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Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the United States and is located in California. It is known for being the hottest place on the planet. Death Valley is a name that could make you think twice about visiting.
Death Valley is a great place to visit. There is a desert on one side and a mountain on the other.
There is a salt basin and a volcanic crater, as well as a strange natural phenomenon that causes the rocks to move with no gravity.
Don't worry if you're not sure what to do in Death Valley. We have listed all the top things to do in Death Valley, as well as some valuable tips and advice to make sure you get the most out of your visit.
We did not know there were so many amazing things to do in Death Valley. This isn't just a place you drive through on your way to other destinations.
After five months of desert travel and daily hikes, I was not ready to visit Death Valley National Park.
Our Las Vegas RV Park has a pool that is more exciting.
I had just cleaned our travel trailer and removed all the red mud and dust from Utah. I didn't like the idea of adding a new layer of dust.
We tried to visit Death Valley NP in the winter but the RV parks were full and we didn't have solar power so we didn't go.
We now have more options.
When we checked the weather report, we found the perfect time to explore all the top things to do in Death Valley National Park.
The weather dropped from the high 100s to the low 80s for the two days we were there.
There wouldn't be any more perfect opportunities. We dragged it with our feet.
After I kicked my shoes off, they perked up a bit.
Death Valley National park is known for what. Death Valley is the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the US.
At Badwater Basin, there was a white plaque with huge capitals that said Sea Level. We were standing in the middle of nowhere.
One of the cool Death Valley facts is that the Death Valley elevation is below sea level.
I was not expecting it to be that high. How could we not have taken that chance?
Death Valley California has the highest temperature ever recorded.
The hottest average temperatures in Death Valley Park history have been recorded in the last two years. The highest recorded temperature was 130 degrees.
The earth is heating up and we are aware of it.
The death of this valley is sandwiched between two mountain ranges and you are going into a bowl here.
There is a chance that an earthquake will make the valley a little cooler.
I don't understand why we think nature has finished her work. It is always moving and changing in subtle ways. The progress to more exquisite beauty is not noticed by us.
The windiest was when we visited. It almost knocked us off our feet, but at least it cooled us down a bit.
It was the hottest, driest, and lowest part of the continent that surprised us the most.
It was the perfect way to finish five months in the desert and move to Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
Death Valley is one of the best USA national parks if you don't know what to do there.
You don't need to do crazy hiking adventures like Angels Landing in Zion National park.
Its beauty is awe inspiring.
It's an easy national park to visit, it doesn't have a lot of people, and it doesn't require much other than a few steps from your car to the viewpoint.
It's possible to wear flip-flops for most of the trip. It was a good experience for us since we just spent weeks hiking.
If you want to visit the Death Valley, you want to be careful, but if you want to stay, you want to be careful. Many signs around the park remind you that hiking after 10 am is not advisable.
Driving through Death Valley is worth it if you only stop to see Zabriskie Point. I've never seen a landscape like that before.
There are sand dunes frozen in time that stretch out in front of you with a river running through them and a mountain range behind them.
The salt flats can be seen in the valley below.
The shapes and colors are amazing. Maybe we will come up with a new word to say that. It is called The Zabriskie.
It was best at sunrise, according to the ranger. We followed the travel bible after seeing a photo of a sunset from here.
Sunrise at Zabriskie Point is worth doing. It gave us a beautiful perspective after we visited about two hours after the sun set. The mountains and salt flats were visible as the sun shone.
We weren't able to get there with the kids in time for sunrise.
This is one of the best things to do in Death Valley National park.
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, and the Death Valley is one of the best.
The hexagonal honeycomb shapes can be seen on the salt flats. I don't think we visited at the right time, or walked out far enough to see those, but it was still an amazing place to explore and walk bare feet on.
The devils golf course is made of rock salt eroded by wind and rain into jagged spires.
The name Badwater Death Valley comes from the pool of undrinkable water next to the gravel road in a sink and the accumulated salt in the basin that makes it undrinkable.
The thin salt crust is pushed into hexagonal honeycomb shapes by repeated freeze–thaw and evaporation cycles.
The area gets less than two inches of rain a year, leaving behind mineral deposits that cover the basin like a dusting of snow.
The Badwater Basin is very popular and the parking lot fills fast.
It's important to bring lots of water and follow the warnings about hiking during the hot summer months.
Add this to your list of things to do in Death Valley National Park.
Dante's View is off the path but still worth it.
The entire road is paved, but the last section is not suitable for RV travel. If you need to leave your trailers, there are parking bays available.
The desert landscape became lush as the road climbed the mountain.
Dante's View gives you the best view of Death Valley. You don't want to miss something. The salt basin is deep in the valley that spans for miles.
It is a Death Valley that is unlike anything you have seen before.
At Dante's Viewpoint, we had to remove the jacket from the car seat. It was nice to escape from the heat.
Pack your scarves and beanies if you go to Death Valley National Park in the winter.
Death Valley is one of the most unique scenic drives I have ever seen.
It was where the inspiration for the Cars Ride at Disneyland came from.
