Hottest, Driest, Lowest: A superlative desert of streaming sand dunes, snow-capped mountains, multicolored rock layers, water-fluted canyons and 3 million acres of wilderness. Full of nature and history, there are endless activities in the park. About the size of the state of Connecticut, one can spend weeks exploring Death Valley and only scratch the surface of what there is to see and do.
Hiking Trails
Golden Canyon Interpretive Trail - easy 2-mile round trip trail though Golden Canyon with Red Cathedral just beyond.
Gower Gulch Loop - moderate 4-mile through colorful badlands, narrow canyons, and old mines.
Desolation Canyon - moderate 3-mile hike through a narrow, colorful canyon.
Natural Bridge Canyon - easy 2-3-mile walk through a narrow canyon to a natural bridge.
Badwater Salt Flat - easy 1-mile walk to the lowest place in North America made from the crust of salt crystals. It's 0.5 mile to the start of the flat and 5-miles wide.
Salt Creek Interpretive Trail - easy 0.5-mile interpretive trail, perfect for seeing wildlife in late winter/early spring.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes - easy 2-mile hike among sand dunes. Best in morning or late afternoon when the light is best.
Mosaic Canyon - moderate 3-mile hike though a narrow canyon with polished walls
Titus Canyon Narrows - easy 3-mile hike to lower Titus Canyon. Continue further to Klare Springs and petroglyphs.
Dante's Ridge - moderate 1-8-mile hike to Mt. Perry. The first viewpoint is 0.5 miles in, and another 3.5-miles to reach Mt. Perry.
Little Hebe Crater Trail - moderate 1-mile trail past volcanic craters.
Golden Canyon Interpretive Trail - easy 2-mile round trip trail though Golden Canyon with Red Cathedral just beyond.
Gower Gulch Loop - moderate 4-mile through colorful badlands, narrow canyons, and old mines.
Desolation Canyon - moderate 3-mile hike through a narrow, colorful canyon.
Natural Bridge Canyon - easy 2-3-mile walk through a narrow canyon to a natural bridge.
Badwater Salt Flat - easy 1-mile walk to the lowest place in North America made from the crust of salt crystals. It's 0.5 mile to the start of the flat and 5-miles wide.
Salt Creek Interpretive Trail - easy 0.5-mile interpretive trail, perfect for seeing wildlife in late winter/early spring.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes - easy 2-mile hike among sand dunes. Best in morning or late afternoon when the light is best.
Mosaic Canyon - moderate 3-mile hike though a narrow canyon with polished walls
Titus Canyon Narrows - easy 3-mile hike to lower Titus Canyon. Continue further to Klare Springs and petroglyphs.
Dante's Ridge - moderate 1-8-mile hike to Mt. Perry. The first viewpoint is 0.5 miles in, and another 3.5-miles to reach Mt. Perry.
Little Hebe Crater Trail - moderate 1-mile trail past volcanic craters.
Trails
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Ubehebe Crater
A Death Valley hike at this crater who's name is Shoshone for "big basket in the rock."
A Death Valley hike at this crater who's name is Shoshone for "big basket in the rock."
Easy
2.3 mi/
3.7 km
3.7 km
Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop
Experience the beautiful Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch as a loop from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley
Experience the beautiful Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch as a loop from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley
Moderate
6.9 mi/
11.1 km
11.1 km
Pleasant Canyon/South Park 4x4 Loop
Challenging route to Briggs Mine Adopt-a-Cabin
Challenging route to Briggs Mine Adopt-a-Cabin
Difficult
23 mi/
37 km
37 km
Inyo Mountains Wilderness
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Swansea-Cerro Gordo 4x4 Road
Rugged backway to Salt Tram Station and Cerro Gordo Ghost Town
Rugged backway to Salt Tram Station and Cerro Gordo Ghost Town
Moderate
33 mi/
54 km
54 km
Manly Peak Wilderness
Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Goler Wash/ Mengel Pass 4x4 Trail
Many interesting mines and cabins to see, including Charles Manson Hideout
Many interesting mines and cabins to see, including Charles Manson Hideout
Difficult
15.6 mi/
25 km
25 km
Guides
Hiking to a waterfall in Death Valley
Rugged backway to Salt Tram Station and Cerro Gordo Ghost Town
Experience the beautiful Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch as a loop from Zabriskie Point in Death Valley
A Death Valley hike at this crater who's name is Shoshone for "big basket in the rock."
Popular SUV backroad in Death Valley National Park
Challenging route to Briggs Mine Adopt-a-Cabin
Many interesting mines and cabins to see, including Charles Manson Hideout
1.3 mile trail near Lane Mill (historical), California
2.5 mile trail near Keeler, California
Community Trips
Leaving the Salt Creek, we continued driving north on the hwy and eventually turned west towards Stovepipe Wells, passed Devil’s Cornfield, and Sand Dunes was on the right. We had planned ahead so we could see the sunset from the sand dunes. As we walked further away from the parking lot, the sand dunes was getting smoother and higher. Some of the dunes could get so high that we had to take...
Fall Canyon - Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park, California, United States
3.7 miles
3.7 miles
On day 2 of our trip to Death Valley National Park we headed to Fall Canyon for a long day hike through canyon
narrows and to do some bouldering. We explored the first 4 1/2 miles of
the canyon gorge that lead us through spectacular deep, colorful, and
winding corridors.
Having the lowest elevation in North America (86m below sea level), this basin was entirely covered with salt. This hot temperature and the lowest salt flat are the main attraction bringing us here. Walking randomly on the salt basin, we felt like walking on a frozen lake except for the heat. It was very hot there. Despite of the heat and the dryness, we did see some water when we dug deep...
Spring hike up Telescope peak. Started at Throndike because road up to Mahogany Flat was closed due to snow. Put on crampons for the final 2 miles due to snow and ice. Got to the summit for a wonderful view of the Sierras, White Mountains, Badwater and Mt Charleston (near Las Vegas).Pretty chilly at the top, 29 degreees and wind gusting to 40mph.
A pretty desert wash hike, but the real attraction is several narrow slot canyons that come in on the south side. Some places are deep and dark enough to require a flashlight! Very cool place...
The full trip report is at this blog post.
This was two day rides, the southwestern loop on day one, and the north eastern loop on day two. Both started at the campground at Furnace Creek. My ride was a BMW F800GS. Including me, there were 5 riders on day 1, 7 on day 2. Pics:Deano's PicsMy PicsTed's PicsDay one went out the West Road and up to Warm Springs. There is an abandoned house and swimming pool there near a mine, with a...
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