Stretching across the borders of California and Nevada, Death Valley National Park holds the title of being one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places in the United States! Despite its extreme conditions, Death Valley is a land of stunning beauty! This underrated national park features Badwater Basin, the hottest and lowest point in North America, along with a mesmerizing mix of colorful rocks, salt flats, badlands, sand dunes, mountain peaks, abandoned mines, and abundant wildlife. Our complete guide gives you everything you need to know to plan the perfect trip to this diverse national park!
When to Visit Death Valley
The best time to visit Death Valley National Park is from October through April when temperatures are milder. In the summer months, Death Valley has average daily temperatures in the hundreds, and with little shade, the park can be dangerous during this time. We chose to visit in mid February with hopes of seeing the desert in full bloom. The weather was perfect with temperatures in the 50s in the evenings and mid 70s during the day. We were a bit too early to see the desert in bloom though, so I would recommend going in late February/early March to see the superbloom.
Where to Stay in Death Valley
Camping in Death Valley
There are nine campgrounds to choose from in the park and all are first-come, first-served, except for Furnace Creek Campground. Furnace Creek and Texas Springs are the most popular of the campgrounds, but I would recommend staying at Furnace Creek Campground to be in close proximity to several popular trails and viewpoints.
While there are several campgrounds to choose from, some of them are only open seasonally, you can check the status of each campground here.
Lodging in Death Valley
If you feel like splurging, book a stay at The Inn at Death Valley or The Ranch at Death Valley, both of which are located right in the middle of it all. Book a horseback riding tour through the hotel for a more laid back way to see the park, and finish your evenings lounging by the gorgeous pools!
Dispersed Camping in Death Valley (Free)
Ninety three percent of Death Valley National Park is federally protected wilderness area, that being said, Death Valley has vast opportunities for dispersed camping. For those that don’t know, dispersed camping refers to camping outside of a designated campground on public land, which typically means free camping!
Dispersed camping in Death Valley includes both areas accessible by car and by backpacking. You can use this map of Death Valley’s backcountry to find the perfect spot to set up your own private campsite! We personally chose to car camp at Eye of the Needle because it was located so close to everything that we wanted to see during our trip.
Note: Be prepared to change a flat if need be, and for safety, let someone know where you plan to go before heading out…Death Valley isn’t kind of place you want to be stranded!
Read More: HOW TO FIND FREE CAMPING IN THE U.S.
Things to Do in Death Valley
NOTE: Due to recent flooding, some roads and attractions are currently closed in Death Valley National Park, you can check for current closures here.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes has vast sand dunes reaching up to 100 feet that are surrounded by mountain views. The Mesquite Dunes are best seen at sunrise or sunset when the sun creates dramatic shadows that cause the ripples in the dunes to stand out. The hike to the tallest dune in the area is 2-miles round trip, but it is not an easy hike in the sand. The dunes start right beside the parking lot, so you can explore however much you want, but the farther out into the dunes you go, the fewer footprints you will see. Since the dunes are pretty open and spread out, it’s not hard to find your own secluded area to explore.
The views here are spectacular, so you could just spend the morning taking in the views as you stroll through the sand, or to get your adrenaline pumping, bring a sled to try some sandboarding!
Badwater Basin
At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America and is one of the most popular spots in Death Valley National Park. The basin’s unique topography is characterized by vast salt flats that stretch for miles, creating a surreal and otherworldly landscape. The intense heat and lack of significant rainfall contribute to the formation of the salt flats, as water evaporates quickly, leaving behind the salt deposits with intricate crystalline patterns.
Visitors can park at the Badwater Basin parking lot and walk down onto the salt flats to explore and stand in the lowest place in America! To truly get a feel for how low Badwater Basin is, look up to the mountains behind the parking to find the “Sea Level” sign posted on the mountains towering above.
A rare sight in the driest place in North America, the ancient Lake Manly – once filled with water up to 700 feet deep during the Ice Ages – reappeared in Death Valley National Park’s Badwater Basin in August of 2023. This ephemeral lake, formed following historic rainfalls from Hurricane Hilary and is expected to dry up by April 2024 as the salt flats absorb the moisture. We were able to visit before the lake formed and after, so we shared pictures of both above😉
Natural Bridge Canyon
A short 1.0-mile round trip hike leads you into the narrow, winding canyon that is Natural Bridge Canyon and gives you a brief geological history of Death Valley National Park. The main attraction along this hike is a 50-foot-tall sandstone bridge that has been naturally created by the erosion of the canyon walls. Continue past the natural bridge to see the dry waterfall, where a stream used to flow through the canyon thousands of years ago carving out what is now the trail.
Note: We feel this trail is worthy of mentioning due to its popularity, however, if you are short on time and have to knock something from the list, this should be it. Though beautiful, it isn’t worth missing other sites over.
