California 127 starts its northerly journey in Baker, home of the tall thermometer and Bun Boy water. It immediately leaves the bustle of Interstate 15 in search of desert solitude of Death Valley. Although it does not enter Death Valley itself, California 127 connects with California 178 at Shoshone and California 190 at Death Valley Junction. From there, California 127 quickly leaves the state, changing into Nevada 373 on its way north to Amargosa Valley in Nevada and a junction with U.S. 95.
| California 127 north |
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After the U.S. 91-466 intersection in Baker, a mileage sign along northbound California 127 provides the distance to Shoshone (56 miles) and Death Valley (113 miles). Photo taken 11/11/08. |
| California 127 north and California 178 west |
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California 127 north and California 178 west enter the unincorporated community of Shoshone. Note the absence of a California 178 shield on this assembly. Photo taken 05/02/02. |
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Leaving Shoshone, California 127 and California 178 continue north toward Death Valley Junction. Limited services are available north of Shoshone on California 127 and Nevada 373. Photo taken 05/02/02. |
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A mileage sign is posted shortly thereafter along California 127 north and California 178 west for Death Valley Junction (intersection with California 190) and Lathrop Wells. Photo taken 05/02/02. |
| California 127 north |
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After splitting from California 178, this mileage sign provides the distance to Death Valley Junction (California 190, 25 miles), the Nevada State Line (32 miles), and Amargosa Valley (formerly Lathrop Wells at U.S. 95, 53 miles). Photo taken by Martin Grahl, 01/15/12. |
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Northbound California 127 approaches the junction with California 190 west to Death Valley. This brown sign is used because the primary destination of westbound California 190 is Death Valley National Park. The state shield should be green, of course, but it is brown on this button copy sign. Photos taken 11/11/08 and 01/20/02. |
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California 127 passes through its junction with California 190 in Death Valley Junction. California 127 proceeds north to Amargosa Valley (Lathrop Wells) in Nevada. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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This mileage sign is posted along northbound California 127 after the California 190 junction. The sign was completely replaced between 2002 and 2008. Note the wide font used on the California 127 shield as well as the button copy format of the U.S. 95 shield. Photos taken 11/11/08 and 01/20/02. |
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A bit further north, California 127 ends at the California-Nevada State Line. Nevada 373 proceeds from this point north toward an intersection with U.S. 95. Photos taken 11/11/08 and 01/20/02. |
| California 127 south |
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Leaving the Silver State of Nevada and entering the Golden State of California, Nevada 373 transitions directly onto California 127 south. A Welcome to California sign is flanked by the Nevada 373 0.00 mile reference marker. California 127 travels south from the state line to Baker. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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The welcome sign for California usually features the California poppy, but sometimes it will simply say "Welcome to California" in text (see U.S. 95 south. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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Ideally, a California 127 postmile would be posted next to the Nevada 373 zero mile reference marker. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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After Nevada 373 ends, this is the first reassurance shield for California 127 south (after the state line). California 127 will travel south toward the community of Shoshone. Photos taken 11/11/08 and 01/20/02. |
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This view looks south on California 127 after the Nevada-California state line. The two-lane highway passes through remote sections of the Mojave Desert en route to Shoshone and Baker. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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The next major intersection along California 127 south is with California 190 at Death Valley Junction. Some services are available here, but most services are found in Shoshone south of here. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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To Death Valley National Park, follow California 190 west. This sign is a bit unusual since it shows the California 190 route marker with a brown color that matches the back of the brown recreation sign. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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A California 127 south reassurance shield is posted after the California 190 intersection. Ahead is Death Valley Junction, a small unincorporated community. Photos taken 11/11/08 and 01/20/02. |
 | Southbound California 127 approaches an intersection with State Line Road, which travels east to Ash Meadows, Nevada. Upon entering Nevada, State Line Road links to Ash Meadows Road and Bell Vista Road en route to Pahrump, Nevada. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
 | California 127 passes through Death Valley Junction (el. 2,040 feet) and makes a sharp turn to the west. The Amargosa Opera House is located here. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
