Death Valley Guide: Best Hikes, When to Visit & Where to Stay

Death Valley National Park, straddling the California-Nevada border, is a land of superlatives and extremes. It is the hottest place on Earth, the driest place in North America, and contains the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere -- Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level. On July 10, 1913, the temperature at Furnace Creek reached 134 degrees Fahrenheit, the highest reliably recorded air temperature in world history, and summer temperatures routinely exceed 120 degrees. The park is also the largest in the contiguous United States, encompassing 3.4 million acres -- an area larger than Connecticut -- of salt flats, sand dunes, volcanic craters, multicolored badlands, deep canyons, and mountain ranges that rise more than 11,000 feet above the valley floor. Telescope Peak, the park's highest point at 11,049 feet, is only 15 miles from Badwater Basin, creating an elevation differential of more than 11,300 feet in one of the most dramatic vertical landscapes on the continent.

Despite its name and reputation, Death Valley is not devoid of life. More than 1,000 plant species survive here, including endemic species found nowhere else. The Death Valley pupfish, a relic of Pleistocene lakes, clings to existence in a few tiny spring-fed pools and streams. Bighorn sheep, kit foxes, coyotes, and roadrunners inhabit the canyons and mountain slopes. And in rare years when winter rains are abundant, the valley floor erupts in a "superbloom" of wildflowers so dense it is visible from space -- millions of desert gold, notch-leaf phacelia, and gravel ghost covering the salt flats in carpets of yellow, purple, and white. Death Valley is not dead; it is a place where life has adapted to the most extreme conditions the continent can offer.

Best Hikes

Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral -- A 3-mile round trip hike through a narrow canyon of golden-yellow mudstone to the base of Red Cathedral, a towering amphitheater of red oxidized rock. The trail climbs approximately 400 feet through the colorful walls of Golden Canyon, with interpretive signs explaining the geology. For a longer option, continue to Zabriskie Point via Gower Gulch for a 6-mile loop. Difficulty: moderate. Allow 2-3 hours.

Mosaic Canyon -- A 4-mile round trip hike through a narrows of polished marble and breccia (a rock of angular fragments cemented together) that has been smoothed and sculpted by flash floods. The first 0.5 miles through the narrows is the highlight. Beyond the narrows, the canyon widens and the trail becomes rougher. Elevation gain is about 900 feet. Difficulty: moderate. Allow 2-3 hours.

Badwater Salt Flats -- A flat walk from the Badwater Basin parking area onto the vast salt flats -- the lowest point in North America. There is no formal trail; visitors walk across polygonal salt formations that extend for miles. Walking a mile or more onto the flats provides a sense of the scale and surreal beauty of this landscape. A sign on the cliff above the parking area marks sea level, 282 feet overhead. Difficulty: easy. Allow 1-2 hours.

Telescope Peak Trail -- The park's premier summit hike, this 14-mile round trip trail climbs 3,000 feet from the Mahogany Flat trailhead (8,133 feet) to the 11,049-foot summit of Telescope Peak. The trail passes through pinyon pine and limber pine forest with views that encompass the entire Death Valley basin, the Sierra Nevada, and on clear days, Mount Whitney -- the highest point in the contiguous United States, 85 miles to the west. From the summit, you can see both the highest and lowest points in the lower 48. Difficulty: strenuous. Allow 7-10 hours.

Natural Bridge Canyon -- A 2-mile round trip walk through a gravel wash to a natural bridge of cemented gravel spanning the canyon. The bridge is approximately 50 feet above the canyon floor. Beyond the bridge, the canyon narrows further and can be explored for additional distance. Difficulty: easy to moderate. Allow 1-1.5 hours.

Wildrose Peak Trail -- A 8.4-mile round trip trail that climbs 2,200 feet through pinyon-juniper woodland to the 9,064-foot summit of Wildrose Peak. The trail passes the historic Charcoal Kilns, 10 beehive-shaped stone kilns built in 1877 to produce charcoal for silver smelting. The summit offers panoramic views of Death Valley and the Panamint Range. Difficulty: strenuous. Allow 5-7 hours.

When to Visit

November-February -- Winter is the ideal season for Death Valley. Temperatures are pleasant to cool in the valley floor (highs in the 60s and 70s, lows in the 40s), making hiking, biking, and sightseeing comfortable. Night skies are exceptional. This is the busiest season, though crowds are manageable given the park's enormous size. Higher elevations can receive snow.

March-April -- Spring brings warming temperatures (highs in the 80s and 90s by April) and the possibility of wildflower blooms, particularly after wet winters. The blooms typically peak in mid-to-late March at lower elevations and April at higher elevations. Check the park's wildflower reports. By late April, temperatures are becoming uncomfortably hot in the valley.

May-September -- Summer in Death Valley is dangerously hot. June through August temperatures regularly exceed 120 degrees in the valley, and the ground surface temperature can reach 200 degrees. The park remains open, and a small number of visitors come specifically for the extreme heat experience. All hiking below 5,000 feet should be avoided. Even driving can be hazardous -- vehicles overheat, tires blow out on scorching pavement, and roadside breakdowns in the heat can become emergencies. The higher-elevation areas (Wildrose, Telescope Peak) remain accessible.

