Jenna Blough - Moon Death Valley National Park: Hiking, Scenic Drives, Desert Springs & Hidden Oases

Artists Drive.

Death Valley may be as close as youll ever get to visiting another planet. Its sculpted sand dunes, crusted salt flats, towering rocks, and polished marble canyons will make you consider your place in the universe.

Declared a national monument in 1933, then signed into national park status in 1994, Death Valley is the largest national park in the Lower 48 states. Located within the northern Mojave Desert, the park boasts extremes of temperatures and elevation. One early travel advertisement promised all the advantages of hell without the inconveniences. From the oppressive salt flats of Badwater Basin 282 feet below sea level to the snow line at Telescope Peak 11,049 feet above, a complex and varied geology spans eras of seas and volcanoes, tectonic forces and fault lines.

Death Valley holds spectacular sights for all to see, but its secrets are not so easily given up. Dotting the landscape are hidden springs, mining camps, ghost towns, and the sacred spots of Indigenous people who call the valley home. Get out of the car to walk the twisting canyons, search for waterfalls or petroglyphs, and listen to the wild landscape. Decaying or preserved, battered by wind or watered by secret oases, these places stand as a testament to the frenzy of human hopes and the fury of imagination.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

the infamous Manson familys truck in Ballarat

ancient rock art in Coso Rock Art District

This was and still is a place for dreamerspyramid schemes and tall tales abound. Thousands came here to seek their fortunes. Some remain etched into popular history, while others have faded into local lore.

Come to Death Valley to be awed and humbled, dazzled, and pushed out of your comfort zone. Youll wonder whether the searing heat and whipping cold are creating a mirageor lifting the scales from your eyes.

Cerro Gordo

salt flats.

hiking in Desolation Canyon

.

Go Off-Roading: Get your heart pumping and enjoy the view on the best .

salt flats feels like visiting another planet.

.

: Look to the sky to see countless glowing stars from this International Dark Sky Park.

Where to Go

Furnace Creek and the Amargosa Range

Iconic views, short hikes, and easy access make Furnace Creek and the Amargosa Range an excellent introduction to Death Valley. The village of Furnace Creek serves as the park headquarters, with a plethora of serviceslodging, campgrounds, restaurants, and even gas. The most popular sights are in this region, including Badwater Basin, Artists Drive, Devils Golf Course, and Natural Bridge.

Furnace Creek

The Amargosa Range provides opportunities for in-depth hiking, biking, and rock climbing. Dig into Death Valleys mining past by traveling the West Side Road to the rugged canyons of the Panamint Range, the orchards of Hungry Bills Ranch, or the bubbling oases of Hanaupah Canyon. An easy two-hour drive to the parks lightly visited Southeastern Corner yields scenic springs, ghost mines, and pristine dunes.

Stovepipe Wells and the Nevada Triangle

Stovepipe Wells and the Nevada Triangle are home to steep alluvial fans that lead to the wind-sculpted and colorful canyons of the Cottonwood and Grapevine Mountains, including Marble Canyon. The tiny visitor hub of Stovepipe Wells occupies a central location on Highway 190, with the scenic Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes within sight.

The Nevada Triangle serves as a jumping off point to the spectacularand popularTitus Canyon drive, as well as the haunting ghost town of Rhyolite. Nearby Beatty, Nevada, offers services in this tiny corner of the park.