The Valley, Furnace Creek to Badwater
If you only have time to do one thing in Death Valley, California, take the 18-mile drive from Furnace Creek to Badwater. Here you'll encounter fantastic salt formations, colorful views and the lowest place in the western hemisphere. The best stops include:- A few miles south of the Furnace Creek junction, take a short side trip on West Side Road toward Dry Lake into the foreign landscape of the valley's salt pan.
- At the Devil's Golf Course, so-named because it's so rough that only Lucifer himself could play golf here, tread lightly and look carefully for delicate salt structures.
- Badwater is the lowest place in western hemisphere. Although the precise location of the lowest point (-292 feet) is not marked, a walk from the parking area leads past the salt-laden, bad-tasting watering holes that inspired the place's name. Across the valley, Telescope Peak towers 11,039 feet above, twice the depth of the Grand Canyon. Don't miss the sea level sign on the cliff above the parking area.
- Artist's Drive leads to the colorful view called Artist's Palette, a landscape smudged with pastel colors. The view is especially colorful in late afternoon.
Dante's View
Over a mile above Badwater, Dante's View gives an aerial view of the valley and its surroundings. Be prepared for temperatures 15 to 25 degrees lower than on the valley floor. While you're here, stop and be quiet for a moment. You'll most likely hear... absolutely nothing. This is one of the quietest places in the state.Scotty's Castle
Why is it called Scotty's Castle if businessman Albert Johnson owned it and Scotty lived elsewhere? Are the tales of hidden gold mines, shady deals and general trickery true? A living history tour of the Spanish-style home in the desert examines the unusual relationship between Scotty and Mr. Johnson that resulted in this magnificent structure.Sand Dunes
The most easily-accessible sand dunes are just south of Stovepipe Wells. On the short hike from the roadside, look for tracks of the kangaroo rat (a meandering line with small tracks on either side) and other desert creatures. Scramble to the top of a dune and enjoy the view.Ubehebe Crater
Ubehebe means "windy place," and it is well-named. Formed in a tongue-twisting event called a cryptovolcanic eruption, a violent explosion of superheated groundwater, the 2000-foot deep crater offers photo opportunities and hiking. That is, if you can stand the wind!These sights will give a brief overview of the Death Valley, California, but there are many more things to see if you have time. If you have a four-wheel-drive vehicle, you can access some of the park's more remote and unusual features such as the Ubehebe Lead Mine, The Racetrack with its mysteriously moving stones and Leadfield Ghost Town.
