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Top Ten Things to do in Death Valley National Park

/ California, Destinations, National Park, North America, United States of America / By

About Death Valley

At 3,422,024 acres, Death Valley is the largest National Park in the contiguous United States. It is home to the lowest point in North America, mountains as high as 11,000 feet, and unique animal and plant life, some species of which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. With such a formidable name and barren landscape, it is hard to imagine that 10,000 years ago the area was thriving with lakes that would eventually dry up and become the salt flats that bring over a million tourists to the park each year. Here are ten life enhancing things to do in the valley of death!

1. Watch Sunrise at Zabriskie Point

For good reason, this is the most popular spot in the park to watch the sunrise. While you won’t be the only one who woke up early, there is plenty of space to spread out from the crowds. The golden hour of the morning allows you to enjoy the yellow, orange, and brown tiger striped bands of sediment in all their glory while you see the first light of day hit the badlands below. You’ll want to arrive early as the sun comes up sneakily fast. Be prepared with a chair and a good cup of coffee to make the most of this momentous morning memory.

2. Be Inspired by Artists Palette

While the lack of rain makes it nearly impossible to see a rainbow in the desert, these volcanic deposits have found a way to captivate visitors with their cotton candy colors. Artists Palette is best enjoyed during golden hour. While the scorching sun washes out the color of the hills during the peak of the day, the soft, diffused, light that shines during the hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset will allow you to better see the rich compounds painting the earth.

3. Hike Golden Canyon/Red Cathedral

Golden Canyon

If you’ve had your fill at Zabriskie Point for the morning and want to jump right into your next adventure, you can take the badlands loop down to Red Cathedral. Another option is to go via the Golden Canyon Trail. This journey starts at the Golden Canyon trailhead parking lot on Badwater Basin Road and can be done as a three mile out and back journey or linked to Gower Gulch to make a 5.3 mile loop. To reach Red Cathedral (towering 600 foot pillars of red rock), minor rock scrambling will be required.

4. Practice your Swing at Devil’s Golf Course

Much to the dismay of golf fans, you can’t actually golf at Devil’s Golf Course (although there are links at Furnace Creek within the National Park). After seeing the terrain, it’s obvious why this would be a player’s worst nightmare. This jagged terrain was sculpted over time by wind and rain eroding the salt crystals. While this may not be worth planning a day around, it’s an enjoyable quick stop if you are exploring the nearby Badwater Basin or Artists Palette. Be careful of the bumpy road and your footing, as a fall onto these spires would be quite painful.

5. Get Low at Badwater Basin Salt Flats

At 282 feet below sea level, the Badwater Basin salt flats are the lowest point in all of North America. This is the spot that people travel from all over the world to see, and probably what first comes to mind when Death Valley is mentioned. While one of the busiest spots in the park, there is plenty of space to spread out. The best views of the unique terrain will require you to walk beyond the boardwalk. 

6. Get Existential at Dante's View

At 5,475 ft, Dante’s View is roughly only half as high as Telescope Peak (11,049 ft) but doesn’t require the daunting seven mile hike. A drive out of the way to this vista will reward you with sweeping views of Badwater Basin basking in the sun beams below as well as Panamint Range to the west. Because you can look across at Telescope Peak, from here you can view the highest and the lowest points in the park simultaneously. Although still torrid and providing no shade to evade the sizzling sun, the elevation drops the temperature several degrees compared to the valley floor and can also get quite windy. 

7. Hike Slot Canyons (Sidewinder Canyon)

Sidewinder Canyon
Sidewinder Canyon

Whoever said all the good slot canyons were in Utah? Sidewinder Canyon is the type of hike where you can choose your own level of adventure. To complete the full hike is a grueling five miles but the first slot can be explored just one mile in. This hike is still enjoyable even if you do not explore every slot. To find the entrances, you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled and utilize a map (pick it up at the visitor’s center or save it here). This parking lot and trail are unmarked and not heavily populated so hike with caution.

8. Experience Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

While Badwater Basin is the most famous location in the park, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is arguably the most beautiful. Because your feet seem to sink with every step, give yourself extra time, as it is a short but time consuming trek out to the most beautiful peaks, some of which are 100 feet. Standing in the middle of Tatooine makes for a sunset that rivals even those in galaxies far, far away. If you don’t remember this view from Star Wars, you’ll remember it from your default Mojave Mac update background, which appears to be from the same location.

9. Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

While Death Valley is known for its vast, natural desolation that makes it practically unlivable, its relics of its human histories are also worth visiting. The Charcoal Kilns on Wildrose Canyon Road were once mid nineteenth century fuel sources for the local silver mines. Now, they are 25 foot domes that make you feel like you are in the Bee Movie. The road to the kilns is bumpy but manageable for most cars (Honda Fit tested). While you can jump back in your car after exploring them for a mere ten minutes, I recommend adding them to your itinerary.

10. Experience Out of this World Star Gazing

Come to Death Valley for the desert landscapes, stay for the real show. While you’ll struggle to see any real stars in California’s light polluted cities, Death Valley is an International Dark Sky Park. The park has worked hard to maintain this status and allows visitors from all over the globe the opportunity to view the Milky way. Although the United States has over 30 designated International Dark Sky Parks, Death Valley’s relatively flat expanse offers a unique view of seemingly endless skyscape.

Honorable Mentions

Visit the Ghost Town of Rhyolite, Nevada

RHYOLITE, NEVADA
RHYOLITE, NEVADA

While not technically in the park, visiting the ghost town of Rhyolite had to be added to the list as an honorable mention. Just east of the park, only about ten miles past the California/Nevada border lies the ghost town of Rhyolite. People flocked to this town with the promise of gold in 1904 but fled as the opportunity dried up by 1917. The highlight here is the Goldwell Open Air Museum which makes the title of “ghost town” a structured reality. Artist Albert Szukalski recreated the Last Supper with eerie yet beautiful stark white ghosts that contrast with the surrounding landscape. Definitely worth a stop!

Mosaic Canyon and Darwin Falls Hikes

Mosaic Canyon Hike
Darwin Falls Hike

Mosaic Canyon is a four mile out and back trail that is moderate to difficult. If you are staying in Stovepipe Wells, this hike is an easy add on to your trip! Darwin Falls is a quick two mile out and back. While the waterfall is relatively small, it is fun to see this stark contrast of life in the otherwise arid surroundings. Consider adding this to your itinerary if you are entering from the western entrance of the park. Note that Panamint Springs Resort uses this water as drinking water so please do not enter the stream or pool.

Additional information was obtained from NPS.Gov.

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