
Topic(s) | Geology, Mining, Mountains, Night Sky, Scenic Views, Trails, Ancient Seas, Canyons and Canyonlands, Mineral Deposits, Roads, Routes and Highways, Photography, Rock Landscapes and Features, Wilderness |
Activities | Scenic Driving, Hiking |
Parks | Death Valley National Park |

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Death Valley National Park
Check Out the View at Dantes View
- Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations: No
- Activity: Scenic Driving
- Pets: No
At 5,475 ft (1,669 m), the most breathtaking viewpoint in the park. Facing west, the view of the Panamint Mountains towering over the lowest point (-282ft / 86m) in North America (Badwater Basin) offers one of the best sunrises in the park. The barely visible mountains on the far western horizon are the Sierra Nevadas, home to the highest point (14,505ft / 4,421m) in the contiguous United States - Mount Whitney, however the peak itself isn't quite visible.
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Death Valley National Park
Drive Twenty Mule Team Canyon
- Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations: No
- Activity: Scenic Driving
- Pets: Yes with Restrictions
Take a drive along this beautiful unpaved road through colorful, eroded badlands. Enjoy scenic views along this 2.5 mile, one-way road. The unpaved road is good for most cars and drivers, but check road conditions before you travel. Afternoon and morning light will provide a delight of contrast, as the erosion in the hills becomes highlighted and shadowed.
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Death Valley National Park
Hike Colorful Desolation Canyon
- Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations: No
- Activity: Hiking
- Pets: No
- Season: Winter, Spring, Fall
Want to walk through a geologic rainbow? Enjoy the colors of Artists Palette without the crowds. Desolation Canyon is a great canyon to hike in the COOLER months but not recommended in the summer. From the parking area, the canyon is not visible, but you will find some familar views if you are a Star Wars fan. Look around you might notice a few views of Tatooine.
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Death Valley National Park
Hike Golden Canyon
- Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations: No
- Activity: Hiking
- Pets: No
- Location: Golden Canyon parking area
- Duration: 5–180 Minutes
- Season: Winter, Spring, Fall
A labyrinth landscape of golden colored hills and winding narrow canyons create hiking options ranging from easy strolls to strenuous adventures. The most popular routes can be combined with one another for longer adventures, up about 4.5 miles. Regardless which adventure is right for you, take the map and route description with you.
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Death Valley National Park
Tour Artists Drive
- Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations: No
- Activity: Scenic Driving
- Pets: No
- Location: Artists Drive
- Duration: 45–60 Minutes
- Season: Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Enjoy a scenic drive through a geologic rainbow! Artists Drive is a one-way, nine mile drive that passes through eroded, colorful desert hills. A stop at Artists Palette along the way, either from the car window or a short walk, will provide the most colorful views. Enjoy geology and scenic vistas along this trip!
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Death Valley National Park
Visit Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- Activity Fee: No (Entrance fees may apply)
- Reservations: No
- Activity: Hiking
- Pets: No
- Location: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- Duration: 10–180 Minutes
- Season: Winter, Spring, Fall
- Time of Day: Any Time
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are the largest dune field in the park. This dune field includes three types of dunes: crescent, linear, and star shaped. Polygon-cracked clay of an ancient lakebed forms the floor. Mesquite trees have created large hummocks that provide stable habitats for wildlife.
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Last updated: October 6, 2020