Devil’s Golf Course
Nestled between Badwater Basin and Furnace Creek lies the otherworldly Devil’s Golf Course, a vast expanse of rock salt sculpted by wind and rain into rugged spires. Named for its unforgiving nature, Devil’s Golf Course earned its moniker from a 1934 NPS Death Valley guidebook, which remarked that “only the devil could play golf on such harsh terrain”.
This unique landscape is easily accessible via a short half-mile dirt road that leads you to a parking lot where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Panamint Mountains. No official trails lead further into the landscape, but you are technically allowed to explore freely here. However, it’s not advised that you go far and caution is essential, as the salt formations are very sharp and fragile.
Artists Drive and Artists Palette
Artists Drive in Death Valley National Park is a unique and colorful experience. The scenic 9-mile (one-way) drive winds through canyons and past towering, multi-colored mountains. The drive’s highlight is Artists Palette, an area filled with vibrant pink, green, blue, and purple badlands. You can see Artists Palette from your car, but to fully appreciate this colorful landscape, I recommend getting out and walking around in the badlands. The prismatic terrain, formed by mineral-rich volcanic deposits, makes the Artists Drive a must-see site in Death Valley National Park!
Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral
Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral is a 3 mile out and back hike that winds through narrow canyon walls and golden colored badlands up to steep red rock spires. The trail climbs gently uphill through the majority of the canyon until you get closer to Red Cathedral, where you must then do some minor scrambling to reach the end. Golden Canyon culminates at the base of Red Cathedral, where you can enjoy views of the rust-colored vertical walls soaring above you!
Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point is a popular overlook which gives you panoramic views of mountains, badlands, canyons, rock spires, and the vibrant colors from the back side of Artist’s Palette.
This is the perfect place to watch the sunset sink behind the distant mountains!
If you’re feeling up for exploring deeper, you can jump on the Badlands Loop Trail from here or hike to or from Golden Canyon.
Dantes View
At 5,450 feet above Death Valley, Dantes View is a stunning overlook that provides an epic vista of Death Valley National Park. This lookout is easily accessible from the parking lot with no hiking required. Though, if you feel up to a short climb, scramble up the top of the hill to escape the crowds and have the view to yourself.
Dantes View is an excellent spot to watch the sun rise over the valley!
Ubehebe Crater
Ubehebe Crater, nestled within the rugged expanses of Death Valley National Park, stands as a testament to the park’s geological wonders. Created by a powerful volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, this immense crater stretches nearly half a mile in diameter and plunges over 600 feet into the earth. Despite its dormant state, remnants of its volcanic past are evident in the charred soil and cinder-strewn landscape, offering a stark contrast to the surrounding terrain, marked by colorful rock formations and rugged beauty.
You can marvel down into this massive crater from the parking lot, walk down into the crater, or hike the 1.5-miles round trip trail around its rim – which will also take you past several smaller craters along the way!
Keane Wonder Mine
Visiting Keane Wonder Mine immerses you in the region’s storied past. The mine, a relic of Death Valley’s allure for fortune-seekers, showcases over 18,000 mining features, including the aerial tramway towers. In operation starting in 1907, the mine’s mile-long aerial tramway transported 70 tons of gold ore daily during its prime, but by 1942, the mine’s profitability waned due to resource scarcity and closed.
Today, you can visit the preserved structures of Keane Wonder Mine and get a glimpse into the miners’ challenges and ingenuity. To reach this historical site, drive the Beatty Cutoff Road, which often requires a high-clearance vehicle, to the marked dirt road for Keane Wonder Mine. From the parking lot, you can easily view the mine camp, mill, lower tram terminal, and tram towers with just a short walk. For a closer look at the Mining Road, Aerial Tramway, and Keane Wonder Mine, you can hike the steep, 1.4-mile (one-way) trail that climbs 1,500 feet.
Stargazing
Nestled within the heart of the Mojave Desert, Death Valley boasts some of the darkest and clearest skies in the United States, making it a haven for stargazers and astrophotographers alike. In fact, it’s so dark in Death Valley at night, that the park has not only been designated a Dark Sky Park by the International Dark-Sky Association, but they were also classified at the highest, Gold Tier level.
Once the sun sets, the vast expanse of the Milky Way stretches across the horizon, sprinkled with a multitude of stars, planets, and constellations. Head to Badwater Basin, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes or Ubehebe Crater for some of the best stargazing in the park!
If you have extra time in Death Valley I would suggest checking out Darwin Falls, Racetrack Playa, and the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns. Being that they are all on the other side of the park, it’s a bit of a drive, but they are definitely worth a visit if you have the time! Other popular attractions outside of Death Valley National Park include, Scotty’s Castle and Rhyolite Ghost Town.