 | Leaving Death Valley Junction, this mileage sign provides the distance to Shoshone (27 miles) and Baker (83 miles). Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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 | This series of photos follows California 127 as it travels southeast, bypassing Eagle Mountain (el. 3,806 feet) and then turning south parallel to the often-dry Amargosa River. California 127 skirts the west edge of the Resting Spring Range and the east edge of Brown Mountain Peak. As the highway progresses through the valley between these mountain ranges, California 127 sees several low spots that might flood during summer monsoonal rains. Some white flood gauge signs are posted along some of these low washes. If there is moving water, it' best not to attempt to cross. Photos taken 11/11/08. |
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 | This mileage sign provides the distance to California 178 west to Death Valley (southeastern entrance), 9 miles; California 178 east and Shoshone, ten miles; and Interstate 15 in Baker, 66 miles. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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 | California 127 continues through the arid Amargosa River valley, seeing more rolling hills at points where the highway deviates from the river. Photos taken 11/11/08. |
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Southbound California 127 approaches the intersection with California 178 west to Death Valley National Park. California 178 eastbound merges onto southbound California 127. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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A mileage sign provides the distance to Badwater in Death Valley National Park. California 178 travels west to the boundary with the former Death Valley National Monument, which is the point where maintenance is taken over by the National Park Service. Becoming Jubilee Pass Road and Badwater Road, the highway crosses Jubilee Pass (el. 1,290 feet) through the Black Mountains, then descends into Death Valley. The highway turns north to Badwater, which is the lowest point in the United States (el. 282 feet below sea level). Badwater Road meets California 190 near Furnace Creek, which is the next location with motorist services. Photos taken 11/11/08 and by Martin Grahl 01/15/12. |
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A postmile for California 127 is posted just prior to the California 178 west turnoff. Photo taken by Martin Grahl 01/15/12. |
| California 127 south and California 178 east |
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This mileage sign along California 127 south and California 178 east is posted after the junction with California 178 west. The reassurance shields changed position between 2002 and 2008, but the mileage sign remained the same (still button copy). Photos taken 11/11/08 and 01/20/02. |
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Only a half-mile or so south of the mileage sign, the routes divide. California 127 will continue south into the Mojave Desert en route to Interstate 15 and Baker, while California 178 will turn east to Pahrump and Las Vegas. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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California 127 and California 178 enter the unincorporated community of Shoshone (population 52 as of the 2000 Census and elevation 1,572 feet). Located on the Tonopah & Tidewater Railroad, Shoshone is known for being the only services for a long stretch of California 127, and it is the last services for visitors entering Death Valley National Park until reaching Furnace Creek near the center of the park. The community was founded in 1910 by Ralph Jacobus "Dad" Fairbanks.1 Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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These are the final motorist services until reaching Baker off Interstate 15. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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California 127 and California 178 split just south of Shoshone. California 178 travels northeast through the Chicago Valley toward the California-Nevada state line. Upon crossing into Nevada, California 127 changes into Nevada 372, which travels a bit further east before culminating at Nevada 160 in Pahrump. This is part of the fastest route from Death Valley to Las Vegas. Nevada 160 continues east from Pahrump into the Las Vegas Valley by skirting the south side of Mount Charleston and Red Rock. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
| California 127 south |
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Another mileage sign is posted along California 127 south, providing the distance to Baker (56 miles). Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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This series of photos follows California 127 south between Shoshone and the turnoff to Tecopa. Most of this land is operated by the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Photos taken 11/11/08. |
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Southbound California 127 meets Furnace Creek Wash Road southeast to Tecopa Hot Springs County Park and the settlement of Tecopa. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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A mileage sign provides the distance to Tecopa Hot Springs County Park (three miles) and Tecopa (five miles). Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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A California 127 south reassurance shield is posted after Furnace Creek Wash Road. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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Southbound California 127 leaves Shoshone and continues south through the desolate Mojave Desert. Shoshone hosts the only motorist services along California 127 or California 178 for miles around. Photo taken 05/02/02. |
