Panamint Grade Bike Climb - PJAMM Cycling

4.6
FIETS
12.3 mi
DISTANCE
2,994 ft
GAINED
4.6 %
AVG. GRADE

FULL CLIMB STATS

INTRO

This 12.3 mile bike climb is located in CA, USA. The average gradient is 4.6% and there is a total elevation gain of 2,994 ft, finishing at 4,839 ft.

Use the profile tool, route map, and weather forecast to conquer this cycling climb.
A fairly steady gradient which starts out steeper than it ends. The climb is never more than 10%. The first few miles of climbing are at an average of just around 7%, but the last 4 miles all average under 3%. 
Roadway:
As most paved roads in Death Valley, the surface is pristine. 

Traffic:
Light

Parking:
You can park in the RV Campsite's daily parking across the street at the start of the climb, here
There's a gas station at the start of the climb with provisions and the Panamint Restaurant next to it.  Once you start climbing there's nothing for the duration of the climb. 
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.
There are really only a few places to stay in the Death Valley area. The two closest to this climb and Towne Pass are the resorts in Panamint Springs and Stovepipe Wells. When going to ride in Death Valley, we really like to stay in Furnace Creek at either The Ranch at Death Valley or The Inn at Death Valley, both incredible hotels that are close to Badwater, Dante's View, and the other most scenic parts of the park. 

There is also free dispersed camping almost anywhere in Death Valley, our next favorite option. Check out this NPS webpage for exact locations and more information. 

ROUTE MAP

MEMBER RATING

Difficulty: Moderate
4
Road
3
Traffic
3
Scenery

CURRENT WEATHER

PJAMM TRIPS ADVENTURE STARTER BUNDLES

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DISTANCE
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ELEV. GAIN
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ELEV. GAIN

NEARBY CLIMBS (0) RADIAL PROXIMITY

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MEMBER REVIEWS & COMMENTS

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Mar 24, 2023
lots of distracted drivers: bring flashy everything and keep right!!!
May 28, 2022
difficulty: Easy
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
May 28, 2022
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
Very nice climb in a remote part of the park. Definitely worth doing if you're nearby but probably not worth going out of the way for.
Apr 30, 2021
difficulty: Challenging
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
Apr 30, 2021
scenery: 3
traffic: 3
road: 4
This is a good test out of Panamint Valley. The road is busy depending on the time of the year. It can also be very windy here. This is one of the few places where I have had difficulty maintaining forward momentum going downhill! You can start in Panamint Springs (food and water) or park somewhere near the top and descend first).
ROUTE MAP
PROFILE TOOL
Route Data
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CLIMB SUMMARY

Cycling Panamint Grade - drone photo of father crowley overlook and colorful mountains

Cycling Panamint Grade (Panamint)

14.8 miles gaining 3,370’ at 4.3%

Photo:  Father Crowley Overlook (lower middle) + Panamint (upper middle).

Just another day in paradise!  Well, if you visit Death Valley between November and March that is.  

Panamint Grade is the first bike climb as you enter Death Valley National Park from the west.  This is our favorite entrance into Death Valley NP because it brings you in via Owens Valley, one of the top world cycling areas.  

While Panamint is only the ninth ranked bike climb in Death Valley, don’t be fooled.  This ranking is more a testament to the difficulty of this exceptional bike climbing area because Panamint is a hard bike climb!

Biking Panamint Grade - steep grade sign, road and mountains

This is a challenging bike climb.

Bike climb Panamint Grade - panamint resort sign with birds on it.

Climb begins in Panamint Springs.

The Panamint Grade climb is one of four bike climbs that begin within 10 miles of Panamint Springs (the others are Towne Pass West, Wildrose, and Emigrant Pass West).  There are rustic (read: basic) lodging and provisions at Panamint as well as one of the three gas stations located in Death Valley.

Bicycle ride Panamint Grade - aerial drone photo of road and colorful mountains

Panamint upper middle and right of photo.

Highway 190 leads towards Towne Pass just above Panamint.

