United StatesCalifornia Towne Pass North
Towne Pass North Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

26.9
PDI
16.9 mi
DISTANCE
4,968 ft
GAINED
5.6 %
AVG. GRADE
FULL CLIMB STATS
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INTRO

Towne Pass North climbs Highway 190 from Stovepipe Wells at sea level to the summit of Towne Pass, 16.9 miles (27.2 km) and 4,968 ft (1,514 m) of gain at a 5.6% average grade. It is one of the long, classic climbs of Death Valley National Park, and it ranks #467 in the world in our database.

The first several miles seem almost flat in a stark, arid desert setting, and you should be prepared to ride into a significant headwind for most of the climb. The road then turns into the Panamint Range, and between roughly miles 9 and 14 (km 15 and 22) most kilometers run 7-9% before the grade eases toward the top. There are almost no trees and no shade, and the lines of sight are long and open. At mile 9.3 (14.9 km) you pass the Emigrant Campground, where Emigrant Canyon Road turns off to Emigrant Pass East.

Heat is the real challenge here. Average highs from May to September run 106 to 116 degrees F (41 to 47 C), and July averages about 116. We have a lot of history with this climb: it has been part of our Death Valley trips and our Badwater to Mount Whitney rides, including our July 2016 Badwater to Whitney ride, which started in 116 degree heat. Ride it in the cooler months.

PLAN YOUR ROUTE

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This is more grind it out than up in the saddle double digit grade. The average grade on the climb is 5.6%, gaining 4,968 ft (1,514 m) over 16.9 miles (27.2 km) with negligible descent. 36% (6.1 miles / 9.8 km) is at 0-5% grade, 52% (10.5 miles / 16.9 km) is at 5-10%, and 1.2% (0.2 miles / 0.3 km) is at 10-15%.

The first 2.5 miles (4 km) are nearly flat, gaining under 250 ft (75 m). The hardest going comes between roughly miles 9 and 14 (km 15 and 22), where most kilometers run 7-9%, before the road eases over the final 3 miles (5 km).

The steepest 100 yards (91 m) average 10.9%, the steepest quarter-mile (0.4 km) 9.6%, the steepest half-mile (0.8 km) 9.3%, the steepest mile (1.6 km) 9.0%, the steepest 2.5 miles (4.0 km) 8.4% and the steepest 5 miles (8.0 km) 7.8%. In metric terms, the steepest 500 m averages 9.4%, the steepest kilometer 9.3%, the steepest 2 km 8.9%, the steepest 5 km 8.2% and the steepest 10 km 7.5%.
Roadway: Highway 190 is two lanes in excellent condition with little to no shoulder, but with line of sight for miles throughout most of the climb. Death Valley's roads take repeated flash-flood damage, so check the National Park Service road conditions page before you ride.

Traffic: Mild but moving at 55-60 mph. However, it is impossible for an attentive driver to miss you on this roadway - there are no visual obstructions.

Parking: At Stovepipe Wells at the start of the climb - Map;  Street View. Park entry is $15 per person on a bicycle, valid for seven days, and the park takes cards only, not cash.
Provisions: There are no provisions on this ride, so be absolutely certain to bring enough water and food. Stovepipe Wells Village at the start has a general store, a restaurant and a fueling station, so stock up before you go.

Weather: It is torturously hot in Death Valley during the hot season, with average highs between 106 and 116 degrees F (41 to 47 C) from May to September. Consult the PJAMM "Full Forecast" feature for temperatures at the start and finish of your climb to be well prepared for the ride.
Before heading out on any cycling adventure check out our Things to Bring on a Cycling Trip and use our interactive check list to ensure you don't forget anything.
We have always stayed in Stovepipe Wells at the Stovepipe Hotel and Restaurant  when doing bike climbs on the western side of Death Valley. We enjoy staying there because Stovepipe Wells Village has a general store, a fueling station, a pool, air conditioned rooms, a restaurant and the Badwater Saloon, so everything is within a short walk of the start.

Once we did Towne Pass North and Towne Pass West on the same day, which is a challenge but manageable - 52 miles (83.7 km) gaining 8,350 ft (2,545 m) (Map).

See our Death Valley National Park page for more details about all the bike climbs and lodging in Death Valley.

