What To See In Death Valley National Park & Beyond

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Death Valley is the largest national park in the United States, located East of the Sierra Nevada at the California–Nevada border. The park is also the hottest, driest, and lowest of all the national parks in the US and very popular among Americans and tourists from around the world alike.

In our extensive Death Valley Guide, we will show you what to see in Death Valley National Park, where to stay, and give you other useful tips for visiting Death Valley and the surrounding area.

Death Valley Guide

WHAT TO SEE IN DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

Amazing Places To Visit In Death Valley National Park

MESQUITE FLAT SAND DUNES

Our favorite landmark and one of the most popular places to visit in Death Valley are the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are the largest dune field in the park. Walking into the sea of sand makes you feel like you are in the Sahara desert or even on another planet, like Tatooine from Star Wars.

MESQUITE FLAT SAND DUNES STAR WARS FILMING LOCATION

Yeah, that’s right. Tatooine from Star Wars! Death Valley was a film set for some Star Wars movies and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is one of the most popular filming locations in Death Valley.

BEST TIME TO VISIT MESQUITE FLAT SAND DUNES

The best time to visit Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is during sunrise or sunset, as it gets very very hot during the day. Also, the light will be a lot better, creating an amazing contrast and contours.

For taking photos of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, it is best to go early in the morning. That way you will be one of the first ones and won’t have any footprints in the sand and the light will be amazing. We went during sunset, it was still pretty cool and the photos of the sand dunes turned out great. However, next time we will plan our schedule so we can go in the morning.

SUNRISE AT ZABRISKIE POINT

Zabriskie Point is an iconic vista point in Death Valley overlooking an amazing erosional landscape. This spot should absolutely be on your list of What To See In Death Valley National Park.

The best time to visit Zabriskie Point is for sunrise when the sun slowly starts to light up the mountain range and brings out the color contrast and texture of the eerie landscape. It’s one of the most photographed spots in Death Valley.

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ARTIST’S PALETTE & ARTIST’S DRIVE

Artist’s Palette is just past Zabriskie Point if you’re coming from the Visitor Center. So you can do both spots in one trip.

As the name already gives away, Artist’s Palette is an array of colors across some hills in Death Valley. These rainbow colors come from mineral-rich deposits in the area.

Artist’s Palette is part of the 9 miles long Artist’s Drive and is the most exciting part of the drive.

To see the colors in their full effect, late afternoon, when the light is not as harsh anymore, is the best time to visit Artist’s Palette.

WILDROSE CHARCOAL KILNS

The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns were built in 1877 to produce charcoal for mining operations back then. These 10 beehive-shaped masonry structures are remarkable and to this day the kilns are very well preserved. With 25 feet in height, this Death Valley attraction is pretty impressive.

However, it is not a short trip to get to the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns. To reach the kilns from Furnace Creek Visitor Center, it is about a 1.5 hour drive (one way). On the bright side, except for 2 miles, the road is all paved and the charcoal kilns are pretty cool.

BADWATER BASIN SALT FLAT BELOW SEA LEVEL

Badwater Basin is a salt flat and one of the most popular attractions in Death Valley National Park. The former lake and since turned salt flat is the lowest point in the US and North America. Badwater Basin is 282 ft (86 m) below sea level.

You can see the typical hexagonal salt crusts when you keep on walking further into the salt flats. It is an easy 1.5-2 mile (2.4-3.2 km) roundtrip walk out onto the basin. 

The best time to visit Badwater Basin is for sunrise or sunset, however, the salt flat is beautiful at all times of the day.

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DANTE’S VIEW

Dante’s View is a scenic overlook close to Badwater Basin and is considered one of the best panoramic views of Death Valley. The vista point is about 5,500 feet above sea level. In contrast to that, Badwater Basin lies at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level and is the lowest point in Death Valley.

The best time to visit Dante’s View is in the morning hours when the sun is in the east. Dante’s View is great for night time star viewing with telescopes.

DANTE’S VIEW STAR WARS MOVIE SET

Fun fact: Dante’s View was also used as a filming location for Star Wars.

