Death Valley National Park - A Land of Extremes
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Death Valley. Sounds like a real welcoming place doesn’t it? However, while
the name might sound like the last place you will ever venture, there was a
surprising lack of anything dead in the park when I visited. In fact, I actually
saw quite a diverse amount of plants and wildlife while I was there! This is
definitely a land of extremes being the hottest, driest, and lowest national
park in the country and I can guarantee it is a place you will never
forget. Read all about my visit below!
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Outside the visitor center is this board with the current temperature on it. As you can see it really wasn’t all that hot while I was there!
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After the visitor center I made my way to the Salt Creek Interpretive Trail.
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Trail Name - Salt Creek Interpretive Trail
Length: 0.5 miles
Estimated Hike Time: 30 minutes
Trail Difficulty: Easy
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The whole trail you will be walking on this sketchy, sounds like it is going to fall apart, boardwalk making it super easy to traverse.
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Well that’s one thing I never thought I’d find in Death Valley…..water.
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Pupfish!
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Also saw this lil guy!
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I did choose to venture off the boardwalk and follow this little narrow trail for a little while at the suggestion of some ladies on the trail. It did offer some pretty nice mountain views.
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After the Salt Creek trail I drove to the Mesquite Sand Dunes. I opted not to go out hiking in the dunes (however there is a trail you can go on), but they did remind me a lot of the dunes in Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
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Trail Name - Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Length: 2 miles
Estimated Hike Time: 1.5 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
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From there I drove to Darwin Falls.
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Trail Name - Darwin Falls
Length: 2 miles
Estimated Hike Time: 1.5-3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
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Well at least that was the plan. I missed the turn for the trailhead and
instead ended up at Rainbow Canyon. However, before Rainbow Canyon I
decided to pull over and do something I have always wanted to do, have
a photoshoot in the middle of the road!
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Rainbow Canyon can be seen from the Father Crowley Vista Point and has
been nicknamed “The Star Wars Canyon” by fans due to the military test
flights that can be observed happening in the canyon. This is actually part
of one of the largest military aircraft training areas in the US.
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If you are going to visit the canyon I recommend getting there in the morning so the sun is shining into the canyon instead of behind it.
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After Rainbow Canyon the sun was making it’s quick descent so I drove
back through the park and to my hotel for the night.
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The next morning I woke up before the sun and drove back to Death
Valley for a sunrise photoshoot in the lowest place in the US, Badwater Basin.
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As you can see that little white sign marks sea level so you can see just how low you are.
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Badwater Basin is one of the best places to see salt flats in the park and
I was lucky enough to have them all to myself that morning. I hiked out
onto the flats trying to find an area with white flats, but eventually I gave
up and set up shop about halfway between the parking lot and mountains.
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I was out there in the cool morning for about an hour taking pictures and
enjoying having the area all to myself.
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Trail Information - Badwater Salt Flat
Length: 1 mile
Estimated Hike Time: However long you want!
Difficulty: Easy to difficult depending on length
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Where I Stayed
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There are options to stay inside of Death Valley National Park, however, they
were a little pricey for my budget so I opted to stay outside of the park
at the Longstreet Inn and Casino. I wasn’t a huge fan of staying in a hotel
with a sketchy casino, but the room was clean, the price was right, and
the proximity to Death Valley was enough to make it a place I would stay again.
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Death Valley Tips
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Fuel up before you enter the park. Death Valley is the largest national
park in the continental US so you will be doing a LOT of driving while
you are here. There are gas stations in the park, but you are looking
at $5/gallon minimum if you stop there so I definitely recommend
filling up before the park if you can.
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Bring lots of water. Death Valley is known as one of the hottest and driest
places on earth so having enough water is a very important thing
no matter what time of year you visit.
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Start your days early. There is a lot to see and do in Death Valley so starting
early will not only ensure you see everything your heart desires, but also will
probably mean you will beat the crowds. One of my favorite times in the park
was when I visited Badwater Basin for the sunrise and had the
area all to myself. It was so peaceful.
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I had a great time in Death Valley driving all over the park, hiking, taking in
the sights, and even doing a couple of photo shoots so if you ever find yourself
near this park I highly recommend you make a stop!
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