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When something has the word "death" in its name, it's not very inspiring, is it? Not really! The two most famous places with such names, the Dead Sea and Death Valley, are actually two of my favorite places to visit. Both have a stark natural beauty that reminds me of how fascinating our planet is. (I also had the opportunity to visit both places in March 2022, which is just a coincidence!)
Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in California and is worth spending a few days exploring. However, many of us have limited vacation time and like to visit national parks as part of road trips, which means you can only have half a day or a day in Death Valley. What can be done in such a short time? It turns out that a lot, especially if you know what order to visit everything in order to make the best use of your time.
In this post, I will share my top tips for exploring Death Valley, as well as how to make the most of your day in Death Valley National Park. I put together an itinerary that uses geography to pack a ton without going back and wasting time. You'll need to spend the night before and the night in Death Valley to make the most of your time, but I've also given suggestions on where to stay for a short visit.
Whether you only have one day in Death Valley or are wondering if one day is enough, read on. My suggested Death Valley day itinerary will give you a good idea of all there is to see and do on your trip, and inspire you to stay a little longer if you can.
In this post, I promote a trip to the national park, which is the traditional land of the Timbisha Shoshone and Neve (Western Shoshone) peoples. I respectfully offer official recognition of this land, expressing appreciation and respect for past and present inhabitants of these lands. To learn more about the people who call these lands home, I invite you to explorehomeland.
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Planning a visit to Death Valley National Park
is the valley of deathhuge. I mean, like the vastness of Alaska, Death Valley National Park is the fifth largest national park in the United States.and the four largest national parks are in Alaska. It covers about 3.4 million acres (5,270 square miles), three quarters the sizeDenali National Parkand almost the same size asGlacier Bay National Park. All to say: it islargeAnd you can't see all of Death Valley in one daythree daysor, I would say, even a week!
However, don't let that put you off visiting. Once you have the logistics in mind and know what to do, you can make the most of your day in Death Valley or extend your trip knowing how much there is to see and do.
When to visit Death Valley National Park
I could probably write a whole post about when to visit Death Valley and what makes each season special, but the short answer is thisis the valley of deathNOsummer place.
While people visit in the summer, it is almost unbearably hot and it is very difficult for people and vehicles to stay hydrated and cool in this harsh climate. In fact, some parts of the park, including some campsites and services, are not open even during the summer months. Be sure to double check all your plans if you plan to visit in the summer...or postpone it to a more pleasant time of year.
The best time to visit Death Valley is from fall (September) to spring (April). I personally visited in early March and it was hot but bearable.
Driving and parking in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley has many trails in the park, but the most important ones you need to know when visiting for a short time are:
- California 190 (CA-190), which divides the park from east to west (roughly).
- bad waterwaywhich runs north to south from Furnace Creek to Badwater Basin.
- artist's impulsewhich departs from Badwater Road to visit the Artist's Pallette.
There are many other roads, and you will find many intersections when exploring Death Valley, but these are the three main roads most people will take on their visit, and the only ones you will take on my suggested day trip. valley route.
When it comes to parking, there's plenty of parking in most of the park, although it's always a good idea to visit popular areas earlier in the day to make sure you find a spot. With this in mind, I have presented my suggestions for activities for a day in Death Valley.
Entrance fees to Death Valley National Park
As part of the National Parks system, Death Valley operates on the same terms as other parks. You must pay an entrance fee or use a national park pass to enter.
Here are your options:
- Entrance fee for private vehicles, valid for 7 days, is USD 30.This makes sense if you have more than one day in Death Valley and plan on going in and out multiple times; even if you are only coming for one day, you will have to pay this fee.
- Entrance to the park is $15 per person, good for 7 days. Honestly, I have no ideaBecauseyou would walk into Death Valley, but it is an option. (This pass also applies to cyclists.)
- annualAmerica Beautiful Mountain Passwhich is $80.This will take you to all national parks and all federal states that charge fees. I got my first one in 2019 and it's such a big money saver thatAmerica the Beautiful Pass is totally worth it!you can getAmerica the Beautiful Pass de REI.
You can read more about fees and verify that the above information is correct inDeath Valley NPS website.
