Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007: Death Valley National Park bikepacking / Day 12: Bike ride from Tecopa Hot Springs to China Ranch date farm and bakery 23
A pleasant, hot day, with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees again. The short descent into the Amargosa River canyon is dramatic. Once at China Ranch, I eat some of their delicious date loaf and explore a couple of their hiking trails on a full tummy.
I go for a short hike down along the Amargosa River, where there's nobody around. The solitude and scenery are beautiful. I turn back earlier than I would like due to the heat of the day.
16-miles round-trip.
Late morning at my Tecopa Hot Springs camp site by the mesquite bush
An old car and trailer near my camp site at Tecopa Hot Springs Campground
An old bus converted to camper at Tecopa Hot Springs Campground
During my ride to China Ranch date farm, I stop at the public water tank behind Tecopa School to refill my my water bottles
I ride up the Old Spanish Trail Highway's gentle hill, which leads out of Tecopa toward the Kingston Range
I've read about the steep downhill on the China Ranch Road here, but I haven't seen it yet
I head downhill into the canyon toward the China Ranch date farm
Farther into the canyon on China Ranch Road
The China Ranch bakery and store at the end of China Ranch Road
The temperature exceeds 100 degrees F under the ramada outside the China Ranch store
I walk down the short creek trail behind the China Ranch bakery and store
A cabin along China Ranch Road near the store
Standing in front of their extensive date-palm orchard
I begin a long walk down the Amargosa River
An old truck near the Amargosa River
Walking along the Amargosa River trail
The trail on the east side of the Amargosa River heading south away from China Ranch
Over on the west side of the Amargosa River is the ruins of an old stone saloon from 100 years ago
Cold storage behind the old stone saloon
An old automobile carcass near the 100-year-old saloon ruins
It's fun to pull gently at knobs on the old car's dashboard to see if they budge
I walk back to the China Ranch store, rest briefly, drink two cans of cold Coca-cola, and begin the ride up out of the canyon
Near the crest of China Ranch Road, I chat with another bicyclist before heading down to Tecopa Hot Springs to end the day