Site Navigation Baja California California Colorado Idaho Hawaii Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington     California 190 California 190 is a major east-west route in central and eastern California. It is also a split route, divided by the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The western California 190 begins at Junction California 99/Golden State Freeway at Tipton and heads east into Giant Sequoia National Monument - South Unit, ending within the park. The eastern California 190 begins at its junction with U.S. 395 at Olancha and heads east into Death Valley National Park, providing the primary access into the park featuring the lowest points in the contiguous United States. California 190 ends at its junction with California 127 a few miles from the California-Nevada State Line. There were originally plans to route California 190 over the Sierra Nevada, but such a connection seems very unlikely to be constructed. California 190 East Eastbound California 190 approaching Junction Panamint Valley Road in Panamint Springs. Note the trailblazer sign to California 178, which begins at a point southwest of Trona. Photo taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190 after Panamint Valley Road in Panamint Springs. Note the mileages to Stovepipe Wells (next services) and Death Valley Junction/Junction California 127. This is the main route into Death Valley National Park from the west. Photo taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190 approaching Towne Pass (elevation 4,956 feet), which separates Panamint Valley from Death Valley. Photos taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190 mileage sign at the top of Towne Pass. Photo taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190 at the Wildrose Road/Emigrant Canyon cutoff, nine miles west of Stovepipe Wells. Photo taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190/Scenic Route reassurance shield after the Wildrose Road/Emigrant Canyon cutoff. Photo taken 01/19/02. Elevation Sea Level signage along eastbound California 190 in Death Valley National Park. Photo taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190 shield. Photo taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190 approaching Scottys Castle, a large estate constructed in the middle of the desert that is now part of Death Valley National Park. Note the use of the kilometers for distance in the last picture in this series. Unfortunately, we have not yet taken pictures of Scottys Castle, but we'll hopefully get those soon! Photos taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190 mileage sign as it approaches the eastern boundary of Death Valley National Park. Several of the original, button-copy, non-reflective signs had been replaced with reflective signs such as this one. Photo taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190 approaching its end at Junction California 127 (Death Valley Junction). Photo taken 01/19/02. Eastbound California 190 approaching Junction California 127, which leads north to Lathrop Wells and south to Shoshone. Neither town has a large population, which makes for two interesting control points for this sign. Photo taken 01/19/02. End Eastbound California 190 shield at Death Valley Junction/Junction California 127. Photo taken 01/19/02. California 190 milepost along eastbound at the junction with California 127. Photo taken 01/19/02. End eastbound California 190 at Junction California 127. Photo taken 01/19/02. California 190 West Westbound California 190 mileage sign after California 127. Note the close-up of the button copy U.S. 395 shield, which is increasingly rare as signs are changed to reflective standards. Photos taken 01/19/02. Westbound California 190 at the cutoff to Badwater and Devils Golf Course. Although not signed, this road connects to California 178. Photo taken 01/19/02. Westbound California 190 approaching Furnace Creek, a visitors center located within Death Valley National Park. All services are available here. Photo taken 01/19/02. Westbound California 190 at Stovepipe Wells, the first services since Furnace Creek. Unlike many other national parks in the United States, the primary route remains signed as a state route throughout Death Valley National Park. Compare this to the numerical routes entering Yellowstone National Park or Yosemite National Park, which are not signed. Photo taken 01/19/02. Westbound California 190 mileage sign at Wildrose Road/Emigrant Canyon Cutoff. Photo taken 01/19/02. Westbound California 190 mileage sign after Panamint Valley Road. Photo taken 01/19/02. Death Valley National Park: Dante's View Road from California 190 to Dante's View, so named after the classic Dante's Inferno. This is the final ascent to the vista point. Photo taken 01/19/02. View of Death Valley and the wide swath of the Amargosa River as seen from Dantes View (a vista point over Death Valley located in the Amargosa Range). Dantes View may be reached from a turnoff from California 190 along Furnace Creek Road. Photos taken 01/19/02. Signage for Dantes View, elevation 5,475 feet above sea level. The valley floor is 282 feet below sea level at its lowest. Badwater, the lowest point in the United States, is featured on the California 178 page, and it is not visible from Dantes View. Photo taken 01/19/02. This picture shows Dantes View as seen from a nearby outcropping, with Death Valley visible below. Photo taken 01/19/02. Other California 190 Pictures Signage for destinations along California 190 at the northern terminus of Panamint Valley Road. Photo taken 01/19/02. Page Updated March 12, 2004.