Day Hikes and Scenic Exploration in Death Valley's Otherworldly Landscapes, California

The Trip

The exceptional topography of Death Valley National Park, the largest U.S. National Park outside Alaska, offers dramatic views and humbling silence. We’ve all read about Death Valley being the driest, hottest, and lowest place in the U.S., but you won't be prepared for the amazing images of color amongst stunning rock formations in the canyons, desert, and mountains. Come join us as we get up close to the valley’s awesome geological history and the unique plants and wildlife of this wild and isolated place.

Winter in Death Valley is a particularly beautiful time, with daytime temperatures near 70 degrees and cool evenings near 40 degrees. This comfortable climate will delight our senses as we discover beautiful canyons, salt flats, and human history. Our short day hikes will visit all of the prominent historical, cultural, and geographical highlights of the valley. Particularly noteworthy is Zabrieske Point and its premier panoramic vista across the entire valley. Looking down from 5,400 feet directly over Badwater Salt Flat (280 feet below sea level), we’ll see the 11,000-foot Telescope Peak in the distance. We’ll search for morning animal tracks on sand dunes and explore narrow canyons. We’ll stay in our own tents in a campground inside the park, which will allow easy access to trailheads.

Death Valley is home to more than 1,000 species of plants. Among the best adapted to this rugged environment are 50 plant species that are found nowhere else in the world. Death Valley is also home to more than 300 species of birds. Each day we will experience the diversity of this unusual and special habitat. Death Valley has been recognized by the International Dark Sky Association as the darkest of the National Parks, which ensures unparalleled views of the night sky. This trip will coincide with a progressing first quarter moon.

Day 1: Meet at Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley National Park at 1:00 p.m. During lunch at Furnace Creek in the center of the valley floor, we’ll do our individual introductions and an overview of our upcoming adventure. We’ll enjoy a short trip through the visitor center for an introduction to the varied landscapes and wilderness to be encountered. We’ll then head off to the campground to set up our tents and campsite. We expect to have time before dinner for a visit to the nearby Harmony Borax Works, an 'outdoor museum,' and its window into the mining past of Death Valley.

Day 2: We’ll do the southerly valley today, starting with Golden Canyon and some of the most stunning landscapes in the park. At the end of the canyon is the prominent vista point called Red Cathedral, with a mesmerizing panorama across the badlands. A short drive down the valley is Natural Bridge Canyon, just two miles roundtrip; the shaded walk ends at the 50-foot-tall natural bridge spanning the canyon…and a cool place for lunch. Next is the highlight of Death Valley: Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. Finally, climaxing this fascinating day is the return north along Artist’s Drive and its vivid landscape of vibrant soil colored by rich clays resembling an artist’s palette of variegated colors.

Day 3: We start the day with a half-hour drive to catch the sunrise on the Mesquite Flat Dunes in the northern valley. With no formal trail we’ll walk among the high sands with expansive views, noticing a color variety on the dunes, and gazing at surrounding mountains that change moment by moment. Next is the highly recommended Mosaic Canyon. Walled with both mosaic conglomerates and smooth marbleized rocks, it’s a fine example of the geology of Death Valley. Next we travel to Ubehebe Crater, the largest Maar volcano in the western cluster. This volcano was created by a steam and gas explosion around 2100 years ago with cinders covering much of the surrounding area. 

Day 4: We pack up camp for our return, but exciting vistas and scenery are yet to be enjoyed. First, we make a short stopover at Zabriskie Point for a stunning panorama of the badlands in the central valley. A short walk up a paved hill is all that is required to take advantage of badlands terrain full of impressive canyons and gulches. The awesome panoramic views take in Badwater Basin, the lowest point, and then Telescope Peak across the valley, the highest in the park (11,000 feet). The capstone to this wondrous adventure is just a bit farther along the return drive to Las Vegas — The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, which is described by the Nature Conservancy as “one of the most important natural areas on the North American continent”; and by the Audubon Society as "a true oasis, this...refuge embraces the type of spring-fed wetlands and alkaline desert uplands that development has rendered rarer than usual in the arid Southwest.” We will have lunch there, and if possible, a talk about the native pup fish unique only to this area. Participants can then be dropped off at the Las Vegas/McCarren International Airport on the afternoon of Day 4 if needed.

Getting There

We will meet at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center in Death Valley at 1 p.m on Day 1. The trip will conclude at the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in the afternoon of Day 4. If needed, participants can be picked up and dropped off at the Las Vegas/McCarran International Airport (LAS) on the morning of Day 1. A listing of participants will be provided by the leader so that interested individuals can contact fellow participants to arrange carpools if desired. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader.

Accommodations and Food

Our campsite features flushable toilets and potable water. Commercial showers are available a short distance away. All trip meals from day one lunch to day four lunch (as well as trail snacks) will be provided. With the leaders’ assistance, all participants will prepare meals and help with clean up.

Trip Difficulty

This trip has a moderate rating. We will be hiking 5-8 miles total each day, generally combining several short walks. The trails are often uneven, primitive surfaces of gravel wash beds. Altitude gain could be as much as 1,200 feet. Rock scrambling may be required in some areas.

Equipment and Clothing

You will need to bring all of your personal gear, including: sleeping bag and pad, tent, daypack, water bottles (at least three liters total), headlamp, broken-in hiking boots, personal first-aid kit, and other personal gear. The trip leader will provide a detailed packing list to registered participants.

References

• Blough, Jenna, Death Valley National Park. Moon Handbooks.
• Cunningham, Bill and Polly Cunningham, Hiking Death Valley National Park: A Guide to the Park's Greatest Hiking Adventures.
• Sharp, Robert P., Geology Underfoot in Death Valley and Owens Valley.

Conservation

Death Valley’s unique biologic and geologic features continue to be degraded by numerous sources. Air pollution, invasive species, water mining, and overgrazing burros are just a few of the many threats to this fragile desert ecosystem.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.