Home / Mojave Preserve and Desert bikepacking trips / 2007: Death Valley National Park bikepacking / Day 1: Baker to Tecopa Hot Springs, California, mostly on Highway 127 57
I ride from Baker to Tecopa Hot Springs on Highway 127, then along the Old Spanish Trail Highway via the town of Tecopa.
The ride begins at about 925 feet elevation in Baker, drops to about 450 feet along Highway 127 near Dumont Dunes, rises to about 2100 feet at Ibex Pass, then drops back down to 1400 feet in the Tecopa Basin.
55.5 paved highway bicycling miles.
Up bright and early, I go for a walk up the road to the Bun Boy restaurant for breakfast
Close-up of the plywood sidewalk on the Baker Bridge
Trees with pink blossoms in the wash under the bridge
Baker Market, the town's only mom-and-pop store, carries a small vegetable selection and even propane bottles
Baker's "world's tallest thermometer" registers a comfortable 61 degrees Fahrenheit this morning
Baker's lone four-way intersection has a four-way stop, which is great when you want to cross the road
The el-cheapo Royal Hawaiian Motel is overpriced for what it is, but the tackiness of the place has its own special character
A flock of birds congregates in the Royal Hawaiian's parking lot
Back at the motel from breakfast, the bike is packed up and ready to leave Baker
On the way out of Baker on Highway 127
Highway 127 isn't all that busy, but it does have a lot of big rigs driving it
Out on the open road outside of Baker on Highway 127
Highway 127 is rather empty once out of Baker
Oh look, an oncoming car on Highway 127!
I stop for a quick break across from the road that crosses Silver Dry Lake (very dry right now)
Sucking back my first lukewarm water of the trip
Back on Highway 127, the heat haze makes it look like there are perhaps small lakes in the distance
I stop at the power lines that cross Highway 127 ten miles out from Baker and am surprised that my cell phone still works
Ooo, a curve on Highway 127 coming up
One of many campers passes me on Highway 127
A nice little hump in the highway adds extra texture to the moment
Another curve in Hwy 127
The exit to the Salt Creek Hills ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern)
I pull into the Salt Creek Hills ACEC to see what's there
I park my bike, unlocked (there's nobody around), next to the outhouse, and go for a short hike toward Salt Creek
Information panel at Salt Creek Hills ACEC
The path leading toward Salt Creek from the empty parking lot
Salt Creek is indeed wet enough to sustain a marshy area
I climb up one of the rocky hills on the way back to the Salt Creek Hills parking lot
These hills seem to have more rock than soil
Looking back toward the outhouse from the rocky hill
Back in the parking lot and ready to leave Salt Creek Hills
Back on Highway 127, the road begins its crossing of the valley near Dumont Dunes
Just before crossing the valley, I stop to ponder Saratoga Springs Road
"Shoe tree" on Highway 127 across from Saratoga Springs Road
At the bottom of the valley, I pass the Dumont Dunes parking lot, which is quiet today
After crossing the valley, the climb up Highway 127 over Ibex Pass begins
For inspiration, I look down across the valley I just crossed on the way up to Ibex Pass on Highway 127
On the way up the hill is the dirt road to the old Ibex Springs mining area
Getting close to the summit at Ibex Pass. Where is it?!?!
Ah, finally at Ibex Pass!
A quick break at the Saddle Peak Hills Wilderness area adjacent to Ibex Pass
The nice scenery induces a pensive moment
Salt excretions on my skin too, not just on my helmet straps!
The road to Giant Mine, in the Ibex Hills Wilderness area, off Hwy 127 on the descent into the Tecopa Basin
Highway 127 gets ready to drop down into the Tecopa Basin from the Ibex Pass summit
A couple of big rigs pass me as we all descend Highway 127 into the Tecopa Basin together
The enjoyable descent into Tecopa Basin on Highway 127 comes to an end
Close-up of erosion along Highway 127 near Old Spanish Trail Highway
Tecopa Hot Springs just a few miles away!
Tecopa off in the distance
Eroded formations along Old Spanish Trail Highway
Old Spanish Trail Highway cuts through the earth
We pass through the village of Tecopa before heading on to Tecopa Hot Springs
Entering Tecopa Hot Springs after riding over the hill from Tecopa
I'm checked in and my tent is set up at Tecopa Hot Springs Campground
A gentle reminder not to drink the water at Tecopa Hot Springs campground