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Death Valley National Park is not like wherever else we’ve visited. It’s one of many lowest and hottest locations on earth and is stuffed with unbelievable otherworldly landscapes.
We spent per week roaming its huge stark magnificence—watching sunrises on sand dunes and sunsets throughout salt flats, mountain climbing via rippled badlands and golden canyons, and admiring multicoloured hills and snow-capped peaks.
Here I share our picks for the very best issues to do in Death Valley from straightforward however dramatic viewpoints to tougher hikes. You’ll additionally discover our ideas for benefiting from your journey, the place to remain, a advised itinerary, and a map with all the highest points of interest.
Contents
Where is Death Valley National Park?
Death Valley National Park is in Inyo County, California, alongside the border with Nevada (a small a part of the park is within the neighbouring state) and east of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
You’ll want your personal automobile to get there or you might go to on this small group Death Valley day journey from Las Vegas.
Here are approximate driving occasions from close by locations to Furnace Creek (within the coronary heart of the park):
- Las Vegas (Nevada) – 2 hours
- Los Angeles – 4 hours Half-hour
- Bakersfield – 4 hours
- Joshua Tree – 4 hours quarter-hour
- Palm Springs – 5 hours
- Yosemite Village – 6 hours (in summer time)
- Sequoia National Park – 6 hours
- Zion National Park (Utah) – 4 hours Half-hour
We visited Death Valley on a highway journey between Palm Springs and Zion National Park. It’s additionally excellent to mix with Joshua Tree National Park, which we handed on the way in which (and visited beforehand).
See our information to the finest issues to do in Southern California for extra options for the realm in addition to our publish on the finest Joshua Tree hikes.
At the top of this publish you’ll discover a map of Death Valley National Park with all these featured points of interest.
Best Things to Do in Death Valley National Park: Our Top Picks
Death Valley National Park is immense—3.4 million acres with 1000 miles of roads. These advised Death Valley actions concentrate on the principle a part of the park (inside an hour or so of Furnace Creek the place the customer centre and resorts are positioned).
There are many issues to see in Death Valley past this space, however you’ll must drive for hours and plenty of roads are 4WD solely (all of the locations beneath are accessible with out 4WD).
These are our Death Valley should sees.
1) See the Sunrise at Zabriskie Point
Access: Paved highway
Facilities: Toilet in automotive park
Time wanted: 10+ minutes
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 5 miles (8km)/ 10 minutes
If you solely do one Death Valley exercise, make it the perspective at Zabriskie Point.
It’s just a few minutes’ stroll on a paved path from the parking zone to the viewing space, and it’s spectacular.
You gaze down into the valley of bumpy badlands striped yellow and brown, formed by the pressure of water. You also can see the jagged peak of Manly Beacon, the rugged Red Cathedral and past to the salt flats and snow-topped Panamint Mountains.
Zabriskie Point is hottest at dawn and it’s effectively value getting up for. The solar rises behind you and it’s a surprising sight because it lights the mountains in entrance and turns them a glowing pink.
Don’t anticipate to have it to your self, however on a winter weekday, we discovered there was sufficient area to unfold out. Some guests are organised and convey chairs, blankets, and sizzling drinks. You’ll positively need further layers because it felt very chilly within the wind.
If you don’t handle to get up in time, the sunshine was nonetheless stunning two hours after dawn when the badlands are totally lit up. It’s additionally a well-liked sundown spot.
One of the very best hikes in Death Valley begins from right here (see beneath).
2) Hike the Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop
Access: Paved highway
Facilities: Toilet at each trailhead automotive parks
Time wanted: 1-3 hours
Hiking stats: 6.2 miles (10km)/ 2.5 hours / 1130 toes (345m) elevation acquire
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre to Golden Canyon Trailhead:Â 3.5 miles (5.5km)/ 7 minutes
The Golden Canyon hike is among the finest issues to do in Death Valley National Park. This well-liked path has its personal trailhead and most guests do a 2-mile roundtrip hike from right here to the junction to Red Cathedral.
You also can expertise it on an extended loop hike, which is what we did. As we had been already at Zabriskie Point for dawn we determined to hike down into Golden Canyon and are available again up Gower Gulch.
