Death Valley National Park - Ashford Mill Ruins

To access the ruins of Ashford Mill, drive 43.6 miles south on Badwater Road from its intersection with California 190 in Furnace Creek. Turn west onto a signed gravel road and drive ¼ mile to the end. The ruins of a 1914 gold processing mill are visible from the parking area or you can walk down to them. The elevation here is approximately 100 feet below sea level. There is no shade other than that created by the office building ruins. Other than a single interpretive sign and the southernmost restroom in Death Valley National Park, a vault toilet, there isn't anything else here other than a few concrete foundations. During our February 2015 visit to the park, we stopped at Ashford Mill because a ranger mentioned there were wildflowers blooming in the area.

Remains of the office building

Panamint Range

A concrete foundation

Another view of the office building and the Black Mountains

The mill ruins

Desert Sand-verbena (Abronia villosa)

Desert Gold (Geraea canescens)

Another view of the mill ruins

More Desert Gold

Desert Gold and Creosote bushes (Larrea tridentata) fill a wash beside the ruins

An unnamed hill on the Ashford Canyon alluvial fan (elev 60')

Ashford Peak (3547' 3.5 miles)

An entrance fee of $20 admits all the passengers of a single vehicle for seven days. Other options include an annual Death Valley National Park Pass for $40, an Interagency Annual Pass providing access to most national park, national forest and BLM fee areas for $80 and a lifetime Interagency Senior Pass for those age 62 and older for $10.

The park website is http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm.