Death Valley National Park

Death Valley's extremes are a function of its geography: the valley sits in a rain shadow created by four major mountain ranges, and the dry air, low elevation, and lack of vegetation combine to produce some of the highest surface temperatures on Earth. Ground temperatures have been measured at over 201°F. The valley typically receives less than 2 inches of rain per year, and some years see no measurable rainfall at all. Badwater Basin, at 282 feet below sea level, is a vast salt pan, the remnant of ancient Lake Manly, which filled the valley during the last ice age and dried up roughly 10,000 years ago. The salt pan is roughly 200 square miles and is composed of halite and other evaporite minerals, and after rare rainstorms, a temporary Lake Manly may reappear in the basin, attracting visitors who kayak on the ephemeral lake. The contrast in elevation is remarkable: Telescope Peak, at 11,049 feet, is only about 15 miles from Badwater Basin, and it can have snow on its summit while the valley floor exceeds 120°F. The valley's geology is complex, with rocks ranging from over a billion years old to recent sediments, and the dramatic uplift and faulting have created one of the most varied geological landscapes in any national park.

Death Valley's main attractions are spread across the park, and visiting them requires significant driving. Zabriskie Point, at the edge of the Black Mountains, is the park's most famous viewpoint, with badlands of yellow and brown sedimentary rock shaped by erosion into a maze of canyons and ridges; sunrise and sunset are the best times. Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch, a 4.3-mile loop from Zabriskie Point, hike through these same badlands and connect to Red Cathedral, a towering sandstone formation. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, near Stovepipe Wells, are the most accessible dunes in the park and are best experienced at sunrise or sunset, with a 2-mile round-trip hike to the highest dune. The Artist's Drive, a 9-mile one-way loop along the base of the Black Mountains, passes the Artist's Palette, where oxidized metals have colored the hills in shades of pink, green, and purple. Ubehebe Crater, in the northern park, is a 600-foot-deep maar crater formed by a volcanic steam explosion roughly 2,000 years ago; a 1.5-mile trail circles its rim. For experienced hikers, Golden Canyon to Gower Gulch and the 6-mile round trip to Darwin Falls, a surprising waterfall in a lush canyon, offer respite from the heat.

While most visitors focus on the valley floor, Death Valley's high country offers a dramatic contrast and is essential to understanding the park's ecological range. Telescope Peak, the highest point in the park at 11,049 feet, is reached by an 14-mile round-trip hike with 3,000 feet of elevation gain from Mahogany Flat, accessible by a rough dirt road. The hike passes through bristlecone pine forest — some trees over 3,000 years old — and ends at a summit with views from the Sierra Nevada to the Pacific Ocean on clear days. The Panamint Range, which includes Telescope Peak, receives significantly more moisture than the valley and supports pinyon-juniper woodland and, at the highest elevations, limber and bristlecone pine. Wildrose Peak, at 9,064 feet, is a less demanding alternative, an 8.4-mile round trip with 2,200 feet of elevation gain from the Charcoal Kilns, a historic site of beehive-shaped stone kilns built in the 1870s to produce charcoal for mining operations. The high country is typically accessible from May through October, as snow closes the access roads in winter, and it provides a cool escape when valley temperatures exceed 120°F. The Charcoal Kilns are accessible by most vehicles and are a worthwhile destination even for those not hiking the peaks.

Death Valley is located roughly 2 hours west of Las Vegas and 5 hours north of Los Angeles. Furnace Creek is the park's main hub, with the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, a gas station, a general store, and the historic Inn at Death Valley and Ranch at Death Valley, both operated by a concessionaire. Stovepipe Wells, in the central park, has a small village with lodging and a gas station. The park has nine campgrounds, with Furnace Creek being the most popular and the only one with full hookups. Summer visits are strongly discouraged for hiking, as heat is a genuine hazard; at least one person dies each year from heat exposure, and park rangers advise against hiking at low elevations after 10 a.m. from May through September. The best time to visit is from October through April, when temperatures are mild and the park is at its most beautiful. Winter can see snow in the high country and pleasant daytime temperatures in the 60s and 70s in the valley. Spring brings wildflower blooms in wet years, though these are unpredictable and depend on fall and winter rainfall. Cell service is limited, and distances are great, so visitors should carry extra water, fuel, and supplies, and a high-clearance vehicle is recommended for some of the park's remote dirt roads.