Explore Historic Shoshone California Gateway To Death Valley

Shoshone, California, is a small desert town located near the southern entrance of Death Valley National Park. Situated along Highway 178, Shoshone was originally named Metberry Spring. In 1909, the city was renamed Shoshone and became a station stop on the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad. Today, for many travelers, Shoshone serves as a pit stop on their way to Death Valley. However, this little town has much to offer, and it is well worth exploring its attractions for an hour or two.

Shoshone Crowbar Cafe and Saloon

Crowbar Café & Saloon is the town’s central gathering place. This cozy diner offers a variety of delicious meals, and everything on the menu is worth trying! If you plan to spend some time in Death Valley National Park, this is your last chance to enjoy a great meal at a reasonable price. On weekends, the Crowbar is popular among bikers, California tourists, and day-trippers from Las Vegas. Once a year, the town hosts Old West Days, which features country music, period costumes, and plenty of delicious BBQs. You can purchase Crowbar Saloon T-shirts at the general store across the street—Crowbar website.

Shoshone Museum in Shoshone, California

The museum is next to the Crowbar Cafe, a building originally constructed in 1906 in Greenwater that was later moved to Shoshone in 1920. For history buffs, the Shoshone Museum is a must-see. The museum houses a vast collection of artifacts and photographs about the region’s past in a former gas station. One of the most exciting displays at the Shoshone Museum is the skeletal remains of a prehistoric Mammoth found in the nearby hills. Outside the museum is an impressive collection of mining artifacts—Museum website.

Charles Brown General Store

The Shoshone general store is where you can stock up on drinks, snacks, and just about any item you forgot when packing for your trip. Adjacent to the store is the Shoshone Post Office.  The PO has clean public restrooms. The general store also serves as a gas station if you want to top off your tank.

Rivian Adventure Network Charging Station

Shoshone is home to a Rivian Adventure Network site with DC fast chargers for electric vehicle users exploring the region. The Shoshone station has six DC fast chargers capable of delivering up to 300 kW capacity. Rivian Adventure Network is open to all-electric vehicles. Additionally, The Inn at Death Valley, located in the Oasis at Death Valley, has two EV chargers available.

Dublin Gulch Miners Caves

Just outside Shoshone, a short drive or walk from Highway 178, lies a ghost town. These cave dwellings were primarily excavated in the 1920s by miners seeking rent-free shelter to protect them from the desert’s extreme temperatures. The caves provided warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer, making them ideal for the harsh Mojave Desert climate. They were inhabited intermittently until the 1970s by various people, including some members of the Manson family, after they were expelled from Barker Ranch by Charles Manson.

Hiking and Exploring

Several hiking trails lead to the nearby Amargosa River, one of the few places where the river runs above ground. 4X4 enthusiasts can drive miles of trails and discover numerous abandoned mining camps.

Staying in Shoshone

The Shoshone Inn has 17 rooms, including some with kitchenettes, and a bungalow named “Whiffletree,” which features a full kitchen and living room. The inn also offers a naturally warm mineral spring-fed swimming pool and complimentary WiFi. Shoshone RV Park and Campground offer RV sites with full hookups and tent camping. All guests have access to a natural warm spring pool. Website https://www.shoshonevillage.com/death-valley-rv-parks-shoshone-rv-park/

Where is Shoshone, California

Shoshone, California, is a small, unincorporated community in Inyo County, near the southeastern entrance to Death Valley National Park. Shoshone is 80 miles from Las Vegas, fifty-three miles from Baker, California, and 230 miles from downtown Los Angeles at the junction of California State Routes 127 and 178.

Nearby Shoshone Points of Interest

China Ranch Date Farm

Tecopa Hot Springs

Death Valley National Park

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