Death Valley NPS-3 Day Itinerary Oct 2020.

In the midst of the pandemic year, where death literally abound, I found it most fitting to go see an ominous named national park, – Death Valley. Intrigued with the name, yet drawn by the wonder from a distance, I started to research photos, places, websites related to Death Valley National Park.

Death Valley National Park – Home to the lowest, hottest, driest area in the US. As I learn more, my curiosity heightened- that can only be quenched if I go and actually experience it myself. So, the 3rd week of October, I and hubby drove 4 1/2 hrs to the park, we drove from Los Angels area. Here’s a short clip https://youtu.be/rJWZ-MIBiHI from that adventure.

Be sure to print emails, receipts, and maps as there’s very limited, almost no service in the valley. Wifi is available inside the hotels and visitor center. Gas, Propane and Ice are available in Furnace Creek.

How to get to Death Valley National Park

We took the South entrance of the park, I-15 through Baker, California from Los Angeles. Take State Route 127 from Baker to Shoshone and Death Valley Junction, then State Route 178 from Shoshone and California Highway 190, passing through town of Baker where the The World’s Tallest Thermometer is.

East entrance from Nevada, U.S. Route 95 State Route 267- Access closed until further notice), Beatty (State Route 374). You’ll go through this entrance if you plan to visit the free outdoor museum- Goldwell Open Air Museum https://www.goldwellmuseum.org/.

West entrance, State Route 14 and U.S. Route 395, State Route 178 , join Hwy 190 to the park, or at Lone Pine, CA, Hwy 136 will also join Hwy 190 .- This area is entering from Panamint Springs, passing through Star Wars Canyon (Father Crowley Canyon), it’s where star wars filmed their jetfighter shots, and the only falls in death valley YES! there is a falls in the middle of the dessert. – Darwin Falls.

Where we stayed

We booked 1 night stay in The Ranch @ Death Valley (248$). There are only 2 hotels inside the valley within the Furnace Creek Area – The Ranch (also known as the Ranch @ Furnace Creek) and The INN at Death Valley https://www.oasisatdeathvalley.com/. Oasis @ Death Valley is composed of, The Ranch and The Inn. Both are lush resorts, with natural spring fed pools.

For the second night, booked us a campsite in Furnace Creek Campground (22$). https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/camping.htm. ALL campgrounds currently are closed due to the pandemic. There are other free campgrounds around the park. Click on the link above for more details.

3 Day Itinerary

The World’s Tallest Thermometer

Day 1 – 0500hrs -0700hrs – Baker Town where The Tallest Thermometer is located (72157 Baker Blvd, Baker CA). Took photos, and had breakfast there.

Furnace Creek Visitor Center

0730-0930 – To Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Stop by the south entrance pay station if you do not have an annual pass. https://store.usgs.gov/pass. If you are into National Parks, I highly recommend getting one. It’s 80$/year. If you prefer to pay every time to enter a national park, it’s 35$/car and is good for 7 days multiple entry and exit. Always, visit the individual website for updates.

Badwater Basin

0950-1020 – Badwater Basin, is a must-stop on any first trip to Death Valley National Park. At 282 feet below sea level, making this the lowest point in the contiguous United States. A wooden Sea Level plaque 282 feet over Badwater Basin greets visitors upon arrival. And also a sign on the hills when you look back from the parking area. What you see white from afar is no snow, it is in fact, salt.

Walk about 1 mile out to reach the hexagon-shaped salt flats. There’s no trail to follow, venture out in any which way you feel like going and enjoy the view. Take tons of pictures, marvel at the stunning visual display of nature. Bring plenty of water, hat or umbrella, wear sunscreen. It’s dry heat so even if the temperature is low, the heat reflecting from the salt flats is harsh and could easily dehydrate you. https://youtu.be/kyhKpN30vnk – Here’s a link to a video in Badwater Basin.

Got back to the parking area around 1345hrs. Ate our packed lunch and continued to drive back where we came from. For about 20 minutes- you’ll see signage to your right for Artist Drive.

Artist drive/ Artist Palette

1415-1515 – Artist Drive Lookout. Part of the 9-mile Artist Drive, a scenic drive from Badwater Road, south to north, towards Furnace Creek. Once you turn right on the clearly marked signage, (length restrictions 25ft), you’ll need to walk up a hill for about 10-15 minutes, to truly witness the colored hills, that looked like it’s straight out of a painting. Link to a short clip https://youtu.be/eGeXSDKLViU

1545-1600 – Artist Palette. Located off Badwater Road, 15 minute continuation drive from Artist Drive Lookout. Sloping mountainside, richly colored by minerals. link to a short clip- https://youtu.be/pFMSpo3H7e4

These colors are caused by the oxidation of different metals (iron compounds produce red, pink and yellow, decomposition of tuff-derived mica produces green, and manganese produces purple). Short 0.4 mile down the slopes and up the hill to reach the midst of the this optical delight.