We’re so glad we did because the hike was superb. My favorite half was at the beginning strolling down from Zabriskie on the Badlands Loop with the rippled badlands and Red Cathedral glowing within the golden morning gentle. Starting at 7.15am we didn’t see anybody else till we reached the Golden Canyon.
It was magical strolling in solitude via the cruel, dry however gorgeous setting.
It was a little bit steep and slippy in components, and you must stroll on a slim ridge at one level, which was barely nerve-racking, however general we didn’t discover it a tough stroll and it will get simpler if you attain Golden Canyon.
You positively wish to begin early and convey loads of water as as soon as the solar hits the canyon, it feels highly regarded.
When you attain the excessive partitions of Golden Canyon, you’ve the choice of a one-mile return detour to Red Cathedral, however we skipped it because it entails some scrambling.
It took us 65 minutes to achieve the Golden Canyon trailhead (the place there’s a bathroom) after which we walked parallel to the highway for 10 minutes earlier than turning left into Gower Gulch.
Some folks don’t assume Gower Gulch is value it however we loved it (and it’s quieter than Golden Canyon). There was some gently scrambling at first, however then it opened up and the ascent was pretty straightforward. There are some attention-grabbing rock formations and inexperienced and pink partitions.
It took one other hour to get again to Zabriskie Point—the final part again on the Badlands Loop was the toughest because it was a steep climb in full solar. The view wanting again was astounding although.
Don’t miss mountain climbing on this space. Even in the event you don’t do the total loop, there are many shorter choices.
See a map of the Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch hike on Alltrails or the NPS web site for all of the Golden Canyon trails.
3) Enjoy a Colourful View at Artists Palette
Access: One-way paved highway, no autos longer than 25 toes
Facilities: Toilet in automotive park
Time wanted: Half-hour together with drive
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 14.5 miles (23.5km)/ 24 minutes
Another of the very best views in Death Valley is at Artists Palette. Here you may admire the colorful hills created by mineral oxidation—pink and inexperienced mixing with the same old shades of orange and brown.
The viewpoint is accessed on the 9-mile Artists Drive Loop, a good looking if twisty highway that may solely be pushed a method (beginning on the south finish off Badwater Rd).
There are numerous locations to cease and take photographs, however the third cease (marked on Google Map as Artist’s Palette) is the very best one. There’s additionally a bathroom right here.
You can see the colourful hills from the parking zone or stroll up the path so far as you’d like for the next perspective.
Artists Palette is finest visited within the golden hour earlier than sundown. We arrived an hour after dawn (after visiting Badwater Basin) and the hills had been nonetheless in shadow so the colors had been muted.
We got here again one other day mid-morning (three hours after dawn) and the colors had been a lot better, though the sunshine was a little bit harsh.
This was one of many filming places for Tatooine within the Star Wars motion pictures and it’s straightforward to consider you’re on one other planet.
4) Watch the Sunset at Dante’s View
Access: Paved, winding, and steep highway. No RVs or trailers (automotive park to depart trailers decrease down)
Facilities: Toilet at decrease parking nevertheless it’s fairly removed from higher parking—cease on the way in which up
Time wanted: Half-hour – 1 hour
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 25 miles (40km)/ 35 minutes
Dante’s View is among the finest locations to go to in Death Valley for extra spectacular views. It’s well-liked at sundown, though I’m positive dawn would even be stunning (if freezing).
Here you realise that Death Valley just isn’t all desert as you ascend to 5575 ft (1699 m) above Badwater Basin on the ridge of the Black Mountains. The temperature might be 30ºF decrease up right here.
The sweeping panorama takes in a lot of the park—the salt flats and the badlands and the Panamint Mountains on the opposite facet of the valley.
You can simply benefit from the view from the parking zone or comply with the paths in both path alongside the rim (I believe the view is finest to the left). It’s busy at sundown however straightforward to discover a spot to your self.
Expect the solar to vanish behind the mountains 10 minutes earlier than the official sundown time. It’s effectively value ready 20 minutes after sundown because the sky lights up in pink and orange and the clouds glow—simply attractive!
It’s effectively definitely worth the drive up right here for views like this.
5) Visit the Lowest Point at Badwater Basin Salt Flats
Access: Paved highway
Facilities: Toilet in automotive park
Time wanted: quarter-hour+
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 15.5 miles (25km)/ 20 minutes
Badwater Basin is among the most iconic spots in Death Valley. This salt pan is an historic lake mattress and is the most well liked and lowest level in North America at 282 toes beneath sea stage (search for the ocean stage marker on the mountain above the parking zone).
