I have been wanting to check this area out for some time and finally did.
Here are some warnings: bring extra gas, just in case. Bring a lot of water, just in case. Bring extra oil, a tent, food, fix a flat, a spare tire, just in case.
Things can get bad down here quick if you are not prepared, this is not an easy drive.
First off, you drive from Trona to Ballarat, which is about 30 miles. You go down Ballarat Road (3 miles) and then take a right on Wingate road (you stop getting cell service outside of Trona, so this is mile 33-35 without any service) and follow it forever. You follow the mountain range past many roads, past the giant Briggs mine, and after around 18 miles of fast pace mixed with VERY slow pace driving you reach the last canyon in - this is Coyote Canyon Road.
Head up a very rocky, very bumpy road over the washout area. These rocks are large and SHARP. Be careful not to blow a tire. Take is slow and easy. This road takes you to the mouth of the canyon.
Once you head in, the first obstacle is the dreaded waterfall. Sometimes getting up and over is easy, sometimes it is tedious and puts stress on your vehicle. So, take it easy. When we did the waterfall it triggered our "hot oil" light on the Jeep. Scary since is a 20 mile walk back to Ballarat, 50 to a phone.
The rest of the way is a mix of easy driving, with some large rocks, some semi-hard obstacles and SLOW driving. Expect to be on this 4 mile road for over an hour.
Once you see the "Barker Ranch 1 mile" sign, take the right fork (stay right the whole drive) and this will take you out of the canyon and through Goler Wash Road. If you take the left fork you will be taken to a hill with a steep downwards grade on the otherside. This takes you to Mengel pass, which is not easy. In fact a few miles out (Anvil Spring) is where a German family got their truck stuck, got lost and DIED. They were not found until many years later- dead.
If there are others here, be careful. Sometimes people are shooting. Don't get shot. Don't wander past the Myers Ranch Private sign. They don't like visitors.
Just respect all of the land, the buildings, and anything else here.
This place is secluded, but immensely beautiful. It's a shame that when the DVNP put on the new roof on Barker's, someone torched it. The same fate that happened to the Novak - Wicht camp in a nearby canyon. For what its worth, I feel they are related.
Just take care of this delicate land when you are there. Yes, there is negative history but remember that there is a lot of good history at this camp. read more