NIGHT SKY – STARGAZING AT DEATH VALLEY

Death Valley is one of the places with the least light pollution in the US and hence has the darkest night sky. The national park is, therefore, a great spot for stargazing and night photography.

The best spots for night sky photography in Death Valley are secluded areas like the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Badwater Basin, and the Harmony Borax Works.

You can see the most stars and the darkest sky during new moon, when the moon isn’t visible actually. Otherwise, the moon would be a bright source of light.

The above photograph was taken in front of Death Valley Inn, so not the best spot for night sky photography, but the light source from the hotel in the back and palm trees in the front makes a great photo nonetheless.

RHYOLITE GHOST TOWN

Rhyolite is a ghost town near the eastern boundary of Death Valley National Park. Rhyolite used to be a mining town in the early 1900s. Now tourists flock to the ghost town to see the remaining ruins.

ALBERT SZUKALSKI’S LAST SUPPER – GOLDWELL OPEN AIR MUSEUM

Next to the ghost town of Rhyolite, you’ll find Tom Kelley’s Bottle House and the Goldwell Open Air Museum with Albert Szukalski’s Last Supper plaster figures and many more quirky sculptures.

The outdoor museum reminds us of the desert art museums of Noah Purifoy in Joshua Tree and East Jesus in Slab City. The outdoor museum and the bottle house are worth a stop when you are in the area.

UBEHEBE CRATER

Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic crater of the Ubehebe Craters volcanic field in the North of the Death Valley. The crater is half a mile wide and about 600 feet deep.

You can view Ubehebe Crater from the parking area on its rim. It is also possible to walk around the rim (1.5 miles) and to the bottom of the crater. There are smaller craters around as well.

MOVING ROCKS AT RACETRACK PLAYA

Racetrack Playa is probably on every photographer’s Death Valley bucket list. What makes Racetrack Playa so famous are the mysteriously moving rocks that leave behind a trace on the playa.

What has been a mystery for the longest time, finally seemed to have been solved a few years ago. A combination of icy grounds and strong winds is suggested to be the reason for the movement of the rocks. Check out the NPS’s website for more details on it. It’s pretty interesting!

HOW TO GET TO RACETRACK PLAYA

Before you jump in the car and start heading there, be warned! You need a proper 4×4 car with high clearance and heavy-duty tires, otherwise, you will get stuck with a flat tire and no cell phone service. It is also a 3,5 hours drive (one way) to get to Racetrack Playa.

If you decide to go, inform yourself further and be well prepared. There is a Jeep rental place in the national park, which rents out off-road jeeps with GPS. They also offer guided tours. The drawback is, it will cost you A LOT of money.

Once you made it to the playa, please make sure to leave the area untouched and don’t create any footprints on the fragile surface.

ALTERNATIVES TO RACETRACK PLAYA

Another and also more easily-accessible location to observe the sliding stones is the Bonnie Claire Playa located east of Scotty’s Castle. So that might be a better option.

SALINE VALLEY WARM SPRINGS

If you are into hot springs and off-road adventures, the Saline Valley Warm Springs might be for you. The hot springs are some very remote, clothing-optional thermal pools in the middle of Death Valley.

Starting out as private communal hot springs, Saline Valley Warm Springs are managed by the National Park Service. The hot springs are free and so are the limited camping spots there.

Saline Valley Warm Springs has 3 sections of hot springs: The Upper Springs, Middle Springs, and Lower Springs. The middle (Palm Springs) and lower hot springs are more developed and have concrete pools and a shower.

HOW TO GET TO SALINE VALLEY WARM SPRINGS

The hot springs of Saline Valley Warm Springs are located very remotely in the Northwest of Death Valley National Park. You can only access the hot springs via a dirt road and proper 4×4 off-road vehicle. Depending on conditions it’s about a 2-4 hours off-road drive from the nearest towns along Highway 395 or Visitor Center within the national park.

If you decide to go on this adventure, make sure to inform yourself properly about road conditions and be well prepared for this off-road trip.

RAINBOW CANYON AKA STAR WARS CANYON

Rainbow Canyon aka Star Wars Canyon (yes, another Star Wars filming location) is a canyon on Death Valley’s western border. The canyon is often used by the US Air Force and Navy for fighter jet training. Lots of photographers take pictures of the jets flying beneath them from the canyon rim.

