One of the most beautiful and isolated areas in Death Valley is the Racetrack, home to the "Sailing Stones".

If you ever get the opportunity to visit the Racetrack, by all means go! But first be prepared.
The road out to the Racetrack is a 26 mile dirt and gravel washboard road that can be quite rough. There are no services anywhere near and your cell phone won't help you out either.  Make sure that you have plenty of food and water for the day if you head out, including extra in case of car or tire problems!

The rocks on the Racetrack road are very sharp and have been known to cut right through standard tires. Driving slow and safe is necessary  to help your tires last you on your adventure. We've made four trips back to the Racetrack and it usually takes about an hour and half or so to get back, depending on how many stops you make along the way. Once you get about 20 miles in, you'll hit Teakettle Junction - worth a stop and a picture! The last six miles can be very rough, so  go slow and steady. Try to stay in the middle of the road if you can. If you are making the trip in your own vehicle, you may want to consider upgrading to 6 ply tires.  But most importantly, remember that speed will lead to flat tires. On our last trip we came across a person who had passed us on the road going at a high rate of speed. A few miles later we found him with two flat tires and no way out. Luckily for him, we had room in our Jeep for him and his luggage, but he had to leave his rental car by the side of the road and call to have it towed out - not cheap!  He would have needed two spare tires to be able to get out on his own.

On our last couple trips out to the Racetrack, we have rented Jeeps from Farabee's Jeep rental (http://www.farabeesjeeprentals.com/) right in Death Valley. They give you a solid ride, are well maintained, have thicker tread tires, and a satellite device for letting them know if there are any problems out on the road. Great peace of mind and well worth the money.

So if you head out on any of the back roads in Death Valley be prepared with water, food, and the right tires and vehicle to get you home.