Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

Overview

About Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

High in Wildrose Canyon, ten beehive-shaped stone kilns sit in a quiet pocket of the Panamint Mountains. Built in 1877 to make charcoal for nearby smelters, they’re among the best-preserved kilns in the West—big, tactile, and surprisingly atmospheric. You can step inside, hear the echoing acoustics, and wander between them with mountain views all around.

Why stop

Exceptionally preserved beehive kilns you can walk inside
Cooler high-elevation stop with striking photo ops
Convenient start point for the Wildrose Peak trail

Heads up

Rough, unpaved final stretch that’s prone to storm closures
Remote area with no services like water or food

Map

Where it is

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SightWildrose Charcoal Kilns36.24658, -117.07629

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

Check road conditions—last miles are unpaved and can close after storms.
Bring layers; it’s far cooler here than on the valley floor, especially mornings.
Pack water and snacks—there are no services at the kilns.
Plan for sunrise, sunset, or night for the best photos.
Step into a kiln and try speaking or singing to enjoy the acoustics.

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Open 24/7, but the kilns shine in soft light: sunrise and late afternoon for texture on the stone, or at night for star shots. Weekdays are typically quieter than weekends. Summer afternoons are pleasant compared to the scorching valley; winter mornings can be downright cold.

Getting There & Road Conditions

Access is via Wildrose Canyon Road, with the last few miles unpaved. After storms the road can be rough or closed—check conditions before you go. In winter, snow and ice are possible at this elevation; high-clearance (and occasionally 4WD) is the safer bet when conditions are poor. It’s much cooler up here than on the valley floor, so layer up.

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 Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, 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.

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Recorded for this place

Historic Charcoal Kilns in the Panamint Mountains

Listen

“You're heading up into Wildrose Canyon, to a really unusual historic site, the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns.”

Plays as you drive up to Wildrose Charcoal Kilns in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.

More about Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

What You’ll SeeA tidy row of ten large, beehive kilns set in pinyon-juniper hills.

A tidy row of ten large, beehive kilns set in pinyon-juniper hills.
Interiors you can enter for a neat echo-chamber effect—great for photos and sound.
A short, easy stroll around the site; most people poke around for 15–30 minutes.

HistoryThese kilns were built during the 1877 mining push to convert local wood into charcoal for lead…

These kilns were built during the 1877 mining push to convert local wood into charcoal for lead and silver ore smelting 20–25 miles away. Each kiln was loaded with wood and slow-burned for days, then cooled before the charcoal was shipped off. Their brief working life and remote location are big reasons they’ve survived so well.

Photography TipsSide light brings out the masonry; aim for golden hour.

Side light brings out the masonry; aim for golden hour.
Night photography is excellent—bring a tripod and headlamp.
Step inside a kiln and shoot outward for a unique framed view.

WildlifeThe surrounding pinyon-juniper habitat can host birds and small mammals.

The surrounding pinyon-juniper habitat can host birds and small mammals. It’s not a wildlife hotspot, but keep your eyes open along the approach road and around the trees.

Amenities & NearbyThere’s parking right at the kilns and the Wildrose Peak trail starts just north of them.

There’s parking right at the kilns and the Wildrose Peak trail starts just north of them. Restrooms are available at the trailhead area. No water, food, gas, or store—come prepared. Camping and more hiking lie farther up the road.

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.