Again there’s an simply accessible viewing platform or you may stroll out onto the immense salt flats so far as you need.
It’s well-liked at sundown however there have been just a few others right here at dawn. Although we couldn’t see the solar come up, it was stunning to see the sunshine catch the snowy mountains reverse.
6) Climb a Dune at Sunrise at Mesquite Flat
Access: Paved highway
Facilities: Toilet in automotive park
Time wanted: Half-hour – 1 hour+
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 23 miles (35km)/ 26 minutes
The Mesquite Flat sand dunes are probably the most accessible sand dunes in Death Valley, subsequent to Stovepipe Wells.
It’s effectively value venturing past the parking zone and climbing up into the dunes for the very best views. There’s no path—simply create your personal path.
You can hike to the highest of the largest dune (about two miles return), however strolling on sand is difficult going so we loved the view from a distance.
We arrived about Half-hour earlier than dawn to permit time to get to a great spot—we solely needed to stroll about 10 minutes earlier than we selected a spot to attend. It was one other gorgeous dawn with the tops of the distant mountains turning pink earlier than the dunes started to glow.
On our means again we had enjoyable working down the dunes (which is much less scary than it feels).
Mesquite Flat is finest visited at dawn or sundown when the sunshine is attractive and it’s not too sizzling. We wore mountain climbing sandals, which had been excellent as footwear would fill with sand.
Eureka Dunes are even taller however they’re three hours from Furnace Creek and will require a 4WD. It’s a lot more durable to get there for the very best gentle until you camp close by.
Other Death Valley Attractions Worth Visiting
If you’ve extra time, we additionally suggest this stuff to do in Death Valley.
7) Hike the Rim of Ubehebe Crater
Access: Paved highway
Facilities: None (nearest rest room 5 miles earlier than at Grapevine Ranger Station)
Time wanted: 1 hour (longer to descend into crater)
Hiking stats: 2 miles (3.2km)/ 50 minutes / 485 toes (148m) elevation acquire together with Little Hebe Crater
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre: 55 miles (90km)/ 1 hour and quarter-hour
Ubehebe Crater is an extinct volcano in a extra distant a part of the park. We visited after Mesquite Flat sand dunes, that are an hour away.
We hiked the rim of the 2100-year-old crater, gazing down into the large expanse—darkish gray on one facet, orange and gold on the opposite. It’s a wild and exquisite place—we had been the one ones there at 8.30am.
At 2800 toes, it’s cooler than Furnace Creek, nevertheless it nonetheless felt sizzling as there’s no shade. We hiked counterclockwise to do the elevation first—the primary hill was surprisingly laborious going as you’re on unfastened gravel and sand.
This means you move the smaller Little Hebe Crater.
You also can hike down into the crater however anticipate a difficult climb out in ankle-deep particles.
From Ubehebe you may delve deeper into the park to the Racetrack Playa, nevertheless it requires a 4WD. Scotty’s Castle can also be on this space, nevertheless it’s closed for repairs after a flood till no less than 2023.
8) Make a Quick Stop at Devil’s Golf Course
Access: Gravel highway off Badwater Rd normally accessible to sedans
Facilities: None
Time wanted: 5 minutes+
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 10 miles (15km)/ quarter-hour
Not removed from Badwater Basin is a fast cease referred to as Devil’s Golf Course the place rock salt has been eroded by wind and rain into jagged spires.
It’s a cool (and normally quiet) place to see in Death Valley, however you may’t stroll on the harmful sharp rocks. Apparently, solely the satan may play golf right here!
9) Hike Through Desolation Canyon
Access: Unmarked gravel highway off Badwater Rd normally accessible to sedans
Facilities: None
Time wanted: 1.5 to 2 hours for full hike.
Hiking stats: 3.6 miles (5.8km) / 770 ft (235m) elevation acquire
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 5.5 miles (9km)/ 10 minutes
If you’re in search of a quieter mountain climbing path than Golden Canyon, head to Desolation Canyon.
The hike begins uphill via the canyon and ends with a view of Artists Palette.
