Death Valley National Park is a land of extremes. Few places on Earth stir human imagination like its natural wonders. The park is over three million acres of the world's hottest and driest arid scenery and ecosystems, mixing together a radiant tapestry of sand dunes, badlands hills, mountains, and salt flats.
The park is infamous for its summer heat that often surpass 120 degrees in the shade), which amplifies its already legendary reputation. But it is just as resplendent in winter when temperatures allow for more daytime exploration. No matter when travelers decide to visit Death Valley National Park, its harsh beauty leaves an imprint long after they leave.
Badwater Basin
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America and the United States, at 282 feet below sea level, and is often the very first stop for park visitors. An amazing expanse of salt flats from an ancient evaporated lake has transformed the terrain into a white, crystalline, almost alien-like landscape.
Visitors often park their vehicles and walk out for a distance onto the vast salt flats, snapping photos and listening to the salt crunch under their shoes. Its name comes from the pools of spring-fed water pools near the road that are heavily salted, and undrinkable, from the surrounding basin, leaving it as "bad water."
Pro Tip: The highest point in the contiguous United States, Mount Whitney (14,505'), is only 85 miles away. Many travelers love to visit both on the same trip.
Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point is an extremely popular overview that sits right off of Highway 190. The point gives a striking contrast to the salt flats by presenting layers upon layers of rolling, golden badland hills which create beautiful ridges and arid ravines.
This is a crowd-pleasing stop for photographers who often arrive well before dawn in anticipation of the sun dancing across the shining range. There are also a number of easy to moderate trails within the hills themselves that are beloved by hikers.
Pro Tip: Avoid the crowds and the heat by arriving early to get a hike in or snap the perfect photo.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are an amazing desert scene that seem to glow in the morning and, in the late afternoon light, give off a pinkish hue. Because of these intense moments, this is one of the most heavily photographed natural features inside the park.
Throughout the year, the sand dunes remain one of the most popular stops in Death Valley National Park. It's not uncommon to find dozens of curious visitors strolling across the desert sand, watching their footprints vanish with the wind. A few brave souls may even bring small boards along to try their hand at gliding down the gentle slopes.
Pro Tip: The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are best visited during cooler months or parts of the day.
Dante's View
Dante's View isn't just one of the most scenic views in the entire park, it's also the perfect place for stargazing as the sun drops behind the Panamint mountain range. This amazing vantage point, more than 5,000 feet above the dusty salt flats of Badwater Basin below, allows visitors to enjoy the incredible vastness of this amazing national park.
Pro Tip: The light pollution from Los Angeles and Las Vegas are beginning to effect the night time scenes from Dante's View, make this a priority when planning your next visit.
Artists Drive and Artists Palette
The Artists Drive is a nine mile, one way loop that shows off a desert kaleidoscope of oxidized mineral deposits in brilliant pastel hues. Bursts of pink, green, lavendar, and gold dot the landscape and each stopping point on the loop offers a different angle of this array of colorful rock formations.
The crown jewel of Artists Drive is a dazzling hillside called the Artists Palette. The colors shift dramatically as the sun rises and sets, giving travelers a new experience with each visit.
Pro Tip: If you can time your visit to Death Valley National Park and the Artists Palette during a light rain shower, you'll be rewarded even more with incredibly bright tones on the hills.