Death Valley is one of the hottest places in the world, let alone the USA. Many potential visitors ignore the park due to the misconception that it is simply a lifeless, empty landscape, but there is a lot to discover and see in Death Valley.
Where is Death Valley National Park?
Death valley is a desert valley in eastern California in the northern Mojave Desert, which borders the Great Basin Desert. It’s about 130 miles from Las Vegas which takes about two hours to get there. You can find some tours that make a day trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley.
Things to see in Death Valley
Here are some of the top things to see in Death Valley.
Artist Drive
The rocks in this part of the park have been colored a myriad of colors by minerals, creating a look similar to an artist’s palette.
Bath water
At 282 feet below sea level, it is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. A promenade and signs provide information about the area, and a path leads into the salt marshes.
Dante’s view
Spectacular views from a lookout just a mile or two from Badwater, but 4,000 feet higher. The walk to Dante’s view is a bit long, but the view is worth it. If you are towing a trailer, there is a parking lot to leave your trailer in before climbing the hardest part of the road to Dante’s View.
Devil’s Cornfield
A bizarre landscape made up of a huge field of salt crystals. Please admire them carefully! A light touch can break the crystals, which often takes years to form again.
Echo Canyon
4WD road east of Furnace Creek.
Mustard Gorge
A popular hike north of Furnace Creek through a colorful gorge. The best view is at the end of the trail, which requires crossing some narrow canyon walls and over ladders. Star Wars fans can recognize this place as the Jawa hideout from Episode 3.
Mushroom rocks
This oddly potted rock is on the road south of Furnace Creek.
Natural bridge
Head south from Furnace Creek. The Natural Bridge is located east of the main road over a dirt road. This natural bridge in a narrow canyon was created when erosion managed to undercut a section of the creek bed and eventually create a bridge well above the canyon floor.
Salt Creek
Travel north from Furnace Creek. Salt Creek is about two miles west of the main drag via an easy dirt road. This place is great. Long ago Death Valley was a fish lake; As the lake dried up and the salinity increased, the fish evolved to deal with it. Now they are limited to a short, salty stream that springs from the desert, flows a few hundred meters and then falls back into the sand.
Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Museum
If you’re visiting Death Valley, start here and you’ll find that a sight you weren’t interested in really does interest you. Or find out which of these many places in Death Valley you should really visit.
Zabriskie Point
Famous lookout loved by photographers east of Furnace Creek. View of interesting weathered canyons. The view is a two minute walk from the parking lot.
Day trip from Las Vegas to Death Valley
Death Valley is a popular day trip from Las Vegas.
Small-group day trips to Death Valley National Park from Las Vegas
Explore the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere in Death Valley National Park, the largest national park in the United States, on this guided full-day trip from Las Vegas.
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