We were driving around the foothills of the mountains on a dirt road that was only a few feet wide. Our F250 wasdwarfed by the mountains on the other side.
The Artist Drive is named after it because the mountain faces look like someone had painted over them.
We can definitely say that it has earned that title, even though we had doubts about the validity of the name before we went on it.
We didn't see a lot of blue on the rocks in Utah.
There are two sections on this 9-mile Death Valley National Park scenic drive that you can take to see more of the colors.
The day after they opened this drive, we were able to arrive. It had been closed for a long time. It was all new and the road was dark black, making it pop even more.
We would have missed this trip if it hadn't been delayed for a few months.
God's delays aren't God's denials. The delays will bring you something.
When we were going to hike the Golden Canyon, we had a lot of stuff up.
Since they were born to be responsible travelers, we have trained them to pack their own bags, dress, and snacks.
We are usually able to check them.
We did not when we went for a drive in the afternoon.
It was great to go to the hottest place in the world without shoes. It worked well at the salt flats and we weren't expecting to go hiking.
After stumbling upon Golden Canyon, we decided to take a look at it. There was no match for bare feet.
We put Kalyra's boots on her feet after finding them in the car. We thought of rolling down the boots as they fell off. They stayed on her feet, but it wasn't comfortable for her.
We only had a short way in before we ended her torture.
One of the best hikes is the Golden Canyon. You can combine it with the two loops.
The rock has a variety of colors and shapes. As the raven flew down the canyon, it swooshed its wings as it flew high above us.
We were hoping to go to the red cathedral which is 1.5 miles away.
You can hike 2.5 miles all the way to Zabriskie's Point, which is one of the top things to do in Death Valley National Park when we return.
If you could time it at sunset, it would be amazing.
If you want to go back, you need someone to meet you there. Put this on your hiking list.
I read that the Salt Creek Trailhead is a great place for families to go in Death Valley National Park, so I decided to check it out, but wasn't expecting much.
We are quite adventurous and go on many challenging hikes, but once again Death Valley stole the show for me.
Death Valley NP's Salt Creek Trailhead is a must see. The desert is full of life and it is only a mile away from the main road.
There is a green brush on either side of the creek.
The cliffs are white and yellow.
The boardwalk in Death Valley National Park is flat and wheelchair accessible.
The kids will love seeing the pupfish. They are similar to tadpoles. Before their one-year lifespan is up, they need to be fed and bred.
In Death Valley National Park, this is the most popular thing to do.
We arrived at the wrong time to see the sand dunes.
We arrived at the national park at the same time as hundreds of French tourists on buses, after visiting on the way out of the west entrance. It was not an offense to them as we are tourists and want the same things, but it did mean a lot of people were in the sand. You had a good language to listen to.
It was the middle of the day and it was very hot, so it was hard to take photos.
The highest sand dune is a mile from you. A mile is an easy walk on the flat but up and over sand dunes make it a different kind of trail.
We were happy to stand and watch the Death Valley National Park sand dunes since they were the last thing we were going to do after 5 months in the desert.
The sand dunes are great for your kids to play in. The girls were tired and didn't want to play in the sand dunes.
You can come early or late in the day. It's supposed to be wonderful at sunset. If you can, I would let you know when it is.
It is a fair way from the other Death Valley attractions so that could affect your timing.
There is life in this valley even though the title is Death.
Animals can be found in Death Valley if you look closely.
There was a coyote running across the main road near our campsite.
There is a cute chuckwalla lizard at the sand dunes.
The girls did their Junior Ranger pledge and we learned about it from the Ranger. The predator can't snatch it away because it got in between two rocks.
I love the outdoors. It did little push-ups and we liked it.
When a raven flew above us down the canyon, it was one of my favorite things to see. A lot of ravens are flying. It's a silent appreciation.
The pupfish in Salt Creek were fun to see. It's important to admire something that can survive in salty water.
There are reminders that the desert holds life.
There are scorpions, road runners, kit foxes, rattlesnakes, and bats in Death Valley NP.
TheJunior Ranger program was created by the National Park service.
It makes a difference to your child's perception of the environment they are in. They'll learn a lot.
When you're done saying your pledge and getting your badges, go to the Death Valley National Park Visitor Center.
I was so grateful that a program like this exists to teach our children to protect Mother Nature as my girls learned more about the desert.
I have faith that the generation we are raising will do well. They have a lot of information and people working hard to change things.
Taking care of the planet is something that we do.
In Death Valley National Park, you can see Ubehebe crater. One of the largest craters in the world is 700 feet deep. It is one of the oldest craters, with an estimated age of 2,100 years.
The risk of an eruption is very low.
The hike around the crater is relatively easy for most hikers. You can see the crater from the parking lot, but you can also walk around the crater to take photos.
Ubehebe crater is an amazing place to visit in Death Valley National park. One of the most stunning areas in the country is accessible through this route.
The Racetrack Playa is a dry lake bed that is flat and featureless, making it a good place to test the theory that stones can move on their own.
