The Park Death Valley, converted from a monument to a National Park in 1994, protects the lowest point in the US and the ecosystem surrounding one of the driest spots on Earth. At over 3,000,000 acres, Death Valley is also the largest National Park south of Alaska.

In a Word "Dry"

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Our Visit I visited Death Valley NP during March while on a trip to Las Vegas, NV.

Our Weather The weather was pleasant and breezy (around 75 degrees), very mild for this hot park.

Overall Impression Death Valley is vast. The roads look close on a map, but it is miles from nowhere in the driest climate in the US. Despite the overwhelming dryness, there is water and tenuous life in the park and enough mix of history, geology and scenery to have something for everyone.

Favorite Spot Staring out over Devils Golf Course

1. Despite receiving less than 2 inches of water per year, there are a few areas of permanent water including Salt Creek (March)

Minimum Time Required About 2 hours. If you enter near Furnace Creek on the east side, you can get a feel for Death Valley in just a little time. Be sure to hit Zabriskie Point for the great views and stop at a few points down in the valley like Devils Golf Course and Badwater. This will give you some perspective on the unique geology and scenery in the park without having to completely traverse it.

A Longer Visit A full day is sufficient to see most of the park, but you'll still need to omit a few spots on a one-day visit. Start at one end of the park and work your way in a linear fashion to maximize your seeing-to-driving ratio. If arriving from Las Vegas, consider starting out from Nevada Highway 374 and working south. If starting here, walk the short boardwalk at Salt Creek and spend some time in the dunes near Stovepipe Wells before pressing south toward Furnace Creek. This is a BIG park, so be prepared to spend a lot of time in the car. Zabriskie Point is a great spot for photos, and nearby you can drive through Twenty Mule Team Canyon to get up-close with the badlands. When things get hot, drive back to the Furnace Creek Visitors Center and spend some time cooling off and learning more about the park from a Ranger and the slide show.

2. The valley is vast and covered by salt flats (March)

If you're in to history, the Harmony Borax Works near the visitors center provides a walk-through tour of an old mining operation. The southern part of the valley is full of sights including the strange salt formations at Devils Golf Course. If you've got extra time, take the one-way detour through Artists Palette or hike up to Natural Bridge. If you're looking for a lighter hike, you can walk out onto the salt flats further south at Badwater. Be sure to scope out a good spot to watch the sunset.

If you've got more time, or you're more interested in the more modern human aspects of Death Valley, consider a jaunt up to Scotty's Castle with its visitors center and museum at the north end of the park.

3. Wildflowers cover portions of the valley in February/March

Suggestions Think safety in the heat! Bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses and twice as much water as you'll think you'll need. Distances are deceiving in this park, so you're not as close to help as you think you are. Despite the 1.3 million annual visitors, I drove for several miles at a time without seeing another car.

To beat the heat and improve your photography, try to limit your excursions to early morning and early evening when the sun is low. This will keep you cooler and will provide more shadow and definition to your photos.

If you can pick a time of year to go, February and March are great months. Not only are they cooler, but you've got a good chance of seeing the desert in bloom with wildflowers. It's a little odd to see all the rock, sand and salt sprinkled with so much color, but the contrast adds to the park's dry beaty and mystique.

Nearby Towns Beatty, Pahrump, Las Vegas (Nevada)

Other Nearby Attractions (None noted)

Official NPS Website Death Valley NP

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