It goes without saying that Death Valley National Park is not for the faint of heart, this is a land of extremes. However, in a way, the entire park itself is a hidden gem. Its extreme conditions (it's the hottest, driest, and lowest park in America) also means extreme beauty. From its Wild West history to its natural features to the little-known and somber stories of those imprisoned in internment camps during WWII, Death Valley is well worth the adventure.
Some tips for visiting Death Valley National Park:
-The extreme temperatures here are no joke. It experiences the widest range of temperatures, from below freezing at night to triple digits during the day, of anywhere else in the country. It even holds the record for hottest temperature ever reported! Definitely avoid visiting in the summer, when scorching heat (and little shade) make it almost dangerous, and make sure to pack lots of sunscreen, water, warm sweaters and blankets. -Always be alert to your surroundings. Dangerous abandoned mine shafts, snakes, flash floods, wild burros (for real), and heat can be deceptively dangerous. -Make sure your car is in tip-top shape before driving here, and top off your gas often. There aren't a lot of places to stop off in the desert, and you definitely don't want to be stranded out here. -The remote location, relative low levels of light pollution and lack of trees and mountains give Death Valley some of the country's best stargazing. Bring binoculars or a telescope if you have them, but you can still see way more than normal with your naked eye.
Badwater Basin is known for 3 things: first, there’s a spring-fed pool of water (which is undrinkable, and therefore bad, hence the name). Second, there are salt flats, which cover 200 miles. They’re the largest protected salt flats in the world, and they have a funky, hexagonal honeycomb shape. Lastly, Badwater Basin is the lowest point (i.e. below sea level) in North America.
The Devil’s Golf Course got its name when a 1934 National Park Services guidebook declared that “only the devil could play golf" on the salt flat, which features some rough terrain from halite salt crystal formations
Artist's Drive and Palette is a gorgeous rock outcropping that gets its crazy colors from volcanic debris, cemented gravel, and deposits of other material (although imagining that it’s a literal paint palate is more fun). You can reach it by hiking or, if you’re so inclined, by car.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are the easiest dunes in the park to access, and they're the only ones that allow sandboarding! While shorter than the Eureka Dunes, they're broader, covering more area, and the region's mesquite trees have anchored the sand into place.
The best time to visit Death Valley National Park: The temperatures vary vastly, since it's the hottest place in America, with summer temperatures in the 100+ degree range being common, and winter temperatures falling down to below freezing at night. Still not extreme enough for you? It's also the driest place in America. It sees less than 2 inches of rain on average per year. Moral of the story? Visit in the winter, when temps are usually around 60-70 degrees...and pack sunscreen and water. Lots and lots of sunscreen and water.
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