Parking
Wide, signed pullout on the east side of Racetrack Valley Road at the south end of the playa. Do not drive onto the playa. High-clearance vehicles with heavy-duty tires are strongly recommended; there are no services or cell coverage.
Overview
About Racetrack Playa
Racetrack Playa is an unmarked, flat out-and-back walk across the dry lakebed to the southeast corner, where the most visible sailing-stone tracks are found. The stored line represents the physical corridor from the south-end Racetrack Playa pullout to that viewing area once; the return follows the same open playa. There is no constructed path, and the exact wandering line can vary.
Why go
- Best access to the southeast Racetrack Playa area and its famous sailing-stone tracks
- Nearly level, open route with vast desert and mountain views
Heads up
- Long, rough access road with no services or cell coverage
- No shade, and the playa is off-limits when wet
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Death Valley map
Full mapElevation3,707–3,724 ft
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
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
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Death Valley Tour Guide
Your drive to Racetrack Playa, 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 tourRecorded for this area
Sailing Stones: How the Racetrack’s Rocks Really MoveListen
“For decades, the sailing stones of the Racetrack were a total mystery. People blamed everything from magnetic fields to elaborate pranks. The real answer is much simpler, and much rarer.”
Plays on the road 0.9 mi from the trailhead in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Grandstand on the Racetrack Playa
- 130 audio storiesacross Death Valley’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bighorn Sheep, Desert Tortoise, Coyote, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 36 trails, 114 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“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!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Racetrack Playa
The WalkPark at the wide pullout on the east side of Racetrack Valley Road at the south end of the…
Park at the wide pullout on the east side of Racetrack Valley Road at the south end of the playa, near the Racetrack Playa trailhead sign. Walk east across the dry surface toward the southeast corner, looking for rock trails and the broad views of the Cottonwood and Last Chance Ranges, then return to the pullout. The Grandstand is a separate short walk from the north end of the playa and is not part of this stored route.
Length, Difficulty, and TimeThe mapped corridor is about 0.67 mile one way; the visitor distance is about 1.
The mapped corridor is about 0.67 mile one way; the visitor distance is about 1.35 miles round trip. This is an easy, nearly level walk that typically takes about 1 hour, allowing time to look for tracks and explore carefully. The route is remote and fully exposed, so the access and environment are more serious than the walking terrain.
Access and ParkingThe Racetrack is reached by a long, rough dirt road from near Ubehebe Crater.
The Racetrack is reached by a long, rough dirt road from near Ubehebe Crater. Park at the signed south-end pullout on the east side of Racetrack Valley Road; do not drive onto the playa. High-clearance vehicles with heavy-duty tires are strongly recommended, and there are no services or cell coverage in the area.
Low-Impact EssentialsOnly walk on the playa when it is completely dry.
Only walk on the playa when it is completely dry. Wet mud is fragile and footprints can remain for years. Bring plenty of water, food, fuel, emergency supplies, and a spare tire; remain on designated roads and plan enough daylight for the long drive.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Death Valley
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.
