Barker Ranch
Infamous as the final hideout of the Manson Family, Barker Ranch was built in the 1930s as a quiet ranching retreat
Plan Around Barker Ranch
A good stop is not just something to read about. Once it belongs on the day, move into a saved trip and build the route around it.
Use this detail page to confirm that the stop is worth it, then carry that decision into a trip draft while the park context is still fresh.
Barker Ranch Details
Infamous as the final hideout of the Manson Family, Barker Ranch was built in the 1930s as a quiet ranching retreat and included a stone cabin, a guest house, a spring for drinking water and a small swimming pool, and a windmill for electricity. It sits on the western edge of what is now Death Valley National Park. A police raid in 1969 resulted in the arrest of Charles Manson (found hiding under a bathroom vanity) and several followers who were later convicted of the brutal Tate-Labianca murders in Los Angeles. In 2009 a fire destroyed most of the main Barker Ranch building, leaving only concrete and stone remnants. Reaching Barker Ranch is only possible with a long drive over rough roads through the Panamint Valley and into the Panamint Mountains.
Difficulty
Low
Distance
N/A
Estimated time
N/A
Region
N/A
Nearby Parks Around Barker Ranch
Compare nearby parks around Barker Ranch when deciding whether to expand the route after this stop.
Nearby Points of Interest Around Barker Ranch
Use nearby POIs to quickly expand your options beyond Barker Ranch while the map context is still fresh.
6.2 mi away
Striped Butte
Striped Butte is located in the remote Butte Valley in the southwest corner of the park.
11.5 mi away
Warm Springs Camp
Warm Springs Camp was a tidy and organized mining camp built by a woman, Louise Grantham.
15.0 mi away
Ballarat Ghost Town
One of the first mining towns of the Death Valley gold rush, Ballarat was established in 1897.
16.2 mi away
Hungry Bill's Ranch Trail
The site of the historic, 1870s Hungry Bill's Ranch is a destination for both backpackers and off-road drivers.
17.6 mi away
Shoreline Butte
Shoreline Butte was once an island in the vast, deep glacial lake that filled Death Valley after the last ice age.