When we drove through Rainbow Canyon we didn’t know about this, until when all of a sudden a jet appeared in the sky. Then another one came and another one. We have seen a few jets fly through the canyon while we were making our way through the canyon on the ground.

Though, the most epic thing then happened to us. While driving on the seemingly endless and lonely road through Rainbow Canyon, a jet appeared super low in the sky right in front of us. The jet flew directly over the highway coming towards our car. We were basically about to play chicken.

Once the jet was right in front of us, the pilot waved at us in airplane fashion, wiggling its wings, and flew past us off towards the horizon. All of this happened in only a few seconds. Our jaws dropped to the bottom of the pavement. That was such an epic experience!!!

SELF-GUIDED STAR WARS TOUR AT DEATH VALLEY

Since we’ve been talking about Star Wars so much, you can take a self-guided Star Wars tour at Death Valley and explore the filming locations. Check out the national park’s website for more information.

The most popular Star Wars Filming locations in Death Valley are the following:

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Things To Do Near Death Valley

This post is about what to see in Death Valley National Park, but while you make your way to and from the park, you will come by places that are very close by and worth a visit as well.

DEATH VALLEY JUNCTION: AMARGOSA OPERA HOUSE & HOTEL

Death Valley Junction is pretty much in the middle of nowhere and home to the Amargosa Opera House & Hotel. At the opera house, late resident Marta Becket performed dance and mime shows from the late 1960s until her last show in February 2012.

The hotel is still operating and quite a quirky sight to see when at Death Valley. Besides the Amargosa Cafe, there is nothing else in town. When we visited there was not a single soul around, not even at the hotel. Everyone probably was hiding out from the blazing afternoon sun.

Make a stop on your way to or from Death Valley National Park and check out the historic Amargosa Hotel or maybe even stay there for the night. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience.

We wrote a blog post about the Amargosa Opera House & Hotel, go check it out if your are into visiting quirky places.

Amargosa Opera House & Hotel – Death Valley Junction

SHOSHONE MUSEUM & VILLAGE

Shoshone Village is the Southern gateway to Death Valley National Park and offers the last available services before Furnace Creek in the park.

If you are low on gas or caffeine, this is your time and place! The town also has a diner and a little museum that you can explore.

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WORLD’S TALLEST THERMOMETER IN BAKER

On the way to or from Death Valley, you might pass the town of Baker which is home to the world’s tallest thermometer. The thermometer is 134 feet high in honor of the 134 degrees F record heat in 1913. Now the town’s name makes sense too! 😉

CALICO GHOST TOWN

Calico is a ghost town and former mining town located in the Calico Mountains of the Mojave Desert region. Back then, Calico used to be a silver mining town. Today the town has been converted into the tourist attraction Calico Ghost Town.

The park offers mine tours, stunt shows, gold panning, and the historic Calico & Odessa Railroad, as well as restaurants and trinket stores. 

ZZYZX ROAD

You may have passed the Zzyzx Rd sign on the way from LA to Las Vegas. If you have taken this route, you must have wondered what this weird street name is all about?!

We did take the highway exit and explored what’s at the end of Zzyzx Rd.

At the end of the about 5 Mile partly paved and partly dirt road you will find the former site of the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa. The area was formerly known as Soda Springs.

Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa

A radio evangelist named Curtis Springer from Los Angeles turned the mineral springs into a wellness and health resort back then in the 40s – the Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa. He called it Zzyzx because he wanted it to be the last word in the dictionary.

The resort became really popular, also among celebrities. However, he did some shady things there and his permission to use the land was not for running a health spa. Instead, the permission was for mining purposes. Far from a health spa!

Eventually in the 70s, Zzyzx Mineral Springs and Health Spa got shut down by the government. Now the site is used by the Desert Studies Center, a field station of the California State University.

Desert Studies Center

While exploring the grounds of Zzyzx we could see that some remaining buildings got renovated and put into use again for the Desert Studies Center. You can also see parts of the spa from back then. Other buildings are just ruins with lots of debris and trash inside.