October -- A transitional month. Early October can still be very hot (highs above 100), but by late October temperatures moderate. This is a good time for fewer crowds and warming-to-pleasant conditions.

Where to Stay

The Inn at Death Valley (formerly Furnace Creek Inn) -- A luxury resort dating to 1927, perched on a hillside overlooking the valley floor. The mission-style architecture, spring-fed swimming pool, and refined dining room make it the most upscale lodging in the park. Rates range from $400 to $800+ per night during peak season. The property has been extensively renovated in recent years.

The Ranch at Death Valley (formerly Furnace Creek Ranch) -- A more casual, family-friendly resort at the base of the hills near Furnace Creek. Rooms are motel-style, comfortable, and more affordable ($200-$400/night). The property includes a spring-fed pool, golf course (the lowest in the world, at 214 feet below sea level), restaurants, a general store, and a gas station.

Stovepipe Wells Village -- A small lodge and campground on the valley floor near the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Rooms are simple and affordable ($130-$200/night). The village has a restaurant, saloon, general store, and gas station.

Panamint Springs Resort -- A small, independently operated motel, campground, and restaurant on Highway 190 at the western edge of the park. Rooms are basic but the location is convenient for exploring the Panamint Range. Rates start around $100/night.

Camping -- The park has nine campgrounds with over 1,000 sites. Furnace Creek Campground (136 sites, $22/night, reservable through Recreation.gov October-April) is the most popular. Sunset Campground (270 sites, $14/night, first-come) is nearby. Texas Spring Campground (92 sites, $16/night) is slightly higher and less crowded. Several free, primitive campgrounds are available at higher elevations (Emigrant, Wildrose, Thorndike, Mahogany Flat). Higher-elevation campgrounds are recommended in shoulder seasons and are the only comfortable options in summer.

Getting There

By Air -- Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) is the nearest major airport, approximately 120 miles and 2 hours from Furnace Creek via Highway 160 and Death Valley Junction. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is approximately 275 miles and 4.5-5 hours via Highway 14 and Highway 190.

By Car from Las Vegas -- Take Highway 160 west through Pahrump, then Bell Vista Road and Highway 190 west to the park. Alternatively, take US-95 north to Highway 373 south through Death Valley Junction. Both routes are approximately 120 miles and 2 hours. Ensure your vehicle is in good condition and your gas tank is full.

By Car from Los Angeles -- Take Highway 14 north through Lancaster and Mojave, then Highway 178 east through Trona and Panamint Valley, or continue north to Highway 190 east. Approximately 275 miles and 4.5-5 hours depending on route.

Within the Park -- Distances are enormous. Furnace Creek to Scotty's Castle (currently closed due to flood damage) is 53 miles. Furnace Creek to Badwater Basin is 17 miles. Furnace Creek to Stovepipe Wells is 24 miles. A full tank of gas and a reliable vehicle are essential.

Essential Tips

Entrance fees are $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass. The America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80) is accepted.

Water is your lifeline. The park recommends carrying a minimum of one gallon of water per person per day, and significantly more for any hiking. Dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke are real and potentially fatal risks. Drink before you are thirsty.

Vehicle preparation is critical. Carry extra water for your vehicle's radiator. Turn off your air conditioning on steep upgrades to prevent overheating. Carry a spare tire, jack, and basic tools. Cell service is essentially nonexistent in most of the park -- a breakdown in summer can become a life-threatening emergency. Inform someone of your itinerary.

Do not rely on GPS for navigation in Death Valley. GPS units and phone maps have directed travelers onto unmaintained mining roads that dead-end in remote canyons. Use the official park map and follow signed roads.

Gas is limited and expensive. Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, and Panamint Springs have gas stations, but prices are significantly higher than outside the park. Fill your tank before entering.

Sand dunes at sunset and sunrise -- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, easily accessible from the Stovepipe Wells area, are the most visited dunes in the park. There are no marked trails; visitors wander freely among the dunes. Sunrise and sunset create dramatic shadows and golden light. The dunes are moderate in size (the tallest is about 100 feet) and accessible to all fitness levels.

Night skies in Death Valley are among the darkest in the contiguous United States. The park is a Gold Tier International Dark Sky Park. The Milky Way and zodiacal light are clearly visible on moonless nights.

Nearby Attractions

Rhyolite Ghost Town -- Just outside the park's eastern boundary near Beatty, Nevada, the ruins of Rhyolite -- a boom-and-bust gold mining town that reached 10,000 residents in 1907 and was abandoned by 1916 -- include a three-story bank building, a jail, and the famous Bottle House (built from 50,000 beer and liquor bottles). The Goldwell Open Air Museum nearby features large-scale sculptures in the desert.

Manzanar National Historic Site -- About 100 miles west on Highway 395, Manzanar preserves the site of one of ten camps where Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II. The excellent visitor center and restored barracks provide a powerful and important historical experience.

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest -- In the White Mountains east of Big Pine on Highway 395, approximately 120 miles from the park, this forest contains the oldest known living trees on Earth, including Methuselah, a bristlecone pine more than 4,800 years old.

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge -- About 30 miles east of the park near Death Valley Junction, this oasis protects one of the highest concentrations of endemic species in the United States, including the Devil's Hole pupfish, which exists only in a single geothermal pool. The refuge's spring-fed wetlands are a striking contrast to the surrounding desert.