We didn’t make it that far as the warmth was a bit a lot and we rotated after 25 minutes/ 1 mile after we reached an 8ft rocky wall that you just needed to scramble up.
See the Desolation Canyon hike on Alltrails.
The entry highway is unmarked so that you’ll want Google Maps to search out it.
10) Drive the Adventurous Twenty Mule Team Canyon
Access: One-way filth highway normally accessible to sedans
Facilities: None
Time wanted: 10-Half-hour
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 6 miles (9.5km)/ 10 minutes
We drove the one-way Twenty Mule Team Canyon on the way in which from Zabriskie Point to Dante’s View. It was solely a 10-minute detour (we didn’t make any stops) and price it if you’re trying to get off the crushed monitor in Death Valley.
It’s not for nervous drivers, although, because the filth highway via the badlands may be very slim, winding, and ends with a steep rollercoasteresque drop.
11) Head Back in Time at Harmony Borax Works
Access: Paved highway
Facilities: None
Time wanted: 15-20 minutes
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 2 miles (3km)/ 5 minutes
The 0.4-mile historical past path at Harmony Borax Works close to Furnace Creek is a simple stroll and a pleasant change from different components of the park.
Signs provide you with data on the 1884 borax plant as you stroll previous the outdated processing buildings. The wagon on show was pulled by massive mule groups (referred to as the 20-Mule Team) to move the completed product to market.
Like the Rhyolite gold mine, the plant solely lasted a couple of years.
Harmony Borax Works is among the finest locations to see the celebs in Death Valley. We had been staying too far out to do that, nevertheless it’s a simple journey from the Furnace Creek resorts (some friends even biked right here).
12) Spot Pupfish on the Salt Creek Trail
Access: Gravel highway normally accessible to sedans.
Facilities: Toilet in automotive park
Time wanted: 20 minutes
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 14.5 miles (23.5km)/ 20 minutes
I didn’t anticipate a lot from the Salt Creek Trail, however I loved the straightforward stroll on the 0.5-mile boardwalk loop.
It feels very totally different from the remainder of the park—a little bit oasis with a fairly stream surrounded by vegetation. The uncommon tiny pupfish lives within the salty water right here.
Salt Creek is simple so as to add to your Death Valley itinerary because it’s not removed from Furnace Creek.
13) Cool Off at The Ranch Lodge
Access: Paved highway
Facilities: Toilets, shops, eating places, pool
Time wanted: quarter-hour – half a day
Distance from Furnace Creek Visitor Centre:Â 0.5 miles (1km)/ 2 minutes
The Ranch Lodge in Furnace Creek has a couple of services open to non-guests that we actually appreciated after a sizzling morning mountain climbing.
There’s an old school ice cream parlour the place you may sit on the counter or on the skin terrace to take pleasure in a sundae, cone, or milkshake. It’s not the very best ice cream, however you gained’t care within the warmth.
There’s additionally a common retailer, out of doors retailer, restaurant, golf course, and horse driving.
Best of all, the lodge permits non-guests to entry the pool for $14. This was so refreshing after a morning of mountain climbing and the proper strategy to spend the warmth of the day.
The massive spring-fed pool is of course heat yr spherical so it’s snug to swim even in winter.
Things to Do Near Death Valley
It’s value leaving the park and heading throughout the border to Nevada for some attention-grabbing points of interest.
14) Visit Rhyolite Ghost Town
Rhyolite ghost city is among the most uncommon issues to do in Death Valley (even whether it is outdoors the park).
This distant gold mining city thrived in its temporary increase years—there was a prepare station, common retailer, financial institution, faculty, miner’s union and extra—nevertheless it didn’t take lengthy till the gold ran out.
You can now wander previous the ruins of its glory years—many of the buildings had been in-built 1906 and 1907 and the mine shut down only a few years later.
Surrounded by dramatic desert mountains it’s a bleak however intriguing place.
One of probably the most attention-grabbing sights is Tom Kelly Bottle House—the home was made with hundreds of glass bottles as wooden was laborious to return by.
If you’re staying in Beatty, it’s best to positively cease at Rhyolite. It’s free entry and open 24 hours.
15) See Burros in Beatty
Beatty is a small desert city in Nevada and one of the crucial reasonably priced bases for exploring Death Valley. It has a distant, Wild West vibe with a picket saloon on Main St (sadly closed).