No one knows how the rocks move. Some people think that the wind is to blame for the rocks moving. It is still an interesting place to visit despite no definitive answer.
It is not allowed to drive off-road. The road is difficult to drive on if you have a high clearance car.
Death Valley National Park has a place called Mosaic Canyon. The canyon is lined with colorful, vitreous rocks that have been eroded by wind and water over time.
There is a hiking trail that goes through the middle of the canyon. There are a lot of informative signs along the way.
The hike is moderate to difficult due to a boulder disrupting the path and only adventurous hikers can get around it.
Mosaic Canyon is a must-see destination if you visit Death Valley National Park. You will be happy.
The canyon is named after the twenty mule teams that used to transport borax out of the area.
You can drive through the canyon on your way to the point.
The canyon is known for it's unique rock formations. They have been used for many blockbuster movies.
This is a great place to stop and take photos of yourself pretending to be a Jedi if you are a fan of the movies.
There is a must-see attraction in Death Valley National park. Walter E. Scott never lived there. The building is a mansion with some castle-like features.
Albert Mussey Johnson, a millionaire from Chicago, built it in the 1920s as a ruse to invest in Scott's gold mine. The building was named after Johnson because he and Scott became good friends despite the mine being fake.
Johnson and his wife visited the building many times. The villa was taken over by the national park service in 1970.
The castle is a great example of Spanish architecture. Gardens and ponds are on the grounds.
If you visit Death Valley National Park, be sure to check out Scotty's Castle. It is amazing to see how someone would want to build such a large mansion in this area.
Hikers of all levels can enjoy the Darwin Falls hike. The hike is fairly easy and makes it a great hike for beginners.
The trail leads to a waterfall. In the desert there are streams and you have to cross them to get to the other side.
The best time to visit the trail is in the spring when the flowers bloom.
The waterfall is a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors. The falls are a source of drinking water, so you can't swim there. There are no services along the way so it's important to bring water and snacks.
Telescope Peak is a great place to hike in Death Valey. There is snow at the top of the highest point in the national park.
Telescope Peak is a great place to view the park's salt flats, canyons, and mountains. Telescope Peak is one of the best places to visit in the park for sunrise since it gives a panoramic view of most of the park. You can see the forest on a clear day.
The peak can be reached by way of two trails. Even for experienced hikers, it can take several hours to reach the summit even if you choose a different route.
You will get a panoramic view of the park once you get to the top.
Before you go to Death Valley, you should read these important words of advice.
There are some helpful tips and advice for planning your trip to Death Valley, from how to get there to how to organize your trip.
Death Valley is mostly located east of the Sierra Nevada in southwestern California.
Death Valley is easy to get to from Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
California Highway 190 runs from the east to the west.
We recommend staying overnight if you come in for the day. It will give you enough time to do everything at the right time.
We planned the perfect itinerary to see all the Death Valley attractions. That will be shared with you.
Depending on the time of day when you visit and the direction from where you enter and exit the park, your timing will change.
We arrived from Las Vegas via Highway 95 in the afternoon and then traveled to Bakersfield via Highway 190 after lunch.
If you arrive mid-afternoon on the first day, you can see these attractions.
The first day of the new year.
The second day was day 2.
It would be a very long day and very hurried. We did it the same way. Arrive in the afternoon and stay the night.
If you don't own a car, Rental Cars.com is the world's biggest rental car booking service that compares all the major brands.
If you want to rent a unique camper or RV, make sure to check RVshare.
Death Valley can be combined with other California national parks.
There are other ideas for Las Vegas.
If you are short on time, we recommend staying in furnace creek.
The main attractions in Death Valley are closer to this location. It is located in a shady and nice area. The heat will give you more relief.
In the open heat of the desert, Stovepipe Wells Village is a more secluded place, but it is close to the sand dunes. It won't matter a lot in winter.
Death Valley National Park camping spots are usually found from my research.
If you need RV hookups on a Southwest Road trip you will want to reserve them in advance.
There are campgrounds in the national park. There are two prices for hookups. All but Furnace Creek are first served.
The campground was closed when we were there. During the summer months, reservations are strongly recommended. There are a few hookups.
There are private campgrounds.
Outside of Death Valley, there are a few RV parks that you can use if you get stuck.
Harvest Host is located just outside the park. For long-term RVers and boondockers, you need to be a Harvest Host member.
Two Death Valley National Park hotels are located at the Oasis at Death Valley.
There is a Four Diamond Inn at Death Valley. The Ranch at Death Valley is family friendly.
It would be here if I were to stay at a hotel in Death Valley. It was located on a hill surrounded by desert palms and overlooks the salt flats.
There are a lot of things to see and do in Death Valley National Park.
Take a lot of water and sun protection with you. You are going to need it as the hottest place on the planet.
Death Valley tours can be done from Las Vegas if you can't make it to Death Valley. Tour options are listed below.
Are you looking for more places to visit in the USA? These posts should be the first one you start with.
Do you plan on visiting more national parks in the USA? These guides could be useful.
I hope this guide will help you plan your trip. Leave a comment if you have any questions about Death Valley.
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