Death Valley

Death Valley is a desert valley in eastern California near the Nevada border and forms part of Death Valley National Park. It contains the lowest point in North America and a dramatic range of elevation within a relatively short distance.

The valley offers stark landscapes that include the white salt flats of Badwater Basin, colorful badlands at Zabriskie Point, and sweeping dune fields such as the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Many overlooks and short walks allow access to these features without long hikes.

Longer excursions reach higher and colder terrain - the park includes high mountain peaks, notably Telescope Peak which rises above the valley and provides alpine views contrasting with the desert floor. Popular viewpoints like Dante’s View give panoramic perspectives across the basin and surrounding ranges.

The valley has been inhabited intermittently for thousands of years by Native American groups and later crossed during westward expansion. Scientific surveys and conservation efforts in the 20th century led to protection as a national monument and later as Death Valley National Park.

Situated in eastern California, the valley lies along the California-Nevada region and is surrounded by mountain ranges including the Panamint Range to the west and the Amargosa Range to the east. Small visitor communities and ranger stations such as Furnace Creek serve as common bases for exploring the area.

• Extreme heat: Home to some of the hottest air temperatures ever recorded on Earth, including a 1913 reading at Furnace Creek widely reported as 134°F (56.7°C).
• Lowest point: Badwater Basin is the continent’s lowest point and is reached by a short drive from Furnace Creek with an accessible salt-flat surface.

What to See#

• Badwater Basin: Lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin, a salt-flat depression sitting about 86 metres (282 feet) below sea level, with a broad flat salt crust accessible by short boardwalks.
• Dante’s View: High viewpoint on the Black Mountains offering panoramic views across the valley floor and to the Panamint Range; a popular sunrise and sunset vantage point.
• Zabriskie Point: Erosional badlands and ochre-coloured clay formations with a short paved overlook popular for photography and easy walks.
• Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: Large crescent of sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells that are walkable from the roadside and used for short hikes and sand-sledding.
• Furnace Creek Visitor Area: Visitor services and interpretive exhibits located at Furnace Creek, a common base for tours and hikes in the valley.
• Telescope Peak: Highest peak in the Panamint Range rising above the valley floor to 11,043 feet (3,368 metres), reachable by a strenuous hiking route.

Death Valley is reached by Highway 190, which bisects the park east-west, and by State Route 190 from the west (near Stovepipe Wells) and State Route 267/190 from the eastern side. Las Vegas (about 2-2.5 hours by car) and Bishop/Big Pine to the west are common gateways; the park is large and services are limited-plan fuel and water carefully.

• Start the Badwater Basin visit at dawn to see the salt flats in cool light and to avoid mid-day heat.
• Avoid strenuous activity in mid-summer-the park records extreme temperatures above 120°F (49°C) and dehydration is a real risk.
• Drive carefully on park roads; cell coverage is spotty-carry sufficient water and supplies for long drives within the park.