Death Valley Trail & Visitor Guide
Death Valley · United States · About 3.4 million acres (roughly 5,270 square miles), the largest national park in the contiguous United States.
Why Visit Death Valley
Death Valley holds the record for the highest reliably recorded air temperature on Earth: 134°F (56.7°C) in 1913. Badwater Basin sits at 282 feet below sea level — the lowest point in North America — while Telescope Peak rises to 11,049 feet just 15 miles away. This 3.4-million-acre park is the largest in the contiguous US and one of the darkest places in the country for stargazing.
Free Death Valley Audio Guide with Roamee Pro
Roamee Pro offers a free, self-guided Death Valley audio guide. It narrates trails, viewpoints, geology, and wildlife as you explore — Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, plus quieter spots like Golden Canyon and Ubehebe Crater. No guide, no schedule, works offline.
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Signature Trails
- Badwater Basin Salt Flat1.9 miles round trip · Easy
Walk onto the salt flats at 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America. Boardwalk leads to the open polygon salt crust.
- Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral3 miles round trip · Moderate
Canyon through golden badlands to the red iron-stained cliffs of Red Cathedral; can be extended into a loop with Gower Gulch.
- Mosaic Canyon4 miles round trip · Moderate
Polished marble narrows and mosaic-patterned breccia rock; some scrambling required in the upper sections. Trailhead reached via a 2.3-mile gravel road from Stovepipe Wells.
- Mesquite Flat Sand DunesAbout 2 miles round trip to the tallest dune · Moderate (soft sand)
Dune field near Stovepipe Wells; tallest dune rises about 100 feet. No marked trail; best at sunrise or sunset.
- Telescope Peak14 miles round trip · Strenuous
The park's highest summit at 11,049 feet, with about 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Views down to Badwater Basin. Trailhead at Mahogany Flat (8,133 ft); typically snow-covered and requires winter gear from roughly November to May.
Must-See in Death Valley
- •Badwater Basin — a vast salt flat at 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America
- •Zabriskie Point — an iconic viewpoint over eroded golden mudstone badlands at sunrise
- •Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes — accessible dunes near Stovepipe Wells with no marked trail
- •Artists Drive — a 9-mile one-way road through hills streaked with vivid mineral colors
Best Viewpoints
- •Zabriskie Point — eroded golden badlands, best at sunrise
- •Dantes View — overlook at 5,475 feet directly above Badwater Basin
- •Artists Palette — colored mineral hillsides along the one-way Artists Drive
- •Father Crowley Vista (Rainbow Canyon) — viewpoint over a deep canyon where military jets fly below the rim
- •Badwater Basin — the salt flats at 282 feet below sea level
Quieter Corners of Death Valley
- •Golden Canyon — a 3-mile round trip through a narrow canyon of golden walls leading to the Red Cathedral
- •Ubehebe Crater — a 500-foot-deep volcanic crater with a half-mile rim walk and views of the Last Chance Range
Wildlife You May See
Entrance Fee
$30 per vehicle, valid for 7 days. Motorcycle $25, individual (foot/bicycle) $15. An annual Death Valley pass is $55. The $80 America the Beautiful annual pass is accepted. There are no entrance gates; pay at automated kiosks or via the Recreation.gov app.
Getting There
No airport or public transit serves the park. Most visitors drive from Las Vegas, about 120 miles east (roughly 2 to 2.5 hours via NV-160 and CA-190 through Death Valley Junction). From Los Angeles it is about 290 miles (5 hours). Furnace Creek is the main hub. Fuel up before entering; gas is sold at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells at higher prices. Carry a paper map — cell service is absent across most of the park.
Where to Stay
Inside the park: The Inn at Death Valley and The Ranch at Death Valley at Furnace Creek, plus Stovepipe Wells Village and Panamint Springs Resort. Park campgrounds include Furnace Creek (reservable, open year-round) and the free first-come Sunset, Texas Spring, and Stovepipe Wells campgrounds (generally open in cooler months). Gateway lodging exists in Beatty, Nevada (about 40 minutes from Stovepipe Wells) and Pahrump, Nevada.
Best Time
November through March offers daytime temperatures in the 60s to 80s°F; spring wildflower blooms occur after wet winters, typically mid-February through April. Summer is extremely hot and many hikes become unsafe.
Safety
Extreme heat is the top hazard. Summer highs routinely exceed 120°F (49°C); the park recorded 134°F on July 10, 1913 at Furnace Creek, the highest reliably measured air temperature on Earth. Do not hike below sea level after 10 a.m. in summer; the Park Service closes some low-elevation trails in hot months. Carry and drink at least one gallon of water per person per day, more when hiking. Flash floods can hit canyons during rain. Many backcountry roads require high-clearance 4WD; cell coverage is nonexistent across most of the park, so tell someone your route.
Scenic Drives
- •Artists Drive — 9-mile one-way paved loop past Artists Palette
- •Badwater Road — runs south past Badwater Basin to the Natural Bridge and Ashford Mill
- •Titus Canyon Road — 27-mile one-way gravel route through a narrow canyon, requires high-clearance vehicle
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