Where to stay in/near Death Valley National Park
Surprisingly, there are plenty of accommodation options in Death Valley. There are four accommodation facilities available in Death Valley:
- An oasis in death valleyincludes bothInn in Death ValleyyDeath Valley Ranch, sister properties in the Furnace Creek area.
- Hotel Stovepipe Wellsin the Stovepipe Wells area.
- Resort Panamint Springsat the western end of the park at CA-190. (This is where I spent the first night of my two/three night stay.)
You can also set up camp in Death Valley National Park. There are nine camps in total; three have vehicle restrictions and another three are only open from late fall to spring (so there are six winter camps and three summer camps). During my visit I rented a van frompassenger busand that gave me the flexibility to stay overnight in different parts of the park; stayed at Panamint Springs the first night and Sunset Campground the second night as Furnace Creek and Texas Springs were full.
What to do in Death Valley National Park
(When you only have one day)
If you only have one day in Death Valley then I recommend:
- Landing at Zabriskie Point
- Stop at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center
- Trek through the Golden Canyon to the Red Cathedral
- Visit the Badwater Pool
- Browse contractor entity
- Lunch at Stovepipe Wells
- Mosaic Canyon Hike
- Watch the sunset at Mesquite Flat Dunes
- Stargazing (optional)
Here are more details on each of these steps and how to do them.
Landing at Zabriskie Point
I'll be honest, it was really hard for me to decide where to start and end my day when you only have one day in Death Valley; I chose to start at Zabriskie Point because it's close to Furnace Creek and it's a good central place to stay or camp with so little time in the park. it's a 7 minute drive from Furnace Creek to Zabriskie Point.
Zabriskie Point is a great sunrise spot as you can watch the sky light up behind you and illuminate the Badlands around you as soon as you walk the short cobbled path less than a quarter of a mile to the viewpoint.
Stop at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Then I recommend returning to Furnace Creek to stop at the Visitor Center. This is always a good idea as this is where you can get the most up-to-date information on what is open and available in the park.
Depending on the season, the Visitor Center may not be open just after sunrise; if so, continue this tour as below and stop at the Visitor Center before continuing for lunch at Stovepipe Wells.
Trek through the Golden Canyon to the Red Cathedral
Hiking is one of the best activities in Death Valley; In fact, I covered about 20 miles during my three-day visit, which is way more than I normally walk! There are so many great trails here, especially if you're willing to put up with some sun and heat to take advantage of several trails in a day.
The first trail I recommend is the one you need to get to early: Gold Canyon to the Red Cathedral. This trail is amazing, but it's getting doneVeryIt's hot at noon and parking can be difficult as this is one of the most popular trails in Death Valley. It's a short five-minute drive down Badwater Road from Furnace Creek.
Golden Canyon connects to many other trails in the Badlands; if you look at the map it is exactly "under" Zabriskie Point. Anyway, the trail I recommend is the Golden Canyon to the branch of the Red Cathedral. This trail is easy to moderate 3 miles back and forth with amazing rock formations. At the other end of the Red Cathedral, you'll find yourself at the base of an over 400-meter cliff.
Visit the Badwater Pool
After returning from the Golden Canyon, head south on Badwater Road to Badwater Basin. Along the way, you can stop to explore and hike at places like Devil's Golf Course or the Natural Bridge Trail, but I recommend skipping these as you only have one day at the park. (These are great places to visit if you have more time!)
Badwater Basin is at the southern "end" of Badwater Road; the road actually goes on, but it's not worth going any further if you only have one day in Death Valley. Instead, park up and explore this vast salt flat at the lowest point in North America.
The trail to Badwater Basin stretches over half a mile each way; you can follow it to the salt if you want. However, be aware that this area is fully exposed and the sun will be pouring down on the salt cellar in the middle of the morning. Be sure to take plenty of water with you, even if you only plan to walk a mile there and back.
Browse contractor entity
From Badwater Basin, turn north and take Badwater Road to the Artist's Drive exit. Unlike other parts of this tour, Artist's Drive is beautiful at noon, although of course it's still very hot!
