Darwin, CA - Death Valley

Introduction:

What? :

Darwin, CA is a remote unincorporated mining community in Inyo County California, partly still settled partly turned into a ghost town, located west of Death Valley National Park.

As of the 2020 census its population was just 36 residents.

An interesting place to visit if you are history buffs, photographers, and curious travelers seeking solitude and looking for an off-grid experience where time feels suspended.

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Where? : 

When driving highway 190 west of Death Valley National Park you will see a clear road turnout to Darwin.

From here it will be a 5.7 miles drive through the desert with many Joshua Trees and you will reach Darwin old town.

The road is paved and in good condition all the way to the town.

Google Map Link

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When? :

The road access is open year-round.

Summer months are VERY hot and winter may introduce cold weather and even light snow.

Due note 1: 

No gas, lodging or any visitor service, true desert isolation experience.

Not sure if it has any cellular service coverage.

My thoughts:

If you like to visit such places this is a less than an hour extension to your trip in the area.

I was really surprised to see the new big marble statues here.

The visit:

Founded in 1874 following silver and lead discoveries, Darwin quickly grew into a population peak of 3,500 by 1877.

In 1926, the opening of the Eichbaum Toll Road elevated Darwin as the "gateway to Death Valley" but in 1937 a new highway bypassed the town and left it far from any main road.

A revival occurred in the early- mid 20th century and Darwin became California's leading lead producer, supplying about two-thirds of the state’s lead into the 1970s. You can still see the large mining facilities and housing before the town on your left.

Today it does not look like there is an active mining operation and you can find a few residents remaining, including artists and others living off-grid.

Driving in the 2 road town you can find decaying homes, rusted mining machinery and cars but surprisingly also big new rock art statues in several locations.

I decided to drive here and see the old town, this was less than a 40 minutes visit, driving up the road from highway 190. Small town with few residence, some community buildings and some art statues, nothing more.

Additional Pictures: