Goler Wash, Mengel Pass

See Charles Manson Hideout and cross into Butte Valley.

This trail is a real backcountry adventure; you never know what to expect (see rating below). Features along the route include Newman Cabin, Lotus Mine, Manson Hideout and Mengel’s grave. End of trail reaches Butte Valley, where you can explore a network of roads that lead to three amazing cabins, shown in Trail #47. Street-legal vehicles only in Death Valley N. Park. Park pass required.

There’s one rocky section descending the north side of Mengel Pass that will always be difficult for stock vehicles. The balance of the trail ranges between easy to impassable, depending upon recency of maintenance. We drove through while the trail was being graded. The graded portion was very easy, but the ungraded portion was extremely difficult due to major washouts (see photo above).