Best of all, you may typically see wild burros roaming the streets. These donkeys had been used within the gold mining days and let free when the business went bust.
Death Valley Itinerary for Two Days
If you solely have two days in Death Valley, that is the itinerary I like to recommend.
Day 1
- Zabriskie Point for dawn
- Hike Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch
- Lunch/Rest (possibly benefit from the pool at The Ranch)
- Harmony Borax Works
- Twenty Mule Team Canyon
- Dante’s View for sundown
Day 2
- Mesquite Flat sand dunes for dawn
- Ubehebe Crater
- Salt Creek Trail
- Lunch/Rest
- Artists Palette (1-2 hours earlier than sundown)
- Devil’s Golf Course
- Badwater Basin for sundown
If you’ve any further time, add Desolation Canyon or Rhyolite and Beatty.
Accommodation in Death Valley
The finest locations to remain in Death Valley are within the coronary heart of the park at Furnace Creek. Here you’re near well-liked points of interest like Zabriskie Point (simply 10 minutes away), which makes it a lot simpler to be there for dawn and sundown.
There are two resorts right here—The Ranch at Death Valley is extra reasonably priced and family-friendly and The Inn at Death Valley may be very costly. Both of them e-book up far prematurely although, so we couldn’t get a reservation (reserving three weeks out in winter).
Camping is a price range choice in Furnace Creek and numerous places inside the park.
Stovepipe Wells is one other place to remain inside the park. Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel isn’t as handy for Zabriskie Point (35 minutes away), nevertheless it’s nearer to the Mesquite Flat sand dunes and is extra reasonably priced than Furnace Creek.
As we couldn’t get a lodge within the park, we rented an Airbnb within the nearest city outdoors the park—Beatty, which is definitely in Nevada.
We cherished the quirky, trendy home, however the location did really feel additional away than we’d like, and we had a variety of 5.30am begins to see the dawn within the park.
Although Beatty is a simple 40-minute drive from Furnace Creek, you’ve to keep in mind how unfold out the sights are, so we normally needed to drive for about an hour.
But if lodging within the park is unavailable or too costly, Beatty is an effective choice. There are a couple of price range motels right here together with Death Valley Inn and Exchange Club Motel.
Tips for Visiting Death Valley National Park
- There are not any entrance gates. Pay the $30 price (per automobile) if you arrive on the customer centre or some well-liked spots have ticket machines subsequent to the parking.
- An America the Beautiful annual nationwide parks move can be used (show it in your automotive). This is superb worth in the event you’ll go to three or extra nationwide parks or monuments in a yr.
- The finest time to go to is early spring or winter. It’s excessively sizzling in summer time and will probably be harmful to hike.
- Even in winter, it was hotter than we anticipated—coming from Beatty earlier than dawn the temperature rose from 35ºF to 60ºF as we descended into the park. In the afternoons it reached 90ºF. Be ready with a hat, sun shades, and sunscreen.
- In winter put on layers for the cool mornings and sizzling afternoons.
- Bring a cooler with numerous water and meals. There are not any outlets or eating places outdoors Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells.
- A 4WD automobile is a good suggestion and can permit you to discover additional into the park, nevertheless it’s not needed for the Death Valley high sights on this record. We rented an SUV (with out 4WD) and appreciated the upper clearance, however we noticed sedans on all of the roads we drove. We use Rental Cars to seek for the very best offers.
- There’s no cell sign in many of the park so save Google Maps offline for instructions.
- The Alltrails app is helpful in the event you plan to hike. We purchased the Pro plan so we may save route maps offline.
- Fill up with gasoline outdoors the park (Beatty is an effective spot) because it’s very costly at Furnace Creek. Stovepipe Wells is barely cheaper however nonetheless effectively over common costs.
- Don’t enter canyons if there’s any signal of rain.
- Leave no hint—don’t litter or take any rocks or vegetation with you.
Map of Death Valley Attractions
Is Death Valley Worth Visiting?
Yes, Death Valley is completely value visiting! It’s an enormous and various nationwide park with a lot to discover.
Just be sure you go to outdoors the summer time to expertise the inhospitable landscapes extra safely and enjoyably. At any time of yr it’s at all times value getting up early for the very best views and most snug temperatures.
I hope this publish has given you some concepts of what to see in Death Valley. Let us know your favorite locations!
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