Death Valley

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The Beauty of Death Valley

A March 2004 trip to Death Valley by Sergey

Zabriskie PointMore Photos

If you're into ragged cliffs, dreamy sands, and vulcanic craters, then don't miss the chance to visit Death Valley National Park.

  • 11 reviews
  • 31 photos

The Beauty of Death ValleyBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Death Valley - Eureka Dunes
Death Valley is an immensely diverse park. The places to visit are: Zabriskie's Point, Dante's Peak, Badwater, Mosaic Canyon, Sand Dunes at Stovepipe Wells, Eureka Dunes, Ubehebe Crater, and the Racetrack.

Quick Tips:

Water, water, water, water, and more water. Bring plenty of it. Also bring food when you go out because if you don't want to waste the time, you'll be pretty far away from civilization for most of the day. Cell phones? Forget about it, unless you've got one of them satellite phone thingees. The park is big, so allocate at least several days to see everything. To save time, you might want to stay at one of the hotels in the park itself.

Best Way To Get Around:

You can get by with a regular car, but for the best effect, you should rent an SUV. There is no such thing as public transportation. The park is immense, so allot several hours a day for travel time, even if you're staying in the park. Best way to get here: fly into Las Vegas and drive. It's only about a 3-4 hour drive (depending on how you drive, traffic, and how many stops you want to make) from the airport to Death Valley.

Stovepipe Wells VillageBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Stovepipe Wells"

If you don't want to spend $200 a night to stay at Furnace Creek, you can stay in this decent motel about 30-45 minutes further into the park. They have "standard" rooms, which are smallish and have two single beds, and "deluxe" rooms, which are bigger and have a queen or a king bed, a dining table, a TV, and a refigerator.

There's a restaurant on-site (the only one for miles around) that serves good food at reasonable prices. There's also a pool. The place isn't rated by AAA because they use actual keys for door locks instead of magnetic cards.

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Sergey on May 7, 2004

Stovepipe Wells Village
Highway 190 Death Valley, California 92328
(760) 786-2387

Zabriskie PointBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Zabriskie Point
A favorite spot for sunsets, this overlook features spectacular geological formations. Walk up from the parking lot to see tectonic forces at work. The folds in the surrounding mountains make them look like sand instead of the rock that they are. Definitely come to this spot towards sunset and stay until the sun is down. You won't regret it.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Sergey on May 7, 2004

Zabriskie Point
Death Valley Death Valley, California

Eureka DunesBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Eureka Dunes
One of several dune sites in the park, Eureka Dunes is not to be missed. The dunes tower more than 700 feet over the parking lot and camping area. Rugged mountains are nearby on one side and a large flat area stretches to another mountain chain on the other.

Don't miss the chance to climb up and into the sand. It looks imposing and the climb isn't an easy stroll on the beach. You will have to clamber up on sliding sand and you will get tired and sweaty. But the climb is well worth it. The silence, the vistas and the solitude are awe-inspiring. You might be more comfortable walking barefoot.

Getting here isn't as difficult as it may seem. The dunes are about a 1.5- to two-hour drive from Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek. Park maps might show a road that requires a 4x4 and the road is basically loose gravel, but it is flat and wide, and even a subcompact should be able to negotiate it easily. If it has been raining, however, watch out! The road can get washed out in places due to run-off. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Sergey on May 10, 2004

Eureka Dunes
Death Valley National Park Death Valley, California

Stovepipe Wells - Sand DunesBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Sand Dunes at Stovepipe Wells"

Sand Dunes at Stovepipe Wells
This is a smaller (than Eureka) set of dunes right next to the road a couple of miles outside of Stovepipe Wells village. The dunes here have a little bit more vegetation on them than in Eureka and the sand itself is different. These dunes stretch out in more of a wave-like formation, so as you climb further in, you feel like you're bobbing up and down in the ocean.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Sergey on May 13, 2004

Stovepipe Wells - Sand Dunes
SR 190 Death Valley, California

Dante's ViewBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Dante's View
Drive up the narrow and winding road to an observation point 5400 feet above the floor of Death Valley. Take in the breathtaking vistas. This spot is almost directly above Badwater and gives you a bird's eye view of a large chunk of Death Valley. Bring lots of film and a zoom lens. There's a trail that takes you away from the parking platform to the edge of the cliff. It's not too remote, but when you're there by yourself, it is quite peaceful. Be prepared for high winds and temperatures significantly colder than on the valley floor.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Sergey on May 15, 2004

Dante's View
Dante's View Rd. Death Valley, California

BadwaterBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Badwater
This area is basically salt flats, which is where the name comes from -- don't try drinking the water. There's a small parking lot and a small deck that leads you out onto the flats. Wander around in the immense flat area, which, by the way, is located about 200 feet below sea level.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Sergey on May 15, 2004

Badwater
Badwater Rd. Death Valley, California 92328

Artists PaletteBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Artists Palette
As you're returning to Furnace Creek from Badwater, make the turn onto the one-way road known as Artists Drive. In addition to the picturesque natural formations around you, you'll come to the spot known as Artists Palette. Here an abundance of different minerals in the rocks create splotches of different colors.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Sergey on May 15, 2004

Artists Palette
Artists Drive Death Valley, California

Mosaic CanyonBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Mosaic Canyon
Practically in Stove Pipe Wells, only a few minutes off SR 190, is the entrance to Mosaic Canyon. You can clamber across the rocks in this narrow marble-walled canyon to see the interesting rock formations and mosaic-like walls. The ground is uneven and you'll have to work a little bit to get through in some places.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Sergey on May 15, 2004

Mosaic Canyon
few minutes off SR 190 Death Valley, California

RacetrackBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "The Racetrack"

The Racetrack
Imagine a huge, flat plateau. Now imagine the wind blowing hard enough to move rocks weighing several pounds. The Racetrack is a dry lake bed. During early spring, water from runoff accumulates here and dries up by March. While the ground is slick, rocks slide around on it, pushed in many directions by the wind.

Go ahead, walk around, and look at the tracks left by the wandering rocks. At the first stop, you can walk over to the "Grandstand," which is the large formation of rocks in the middle. The moving rocks are at the second stop. You will have to drive on a gravel road for 30-45 minutes after you pass the entrance to Ubehebe Crater (stop here on the way back; see separate entry). If you want to smile, slow down as you pass Teakettle Junction.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by Sergey on May 15, 2004

Racetrack
Racetrack Rd. Death Valley, California

Ubehebe CraterBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Ubehebe Crater
You have to pass by here on the way to the Racetrack, but don't stop now; stop on the way back instead. This area actually consists of two craters: the big one and Little Ubehebe Crater. To get to the little crater, you have to walk up a steep gravel slope. If you've never seen what solidified lava looks like, then make a point of stopping. Be prepared for very windy conditions. There's a path that takes you down to the bottom of the big crater, but I didn't have the time to take it, so can't say much about it.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Sergey on May 15, 2004

Ubehebe Crater
Racetrack Valley Rd. Death Valley, California

About the Writer

Sergey
Sergey
Boston, Massachusetts

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