Say hello to our leetle freend!  Coyote a mile up from Panamint.

The Panamint Grade climb is most interesting for its views back to Panamint Valley.  Much of the mountain varies in color with portions of very colorful reds contrasted with brown and tan.

Father Crowley Overlook at mile 10.2.

Father Crowley Overlook can be seen middle right of photo.

Colorful Panamint Mountains to the east as we climb west.

Climbing Panamint Grade by bike - bicycle leaning against red rock

Mineral rich soils make for vibrant colors in the mountains.

Panamint Grade - road and Towne Pass across valley

Panamint grade lower right, Towne pass middle photo. 

Climbing by bike Panamint Grade - bike with pjamm jacket leaning against 3000 foot sign

Less than a mile to go.

The PJAMM finish for this climb is at the Death Valley National Park sign, about 500 yards down from the high point of the ride.

Finish.

That’s a wrap!

THE BIKE CLIMBS OF DEATH VALLEY

(From west to east)

Cycling Death Valley - Map with all bike climbs in Death Valley

Diamonds designate Top 100 US bike climbs (red 51-75 / orange 76-100 rank).

 The climbs from Panamint (Death Valley’s western entrance) to Furnace Creek (eastern exit) are:

WHERE TO STAY IN DEATH VALLEY

We have entered Death Valley both from the west (via Lone Pine, Whitney Portal, and Horseshoe Meadows; 50 miles to Panamint Springs) and Las Vegas (Kyle Canyon and Lee Canyon; 140 miles to Furnace Creek).

There are three areas with hotels in Death Valley:

  • Panamint Springs:  This is the closest hotel to the western entrance to Death Valley, which is near the southern part of the top world bike climbing area of Owens Valley. Panamint Springs is the most rustic and least expensive accommodations in Death Valley.  We have stayed at the Panamint Springs “Resort” but do prefer Stovepipe Wells and The Ranch at Death Valley. Panamint has one restaurant, a sparse store, and a gas station.  

Sign at Panamint Springs Resort

The birds to the left are real.

  • Stovepipe Wells:  The Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel is our choice of places to stay in Death Valley for a couple of reasons.  First, it is less expensive than the two hotels in Furnace Creek, although a little more expensive than Panamint Springs.  Second, it is the hub for bike climbing in the valley.  All climbs are within a 25 mile straight line radius of Stovepipe (see map, below).

Entrance to Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel.

Cycling Death Valley - map with climbs in relation to Stovepipe Wells

Distance from Stovepipe Wells to all climbs.

  • The Ranch at Death Valley (Furnace Creek): If you don’t mind paying roughly $100 more for lodging and don’t mind driving a little further to your Death Valley bike climbs, this is a great place to stay.  The restaurant and store are better and the compound is very nice.  The Oasis at Death Valley is the most luxurious accommodations in Death Valley and if price is no object ($450-$500 a night), stay there.  The Oasis is just a mile from The Ranch at Death Valley (these two hotels are owned by the same company) and is the “Four Seasons” of Death Valley.  Of course, these accommodations come at a price, the Oasis is twice the cost of The Ranch and three to four times more than Panamint and Stovepipe.

Entrance to The Ranch at Death Valley.

The Ranch at Death Valley has by far the nicest store in Death Valley.

The only locations to get gas in Death Valley are at Panamint, Stovepipe and Furnace Creek -- but, buyer beware:

The math on that is $5.99 per gallon (2015 prices; 2019 were slightly less).

DEATH VALLEY WEATHER

National Park Service Death Valley Weather Chart.

As you may expect, Death Valley is dangerously hot during the day from June through September with average monthly highs during that time ranging from 106° to 116.5°.  Cycling is not recommended during the summer and certainly never without good SAG support.  The heat can be stifling (if not truly dangerous) and supplies are few and far between.  

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 (2013 in a tie with Mitribah, Kuwait in 2016 at 129.2℉/54.0℃).

July 2017 -- Badwater to Mt. Whitney Summit.

Cycling Death Valley - pjamm cycling ride bikes through death valley

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

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