The Ranch @ Furnace Creek

1645- Drove about 20 minutes to The Ranch @ Death Valley to check-in for the night, finishing the remaining of the 9-mile Artist Drive. link to the ranch and sand dunes short clip, https://youtu.be/sIpS7amz0Z0.

1715hrs- After checking in, drove out north to Zabriskie Point for sunset gazing. Make it a staple to do so when you visit the park, reward yourself with a spectacular view of rocky road ice cream colored badlands and sunset kissed hills. You’ll be amazed of how the sky changes hues while setting.

Zabriskie Point

Zabriskie Point is an overlook of a colorful, undulating landscape of chocolate colored hills at the edge of the Black Mountains, just a few miles from Furnace Creek. The salt plains on the valley floor are visible in the distance. Parking area lower down, take a short walk uphill for the viewpoint. https://youtu.be/GPctL24uYgQ – link to Zabriskie Point short clip.

Day 2 – Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Day 2 – 0600-0630 Waking up early on the second day, we drove from the hotel for about 30 minutes to Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Parking. Cooked and ate breakfast right at the parking area, then ventured towards the sand dunes. Walk up and down mounds of soft, cool dunes to your heart’s content. Bring sand boards, slide down, play in the sand.

We walked for about 40 minutes until we got to a mound with less footsteps. Enjoyed the sunrise, photo shoot, and basically just lingered there for a while. We had to go back around 1030 hrs as it was beginning to be hot. Just like salt, sand also reflects heat harshly. You do not want to walk on a hot sand.

We went back to the hotel to check out. Got into our hiking clothes to drive off to the boundary of Nevada just outside Death Valley – To visit Goldwell Open Air Museum in Rhyolite. It’s free, but quite far and out of way (50 minutes from Furnace creek). However, the 7 huge sculpture display is an attraction to behold, in the middle of a ghost town.

Rhyolite- Goldwell Open Air Museum

Mosaic Canyon Hike

1430-1530 hrs. Next, we hiked Mosaic Canyon- 15 minute drive from Mesquite Flat San Dunes. In Stove Wells Pipe, Panamint Springs Area. It’s a 3.5 mile hike, out and back. 2 mile rough road to the trail head, we hiked for about an hour and decided to return because it was too windy. The walk through and scrambling over, narrow canyons, polished, marbled sides, mosaic walls, that opens to a large wash, is a fun, challenging activity for families with kids. The trail ends in a dry fall. Link to a short clip, https://youtu.be/iKShab1z7tk

Furnace Creek Campground

1700- Trying to set up tent in Furnace Creek Campground. 5 min drive, further from The Ranch at Furnace Creek, where we stayed the night before. Book way ahead, as this is a popular campground.

This is the first time I and hubby are camping on our own, and the strong, howling winds did not make it a breeze. Haha! I made a pun! I was already on the verge of calling the hotel to see if there are vacant rooms available, but my ever dependable hubby, somehow was able to set up camp!, with the help of rocks and stones we found lying around to help anchor our stakes and serve as weights. You do not want to be woken up by your tent flying off to Neitherlands. (if you watch The Magicians in Netflix, you’ll know what i mean.) https://youtu.be/32pG1z-xLtA – link to our ordeal setting up tent.

Anyway, survived out first camping. Furnace Creek Campgrounds had both primitive and hooked up sites. No showers though. You can buy 5$ (good for 24 hrs), access card from The Ranch to use their pool and shower.

Day 3 – Half day

Hike The Natural Bridge Trail

Day 3. 0800hrs- we got ready to hike The Natural Bridge. From Furnace Creek Campground, drive 25 minutes back to Badwater Road. The signage will be to your left and a 2-mile rough road to the trail head. A 1-mile easy hike, to a natural bridge. It was a massive canyon, with a frail looking natural bridge, especially if you stand underneath it. Link to a short clip, https://youtu.be/d-mDmB6cTag

Back to the parking area @ 1130hrs. We had lunch at the Inn, (few selection of burgers, pasta, salads and pastries), walked around the oasis and tunnel. Headed home after lunch. Link to a short clip, https://youtu.be/VS28udPOMeQ.

Fun Facts:

If you are a fan of Star Wars, a lot of desert shots where filmed here, including the view you see from Dante’s Peak which is supposed to be the “Mos Eisley”. And the recent Mandalorian shot where Mando’s aircraft passed by Zabriskie Point when he rescued baby yoda on season 1 last episode. It was in Mesquite Flat Sand dunes where ” Tattoine” desert where filmed in Star Wars, A new Hope, where R2D2 and C3PO walked to find Jaba the Hutt’s palace.