Artist's Drive is a nine-mile loop off Badwater Road. It's a one-way trip, so you'll need to take the south detour and exit the north. There are places to pull up and park along the way, as well as some easy trails. Be sure to stop at the parking lot 1.5 miles up the road and walk to the top of the hill; there is an amazing panoramic view at the top.
The second place that you must visit is the Artist's Palette. Located 7.5 miles up Artist's Drive, this small car park leads to a system of trails in the hills. This is one of those must-see (and photograph) places in Death Valley, and it's worth taking a bottle of water for a walk to enjoy the scenery and feel "lost" among the incredibly colorful hills.
Lunch at Stovepipe Wells
After turning onto Artist's Drive, head north on Badwater Road back to CA-190. Once there, turn onto Furnace Creek, stopping at Visitor Cetner if you haven't already, before heading to Stovepipe Wells. This is another little stop in Death Valley where you can refuel, in this case lunch!
Since I was #vanlifing in Death Valley during my trip, I made most of my meals myself, but there is also a restaurant and lounge for those who didn't bring food to the park. Toll Road Restaurant offers an American Dinner menu (burgers, etc.) and pre-arranged and pick-up lunches to continue your adventures without stopping for a formal meal.
Mosaic Canyon Hike
The Mosaic Canyon exit is just outside Stovepipe Wells and is a great way to spend an afternoon. This canyon is better protected from the sun than the Golden Canyon, making it ideal for the afternoon hours on a hot day. Its name comes from the mosaic rock formations that can be seen on the first section of the trail.
The four-mile round-trip trail ranges from easy to difficult depending on how far you want to hike; There are cairns and stone arrows along the road to help you find your way. There are three main sections of the trail, each of which is progressively more challenging and impressive. The trail ends on a dry slope (middle photo above) so it's very clear when you reach the end and you'll have to turn around.
I recommend starting this tour no later than 3 hours before sunset so you can enjoy it properly without worrying about the light. (Since Death Valley is a large basin, the sun sets quickly behind the mountains!)
Watch the sunset at Mesquite Flat Dunes
After Mosaic Canyon, you can stop for dinner at Stovepipe Wells (or make your own dinner if you brought food) before heading back to Furnace Creek for the night. On the way, you can't miss the towering Mesquite Flat Dunes, which are the perfect place to stop and walk through the dunes to enjoy the sunset.
As I mentioned, the sun goes down quickly, so I recommend bringing a flashlight if you plan to walk more than a quarter of a mile into the dunes (the top of a high dune is 1 mile each way). Among the dunes it is easy to get lost or disoriented, especially when the sun goes down.
After sunset, return to your car and drive back to Furnace Creek. If you haven't had dinner yet, you can eat atRestoration 1849at the ranch in Death Valley or prepare whatever you brought with you.
Stargazing (optional)
There is one more activity to enjoy after sunset: stargazing! Death Valley National Park is a certified International Dark Sky Park and has some of the best dark skies in the country (and certainly Southern California).
There's a littlestargazing programs run by the guardians, or you can go out on your own to enjoy the stars. I have a setA guide to stargazing in Death Valley(including the best stargazing spots) on my space tourism page.
Once you've had your fill of the night sky, it's time to go to sleep, and head off to your next destination tomorrow.
If you have more than one day in Death Valley
At this point, you can thinkMaybe I should stay in Death Valley for a few more days!And you'd be right to think soSomany more that I have not covered in this post!
Some extra activities you can do if you choose to spend more time in Death Valley include:
- Discoverpanaminium springsand the western part of the park
- trip toDarwin's cataract(a real waterfall in Death Valley!)
- Challenge yourself in "extremely difficult"Sidewinder Canyonwith the best slot canyons in the park (need to go back and finish this trail)
- Take a walk to see the unique species of fishsalty stream
- trip tonature bridge
- Marvel at the strange salt formations indevil's golf course
And there's so much more. I will be sharing my 2-3 day Death Valley guide soon, which will incorporate some of these activities into a longer itinerary; I'll add a link here when it's released so you can compare routes and decide if it's worth adding extra days. (Spoilers: I think so!)
Do you have any other questions about how to spend a day in Death Valley? Let me know in the comments!