Mengel Pass

Mengel Pass in Death Valley National Park, California is one of the mountain passes that exist in the park. To see the pass visitors will need to use Mengel Pass Trail. The trail allows visitors to walk along the Panamint Range through rugged and sometimes barren areas. Mengel Pass is in the western section of the national park.

The trail begins at Ballarat near a general store. The store has some hiking supplies, but no gas. As visitors hike the trail they will be turning south up Wingate Road, hugging the western face of Panamint Range. In this section there is a sage covered valley floor. At first the road will be smooth and graded since trucks have to get up to Briggs Open Cut Mine.

However, as the trail continues towards the top of Mengel Pass the road becomes extremely dusty and less refined. Wash- boarding occurs as a result of rainwater. For those who want to drive a high clearance four wheel vehicle is needed. Some of the rocks can be more than 6 inches closer to Mengel Pass. Mengel Pass was the only way to get from one side of the range and the other in earlier times.