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A few miles south of there, California 127 approaches Old Spanish Trail east to Tecopa (four miles) and Tecopa Hot Springs County Park (six miles). Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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Some distance further south, California 127 approaches and crosses the Inyo-San Bernardino County Line at Ibex Pass (el. 2,090 feet). Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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After the Inyo-San Bernardino county line, California 127 loses elevation as it proceeds into the very southern end of Death Valley. The Amargosa River, which has paralleled California 127 since the Nevada state line, bypasses Ibex Pass by traveling to the east of Sperry Hills via Tecopa and Amargosa Canyon. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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This series of photos follows California 127 south from Ibex Pass to the floor of Death Valley. Upon meeting the Amargosa River at the floor of the valley, California 127 will again gain elevation into the Salt Spring Hills. Photos taken 11/11/08. |
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California 127 ascends the Salt Spring Hills; a turnoff leads to the Salt Creek Hills Area of Environmental Concern (ACEC). Photos taken 11/11/08. |
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Continuing south through the Mojave Desert, California 127 enters the Silurian Valley. The state route will stay within this valley all the way to Baker, after passing by Silver Dry Lake. Photos taken 11/11/08. |
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This mileage sign along California 127 south provides the distance to Baker (17 miles) and the junction with Interstate 15. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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California 127 passes through the Silurian Valley en route to the north end of Silver Dry Lake. Approaching the dry lake are a set of powerlines (Path 46 connecting the McCullough Substation in Eldorado Valley off U.S. 95 in Nevada with the Victorville substation to the south and Path 27, the Intermountain high-voltage, direct current [HVDC] electric power transmission). Photos taken 11/11/08. |
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Continuing south, California 127 passes by Silver Dry Lake and then approaches the community of Baker. Photos taken 11/11/08. |
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California 127 passes under Path 64, a 500kV power line that extends from the Marketplace substation in Eldorado Valley, Nevada, southeast to the Adelanto substation. Photos taken 11/11/08. |
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California 127 enters the unincorporated community of Baker, which had 914 people as of the 2000 Census and sits at an elevation of 923 feet. All motorist services are available in Baker, including food, gas, and lodging. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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Southbound California 127 approaches the intersection with Historic U.S. 91-466 (Baker Boulevard). Turn left on Baker Boulevard for Interstate 15 north to Las Vegas (92 miles) or right for Interstate 15 south to Barstow (65 miles) and points southwest (Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and San Diego). Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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An end shield for California 127 used to be posted at the junction with the Old U.S. 91-466 (unsigned business route for Interstate 15). Technically, California 127 continues south past this point to meet Interstate 15 itself, but Interstate 15 trailblazer signage replaces California 127 signage from this point south. This shield assembly was gone by 2008. Photo taken 01/20/02. |
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Shortly thereafter, southbound California 127 meets Historic U.S. 91-466 (Baker Boulevard) at a four-way stop sign. Services are available by making either a left or right turn. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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After the U.S. 91-466 intersection, southbound California 127 approaches the interchange with Interstate 15. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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The first right turn connects to Interstate 15 south to Barstow, and the next left connects to Interstate 15 north to Las Vegas. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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The vast Mojave National Preserve lies ahead. California 127 ends at the Interstate 15 interchange, but Kelbaker Road will continue southeast toward Kelso as a locally maintained highway. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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Southbound California 127 approaches the ramp to Interstate 15 north to Las Vegas. Photo taken 11/11/08. |
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An Interstate 15 north trailblazer is posted shortly thereafter. At this point, California 127 truly ends, and through traffic connects onto Kelbaker Road south into Mojave National Preserve. Make sure you have a full gas tank before proceeding either north on Interstate 15 or southeast on Kelbaker Road. Photos taken 11/11/08. |
| California 127 scenes |
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Northbound U.S. 91-466 (Baker Boulevard) meets California 127 at this stop sign. Turn left on California 127 to Death Valley National Park and Shoshone. Turn right to follow Kelbaker Road southeast to Kelso. Photos taken 11/11/08 and 11/11/00. |
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This California 127 shield is posted in Baker on northbound (eastbound) Historic U.S. 91-466 (Baker Boulevard). Photo taken 11/11/00. |
Page Updated January 23, 2012.
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