Should i go to death valley

This is the most popular season in the park; while there are plenty of campsites to go around, a weekend arrival means you may have to drive around a bit to find a place to lay your head. The heat index is relentless from May through October; highs rocket into triple digits and can hover there overnight. For this reason, park authorities close several campgrounds and caution against outdoor activities during the day.

While Sunset closed in summer and Stovepipe Wells are the largest campgrounds, with and spaces, respectively, my favorite is the site Texas Springs, which is centrally located and perched just high enough to offer great views of the surrounding area. Be sure to park your car right next to the road to minimize impact. During hotter months, you may want to skip the campgrounds altogether and check into one of four hotels within the park.

If you plan to spend several days here, schedule your activities by location. Bed down at the ten-site Mahogany Flat Campground next to the trailhead for an early start on the strenuous mile round-trip hike. Keep an eye out for gnarled stands of ancient bristlecone pines along the way. Within a mile, the vegetation gives way to unobstructed views of the valley. The meadow between Rogers and Bennett Peaks is a good place to camp if you want to break up the hike into two days.

Plenty more options abound if you hit the ground in late fall, winter, or early spring. The one-mile hike to Natural Bridge is family-friendly, with a payoff less than half a mile into the high-walled canyon at a picturesque arch caused by erosion. Just remember: what goes down must climb feet back up. My personal favorite is the loop that winds through labyrinthine Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch.

The trip offers varying routes that range in difficulty and is doable in as few as 4. Overnight options abound for backpackers. One of the most iconic excursions is to Panamint City, an impressively intact ghost town that once boomed with prospectors mining its stores of silver ore.

The steep, strenuous mile round-trip hike begins along a crumbling roadbed in water-filled Surprise Canyon, about an hour south of Panamint Springs. Bring a map and expect scrambling, overgrown vegetation, and wet feet. Death Valley boasts nearly 1, miles of roadbed.

One of the most famous—and famously difficult to access—spots in Death Valley is the Racetrack , a dry lake bed dotted with large boulders that move during infrequent freeze-thaw conditions, leaving slug-like trails in the playa crust. Once you arrive, six miles later, tread very carefully—prints from humans and vehicles are not only unsightly but can scar the Racetrack playa, which is especially delicate when wet.

The mineral is used for everything from pest control to laundry detergent and also plays a role in the manufacturing of paint, glass and ceramics. Two abandoned wagons can still be seen in the park. Among the park's many mysteries is The Racetrack, a playa — or dry lake bed — where boulders seemingly slide across the landscape, leaving a trail in the desert dust. Tracks suggest some rocks have moved up to 1, feet, but no one has actually seen it happen.

Check out the massive Ubehebe pronounced "YOU-bee-HEE-bee" Crater, a half-mile-wide, foot-deep remnant of a volcanic explosion that may have occurred a mere years ago. Did you know you can golf in Death Valley? The Furnace Creek Golf Course is feet below sea level. Surprised golfers may find that their drives fall 10 to 20 yards shorter than usual because the air is heavier at lower elevations. After a round of golf, dip into one of the resort pools, which are heated by natural warm springs.

The pool temperature stays at a balmy 82 degrees year-round. Although the average annual rainfall is just under 2 inches, the park has been hit by flash floods. Floods bring incredible shows of spring wildflowers. In , the desert sprang to life in what was called the "bloom of the century. The distinctive date palm trees shading the park's visitor center are not native. The Pacific Coast Borax Company planted them in the s. Snow in the canyon has a beauty of its own. Now that you guys are there, I am looking forward to your itinerary blog about it.

Looks very cool! Happy New Year to you all.. Snow at the Grand Canyon…that is a sight to see! In January and February I will be writing lots about Egypt.

It has been such a great experience and I highly recommend it. Winter Break is a nice time to be here. Cheers, Julie.

If you have one day trip from las vegas, will you pick Death Valley or Valley of Fire? The Valley of Fire will be less driving, and you can see it quicker, so you will have some extra time that day for Vegas. The sights are great, however, I think that I would pick Death Valley. You can do it in one big day from Vegas check out our 2 day itinerary and just do day 1 but try to also get to the Mesquite Sand Dunes because those are really neat.

The landscapes are unreal. Just get a very early start because of the short daylight in December. OK… another great post with excellent information and pictures!

No, no Joshua Tree yet. Great Blog. I traveled to Death Valley in Feb. As you say it is very beautiful, and a dream for a landscape photographer. We plan on going at the end of feb. I have two teen girls. Where do you suggest we stay in Death Valley. Thanks, Deb. We recommend Stovepipe Wells. Good location in Death Valley, with a restaurant, gas station, and a general store.

Check out this post with lots more info on what to do. We are moving to California this summer and I cannot wait to explore a whole new world with my boys! Thanks for this post. My husband and I have been pre kids and your description of the remoteness is spot on!