they kit you out with an emergency satellite beacon, maps, and a cooler stocked with ice and water.
If your goal is scenic paved overlooks, you don’t need this. But if you’re eyeing remote canyons, mines, and playa country, Farabee’s makes it safe, straightforward, and frankly a lot less stressful than risking a flat or tow bill on your own.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs It Worth It?Map
Local know-how
Reserve ahead for fall–spring; prime dates sell out.
Call the office to confirm which backcountry routes are open and approved for rentals.
Plan your itinerary around the 200‑mile daily allowance and budget for fuel.
Even with included water, bring extra and serious sun protection.
Drivers must be 25+ with license, credit card, and auto insurance.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Death Valley Tour Guide
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 tourRecorded for this place
Furnace Creek Visitor Center Area“Up ahead is the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, the most important stop for getting your bearings.”
Plays as you drive up to Farrabee's Jeep Rentals in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Expect four‑door Jeep Wranglers equipped for rough, rocky roads—off‑road tires, extra clearance, and a full‑size spare. They send you off with a safety briefing, maps, a first‑aid kit, water and ice in a cooler, and a SPOT emergency locator for peace of mind where cell service is spotty.
When conditions allow, classic backcountry routes open up: Echo Canyon and Hole‑in‑the‑Wall, Cottonwood/Marble, and the Goler area from the Ballarat side. Many renters target the Racetrack and other remote sights that standard rentals shouldn’t attempt. Availability changes with weather—always check which routes are approved before you go.
Not up for driving? Their guides handle the rough stuff and the storytelling. There’s even a shorter, RV‑friendly tour that focuses on marquee scenery like Artist’s Drive, 20 Mule Team Canyon, and Dante’s View. Water and snacks are included on tours, and the pace favors frequent photo stops.
Rentals are offered year‑round, weather permitting. A typical day rate includes 200 miles; you’ll pay per‑mile beyond that, and fuel is on you. Drivers must be 25+ with a valid license, a credit card, and auto insurance (they recommend confirming your coverage).
Backcountry drives can be good for chance encounters—think bighorn sheep on cliffs, coyotes, lizards, and raptors—but sightings are never guaranteed. Dawn and dusk improve your odds, especially near canyon mouths and alluvial fans.
Wildlife
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 mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyMustard Canyon Loop1.3 mi · 30 min · 1.4 mi awayOne-way drive through mustard-colored badlands from Harmony Borax Works to CA-190
EasyHarmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail0.4 mi · 30 min · 1.4 mi awayA short paved loop through the ruins and stories of Death Valley’s Harmony Borax Works.
ModerateGolden Canyon to Red Cathedral3 mi · 1.8 hr · 2.9 mi awayA 3-mile Golden Canyon out-and-back to the red walls of Red Cathedral.
ModerateGolden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop4.3 mi · 2.5 hr · 2.9 mi awayModerate badlands loop linking Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch
ChallengingZabriskie Point to Golden Canyon7.8 mi · 4.5 hr · 4.1 mi awayStrenuous 7.8-mile loop from Zabriskie Point through Gower Gulch and Golden Canyon
ModerateBadlands Loop (Zabriskie Point)2.7 mi · 1.8 hr · 4.1 mi awayA 2.7-mile moderate loop through colorful badlands below Zabriskie Point.
EasyZabriskie Point Overlook Trail0.3 mi · 8 min · 4.1 mi awayA short paved out-and-back from the Zabriskie Point parking area to Death Valley's iconic badlands overlook.
ModerateDesolation Canyon Trail3.6 mi · 2.5 hr · 4.7 mi awayColor-drenched badlands and a quiet canyon with easy scrambles
Gas station · At the trailheadFurnace Creek Fuel and Auto ServiceThe park’s central lifeline for fuel, at a steep premium
Sight · 0.1 mi awayFurnace Creek ThermometerClassic photo-op thermometer for extreme heat bragging rights
Sight · 0.1 mi awayFurnace Creek Visitor Center SignQuick photo stop with the famous giant thermometer out front
Visitor center · 0.1 mi awayDeath Valley National Park Visitor CenterHub for rangers, exhibits, AC, and the giant thermometer
Store · 0.1 mi awayDeath Valley Natural History Association Park StoreOfficial shop for DEVA books and souvenirs that fund the park
Campground · 0.2 mi awaySunset CampgroundMassive, no-frills basecamp near Furnace Creek with big skies
Lodging · 0.2 mi awayThe Ranch at Death ValleyFamily-friendly oasis with pool, dining, and fuel at Furnace Creek
Sight · 0.3 mi awayBorax MuseumTiny 1883 museum with 20 Mule Team relics and outdoor yardParkwolf’s Death Valley ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