The whole site is a bit eerie and feels post-apocalyptic. Zzyzx is a super interesting place and it’s kind of a shame that the resort doesn’t exist anymore. It would be such a popular and cool place! Definitely recommend a visit if you are in the area.

BALLARAT GHOST TOWN

The town of Ballarat, founded in 1897, used to be a supply point for the mines in the canyons of the Panamint Range of Death Valley. These days it is a ghost town. 

When we visited there was one full-time resident who runs a small and rustic general store for tourists to buy simple things like water and postcards, etc.

The drive to Ballarat is unpaved. A high clearance car is recommended, but we have also seen regular cars do the drive. Ballarat is located on the South-Western side of Death Valley.

TRONA PINNACLES

The Trona Pinnacles are an otherworldly geological feature in the remote California Desert. The site looks like from another planet and has been featured in over a dozen movies.

Trona Pinnacles are located near Ridgecrest on the South Western side of Death Valley. It’s about a 6 Mile/half an hour drive on a dirt road off of the main highway.

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ALABAMA HILLS

The Alabama Hills are a range of hills and rock formations near the town of Lone Pine on the Western side of Death Valley.

The Alabama Hills was a popular filming location, especially for Western movies. This is how Movie Road came to be one of the, if not the, most famous sites at Alabama Hills. Today the rugged landscape still serves as a filming location for blockbusters and commercials.

The best time to visit Alabama Hills is early in the morning. At sunrise, the sun lights up the Sierra Nevada Mountain range and turns it into a red and orange play of colors and contrasts.

Visiting Movie Road Alabama Hills, California

FAQ

BEST TIME TO VISIT DEATH VALLEY

The best time to visit Death Valley National Park is during Springtime. Spring is also the most comfortable and popular time to visit Death Valley. The weather is warm and sunny, but not too hot like in Summer.

DEATH VALLEY WILDFLOWERS IN SPRING

If it rained enough during the winter months, you may get the chance to see wildflowers in Death Valley in Spring. The best time to see the Death Valley wildflowers bloom is around late March/ beginning of April.

Spring is also the busiest time of the year. You should book your accommodation plenty ahead of time.

VISITING DEATH VALLEY IN SUMMER

During the high summer months (May to September) it gets really really hot in Death Valley. It’s best to explore the desert early in the morning and in the late afternoon when the sun and heat are not at their peak.

Lots of tourists from Europe and around the world flock to Death Valley during these summer months.

VISITING DEATH VALLEY IN FALL & WINTER

Fall, like Springtime, is when the heat settles down to a more comfortable level again. It’s a great time to visit and go for hikes in Death Valley.

In winter it can get chilly at Death Vally National Park, especially during the night. You will see the surrounding mountain tops covered in snow. Winter is the least visited time of the year.

HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED FOR VISITING DEATH VALLEY?

Death Valley is the largest national park in the US. There is a lot of ground to cover and things to see in Death Valley. We recommend at least two to three days to visit the main attractions of Death Valley. A longer visit allows you to visit more sights other than the main ones.

WHERE TO STAY IN DEATH VALLEY

Besides what to see in Death Valley National Park, you are probably also wondering where to stay in Death Valley?

There are actually only a few hotels in Death Valley National Park. See the overview below with accommodations inside the park.

You can find hotels outside the park, but we would recommend staying inside the park, if possible. Death Valley is pretty big and it takes a long, long time to drive in and out of the park.

For that reason, we decided to stay at a hotel inside the park. However, we were debating to split our stay in Death Valley between two hotels, but in the end, were glad that we didn’t. The thing is that it gets really, really hot in the afternoon. It was so hot, that we had to spend most of the afternoons in the hotel with AC or by the pool to cool off.

Laying low and waiting for the heat to cool down wouldn’t be possible if you have to switch hotels in Death Valley. The gap you have to bridge between check-out and check-in is right at the time when it is hottest during the day.

WHAT TO SEE IN DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK

We hope you found our Death Valley Guide helpful and got some good inspiration on what to do and what to see in Death Valley National Park in California.

Julia & Felipe

Follow our adventures on Instagram! @piscoandbier

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