Last month, Dallas Mignano and a group of friends attempted our Echo-Titus Circuit bikepacking route through the equally harsh and stunning Death Valley in California. This 12-minute video offers an up-close look at the rugged route and the group’s experiences battling the elements and terrain…

Words and video by Dallas Mignano, photos by Garrett Montgomery

In January of 2025, we attempted BIKEPACKING.com’s Echo-Titus Circuit bikepacking route by Emily Bei Cheng. However, Titus Canyon was closed at the time due to recent storm damage. All of us were on hardtails and/or plus-sized tires. The lack of water and needing to carry (and ration) six liters had me constantly on edge.

  • Bikepacking Death Valley, Echo-Titus Circuit
  • Bikepacking Death Valley, Echo-Titus Circuit

When you go to Death Valley, be fully prepared—and then some. It was remote, expansive, and quite challenging. Even when we had a goal in mind for the day, it seemed to take much longer to get there. Our ride started in Furnace Creek, with us camping the first night in Echo Canyon and the second night in Beatty, Nevada. A couple of us decided to ride the highway’s gravel shoulder to bypass Tarantula Canyon, which was a good decision, because I ended up running out of water. The rest of the group went for it and made it through to meet up with us later that evening.

  • Bikepacking Death Valley, Echo-Titus Circuit
  • Bikepacking Death Valley, Echo-Titus Circuit
  • Bikepacking Death Valley, Echo-Titus Circuit

Seeing the wild burros roaming around Beatty became an unexpected highlight of the trip. We were so glad to have various bar and restaurant options, including an amazing BBQ place as well as a Denny’s that was inside the local casino. Happy Burro was also a nice spot to hang with a few drinks next to their unique outdoor fire pit. The ride from Beatty back to Furnace Creek had us go through the “ghost town” of Rhyolite, which had old ruins and art sculptures in the middle of the desert.

Bikepacking Death Valley, Echo-Titus Circuit
  • Bikepacking Death Valley, Echo-Titus Circuit
  • Bikepacking Death Valley, Echo-Titus Circuit

Ultimately, we survived. Watch the full video above to see GoPro footage from our adventure with some fun music and a bit of commentary mixed in along the way.

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