From it’s lowest point at 282 feet below sea level to 11,049 feet above sea level Death Valley certainly has its extremes. It is commonly thought of as the Hottest, Driest, and Lowest National Park in the United States and one devoid of life. In March 2021 I was able to spend several days there and here are a few moments from that trip. So what are the best places to visit in Death Valley? Here are a few of my favorites spots and photos though I know there is so much of the park left to explore.
Badwater Basin
Badwater Basin is the lowest point of the park at 282 ft below sea level and also the lowest point in North America. One of the coolest things to see here was that a little bit of water remained here at the spring fed pool and several birds were there looking for food. The water is not “bad” per the name but just really salty though life does exist here. Surprisingly enough there is actually a unique snail that only lives in the water and plant called pickleweed. There is a “trail” that you can walk along that can take you several miles out on to the salt flats to see the amazing geometric salt polygons that form naturally there. I was only there during the day but have seen some amazing milky way shots from here so staying for the night shots is recommended.
Random Factoid of the Trip: The lowest point of dry land in the world is actually the shore of the Dead Sea which is approximately 1411 ft below sea level! Wikipedia
Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie is a popular sunrise point in Death Valley, partially I think due to how close it is to Furnace Creek where the majority of the camping in Death Valley is. I ended up spending two sunrises there to try and find a composition I liked. Check out some of my favorites below. It was certainly a challenging place to photograph and having a zoom lens helped a lot to get creative with different compositions. Taking the time to explore some of the other paths and trails definitely paid off and was well worth the effort of hiking around.
The final evening was spent on the sand dunes near Stovepipe Wells. Many of my favorite photos from the trip ended up being from here. The lighting was great and there were so many great leading lines that the dunes created. If you are looking for the best place to photograph in Death Valley I recommend these dunes. The hike out there did take some effort and bring plenty of water with you but it was well worth the effort. My best recommendation though is to get ice cream at the Stovepipe Wells General Store as it is a great reward after the hike and a fitting end to the day.
On the final day I headed out and took the Trona Wildrose road towards Trona and was shocked to see wild burros'(donkeys) alongside the road. I got a couple of good photos and of course checked out the internet to learn the story behind these animals. Sadly they are an invasive species brought over by settlers and miners during the gold rush. There population has continued to grow with no native predators and are actually causing detrimental effects to the native bighorn population from over eating. NP Info
Driving in Death Valley
The climb up to Towne Pass on State Route 190 is no joke, from below sea level to 4963 ft took it’s toll on the van so beware and go easy on your vehicle if driving through Death Valley. The grades can range from 6-9% for several miles so make sure you vehicle and it’s brakes are in good working order! Next time I visit I plan on coming in my truck as there are several places I want to visit that require 4 wheel drive and high clearance.
Now this was just a small taste of the beauty in Death Valley and barely touched the surface of what to do there. Next on my list of place to visit in Death Valley would be, The Racetrack, Telescope Peak, Eureka Dunes, and Dantes View.
Further reading of some of the lesser known history of Death Valley
Thanks again for following along on my journeys! If you loved any of these photos and would want to get them printed check out my photography gallery here.