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Strenuous
5/5
Road
3/5
Traffic
3/5
Scenery

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MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

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Mar 24, 2023
March 20, 2023, snowing at the summit
Mar 24, 2023
There is plenty of potable water at the Emigrant Campground at about mile 9. One faucet is by the toilets, one is by the campground.
Apr 30, 2021
difficulty: Strenuous
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 5
Apr 30, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 5
This is a difficult climb as it just seems to go on forever. The lower part is more undulating, so it alternates between flatter and steeper ramps. Above 3,000 feet is where the grind really starts. Wind and heat can make it even more difficult. I did the climb once with a strong headwind that made forward progress difficult in places. On the descent it was difficult to stay UNDER 60 mph. Load up on water and supplies in Stovepipe Wells (hint: fill your bottles with ice if it's hot).
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Towne Pass, Death Valley - cyclists with bikes at Death Valley National Park Sign 

Cycling Towne Pass East

Start the climb in Stovepipe Wells, California.

Visit our Death Valley National Park page for more rides in the area.

We have a lot of history with this iconic unique bike climb. Ride 16.9 miles gaining 4,979’ to elevation 4,962’ at 5.6% into a powerful wind.

   

Climbing by bike Towne Pass, Death Valley - elevation 0 sign with cyclist next to it

Stovepipe Wells.

Elevation =  .

   

PJAMM Cycling riding to Whitney Portal from Badwater, 116° at the start.

Here we are at the start of Towne Pass at 11pm, and still 105°.

Then - hike eight miles to the highest point in the Continental US.

Towne Pass East begins a mile west of  Stovepipe Wells, CA and is the highest ranked climb in Death Valley, at #50 on the Top 100 cycling climbs list.  We begin this climb in the heart of Death Valley at sea level and ride into what will likely be a powerful headwind.

The first several miles of this bicycle climb seem almost flat and we are definitely in an arid, desert-like setting. It is Death Valley, afterall.

Climb Towne Pass, Death Valley by bike - cyclist on bike on Hwy 190 passing 1000' elevation sign

Bicycle ride Towne Pass, Death Valley - bike leaning against Hwy 190 sign near road

Ride on Highway 190 for the first 9.3 miles -- share this segment with Emigrant Pass East.

All Death Valley climbs have rollers, to varying degrees.

Stovepipe Wells is center right in photo (view east 4.6 miles from start).

Aerial photo looking east towards Stovepipe, six miles down the road.

Stovepipe to the right around the redish bluff point in upper middle third of photo.

Ground view looking back down the mountain at mile six.

Pass Emigrant Campground at mile 9.3 (turn left here for the Emigrant Pass East climb).  To this point we have travelled (9.3 miles at 4.5% average grade gaining 2,187’.

Emigrant Campground -- turn left off Highway 190 onto Emigrant Canyon Road here.

We begin to climb into more mountainous, yet stark, landscape around miles seven and eight.

Great descent, tough climb!

As of October 2014, there was water at the nine mile point at Emigrant Campground. There is very little vegetation along this climb, and no trees. As with most of the Death Valley climbs, the views are very stark and high desert-like. This climb is one of the less scenic of the five Top 100 climbs located in Death Valley, but certainly a cycling challenge and can be done in conjunction with #90 Towne Pass West (an over-and-backer) or unranked Emigrant Pass East (visit the Death Valley main page for more information on that climb).

Towne Pass (previously called  Townsend Pass  in the distant past) is named after a man named Townsend who saved emigrants stranded in Death Valley in the mid 19th century.  

IMG_2393.JPG

#9 climb on of our 2014 Death Valley climb trip.

 

John at the top of Towne Pass during Badwater to Whitney ride in 2017.

That’s a wrap!

DEATH VALLEY WEATHER

National Park Service Death Valley Weather Chart.

Warning: Do NOT attempt these climbs in the summer, when the average​ high temperatures range from 106°-116° between May and September.

Average high temperature in July is 116°F/46.6°C.

The hottest temperature ever recorded on earth was in Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913 (134℉/56.7℃) and, while that record has been challenged, the “alternate” record is also held by Death Valley in 2013, when it was 129.2℉/54.0℃ (in a tie with Mitribah, Kuwait which recorded that same temperature in 2016).

July 2017 -- Badwater to Mt. Whitney Summit.

116° is the average high temperature in July!

Cycling Death Valley - pjamm cycling ride bikes through death valley

OK!  I didn’t take my own advice in July, 2017.  😨

Traffic and Roadway Surface Report:  As of October 2019, the roadway surface was excellent throughout this ride, but there is minimal to no shoulder and traffic can zoom by at highway speeds.