Crankshaft Crossing

Also known as Crankshaft Junction, this is another intersection in the Death Valley backcountry with a quirky tradition: the site is marked with abandoned crankshafts. It is also marked with a metal signpost on which the name has been written in molten metal, presumably with an arc welder. Crankshaft Crossing lies at the intersection of the Death Valley-Big Pine road with a side road going to Gold Point, Nevada. The main road is graded and, barring washouts, should be passable to a passenger car, although high clearance is likely to be appreciated. The road to Gold Point, however, although open to motorized traffic, is seriously washed out. It will require four-wheel drive at least to the Nevada state line (which is also the National Park boundary).

As with the better-known Teakettle Junction [https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/teakettle-junction] about 40 road miles away, the origin of the custom is unknown. It has been active for decades, however, and the amount of effort put into the construction of the signpost indicates a long-standing tradition.