Best Things to Do in Death Valley

Be sure to visit How to Spend One Day in Death Valley and Two Day Death Valley Itinerary. Also, check out the Western Region page for other ideas around the best things to do in Death Valley National Park!

*Last updated March 8, 2024

Best Things to Do in Death Valley National Park

Table of Contents

  1. How Long to Spend at Death Valley National Park
  2. Death Valley National Park
  3. Badwater Basin
  4. Dante’s View
  5. Zabriskie Point
  6. Twenty Mule Team Canyon
  7. Artists Palette
  8. Natural Bridge Trail
  9. Golden Canyon Trail to Red Cathedral
  10. Mosaic Canyon
  11. Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
  12. The Ranch at Death Valley
  13. Rhyolite
  14. Also Consider Nearby

How Long to Spend at Death Valley National Park

We spent two full days driving to Death Valley National Park from Las Vegas airport. Additionally, we spent one night in the park at The Ranch at Death Valley. However, I felt like we just got a feel for the main sites and could have easily spent another day or two, especially with a 4 wheel drive vehicle.

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park always always peaked my curiosity as a kid, if nothing else than the name. It has an aura to me as well, due to the fact that it is the lowest elevation in the United States and home to the hottest recorded temperature in the world. As such, we decided February seemed like a nice time to visit.

It turns out early February was a fantastic time to visit! Temperatures began around 50-60F in the morning and heated up to the low 70s by noon. We flew into Las Vegas early morning and drove to Death Valley for some hiking and then spent a night at the Ranch in Furnace Creek. We spent the second day in the park and then drove back to Las Vegas to spend a few days there. However, the entire time in Las Vegas I was just wishing I was still in beautiful Death Valley.

Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin is what a lot of people think of as Death Valley, even though the park itself is huge. However, Badwater Basin is the lowest land elevation in North America at 282 feet below sea level. The sign at the parking lot said that it was named after one of the western prospectors whose donkey would not drink at the water, thereby naming it “bad water”.

There is a 1 mile hike out through the valley to the salt flats. You don’t have to do the whole thing and can turn around at any time, but I found it pretty interesting to see how different the valley is. It stars with salt, goes through caked mud, then to cracked/plated earth and then turns into a large salt flat with hexagonal grooves.

Dante’s View

Dante’s View is the scenic overlook that gives the view down on Badwater Basin. It gives a unique view of the valley below. Also, there is a trail that goes up the right side if you’d like to get a little higher viewpoint.

Zabriskie Point

Zabriskie Point is located just outside of Furnace Creek (the main town inside the national park). It gives some beautiful sweeping views of the valley. Also, it is the most popular sunrise point; not to see the sunrise, but rather to see the opposite facing valley and mountains as they are illuminated by the morning sun.

Additionally, the parking lot gets pretty full in the morning. It was fun watching all the photographers lined up looking to get their shot of the morning light.

It is a short hike to get up to the viewpoint. From the top, there is a trail that connects to Golden Canyon loop, but we had hiked that canyon trail the previous day (it is shorter to get to Red Cathedral via the Golden Canyon parking lot).

Twenty Mule Team Canyon

Twenty Mule Team Canyon is an one-way unpaved drive between Dante’s View and Zabriskie Point. However, you don’t need 4 wheel drive and should be able to do the drive with a normal car (always check the NPS site for road updates).

We really enjoyed this drive and would recommend making time for it. Plan for an extra 30 minute detour unless you want to spend extra time to get out and look around.

Artists Palette

Artist’s Palette is a one way paved drive that leads through some beautiful colored rocks. It is a nice drive to take just before sunset as the fading sun hits the opposite rock walls.

There is parking area with open trails at one point in the drive.

Natural Bridge Trail

Natural Bridge Trail is an easy 1 mile round trip hike that leads to a natural arch “bridge”. This would be a great hike for kids since it is not too long and the large arch is a scenic viewpoint.

There is a short unpaved road leading to the trailhead, which can be easily driven in a standard car. The road to the trail is near Badwater Basin.

Golden Canyon Trail to Red Cathedral

Golden Canyon Trail is about 1 mile to the end of the canyon and then another 0.5 mile to go up the canyon to Red Cathedral. It is an easy hike and would be good for kids.

The last 30 yards up to Red Cathedral are uphill and there is a bit of loose rock and sand. My wife is afraid of heights, but was able to make it up.

Mosaic Canyon Trail

Mosaic Canyon Trail is a 3 mile roundtrip hike through a slot canyon. It is located near Stovepipe Wells. Additionally, it has polished rock and mosaic -looking “tiles” that give the canyon its name.

It is not a difficult hike, but it does have a few “steps” that are 3-4 feet in height and require the use of hands to climb up. Be careful as the rocks are quite polished and can be slippery. In fact, when we arrive, there was an ambulance there to rescue a woman who had slipped and broken her leg.

 

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is the easiest accessible sand dunes in the national park. There are others, but they requite 4 wheel drive / high clearance vehicles.

There is no hike, but you can walk out anywhere on the sand dunes that you like. Plan for about and hour or two depending on how much you’d like to explore.

You definitely want to make it to the dunes and it is fun to go in the morning or evening when the low sun casts shadows across the sand.

The Ranch at Death Valley

The Ranch at Death Valley is one of the few hotels to stay at inside of Death Valley. Additionally, even though it runs about $300 a night, it is the cheaper option compared against the ritzy Inn at Death Valley. Unfortunately, with the Ranch, you are paying the high price for location rather than amenities. It is hard to not feel like you are staying in a run-down motel. I understand it is a remote location, but for the price you pay per night, you would think they could get new mattresses every few decades and spruce the place up a little.

Rhyolite

Rhyolite is a small ghost town just outside of the national park. It is a small area with a dozen or so deserted buildings. Also, there is a free outdoor sculpture exhibit. If you are heading in or out via Beatty / I95, then you will drive right by it.

Also Consider Nearby

Be sure to check out our pages How to Spend 1 Day in Death Valley and Death Valley 2 Day Itinerary! Also, Death Valley is only about a 2 hour drive from Las Vegas. So if you are flying into that airport, also consider Red Rocks State Park, Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. If you are coming from the California side of the park, consider Joshua Tree NP.