One Day in Death Valley National Park

Death Valley was our eighth National Park and we visited on a Spring Break trip to Palm Springs, California. Death Valley is one of the top twenty rated best National parks in the U.S. Here are the “cant miss” sights inside the park if you only have one day to visit.

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Death Valley National Park
California/Nevada
Death Valley National Park is incredibly hot (hence the name) and holds the record for the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the United States. For that reason, you should visit in the Fall, Winter or Spring. Summer temperatures are extremely hot and dangerous. Surrounding cities (which are still a few hours drive away) include Las Vegas, Ridgecrest, and Bishop. We personally stayed in Ridgecrest and drove in very early. You will need a pass to enter the park. We use the America the Beautiful Pass which is FREE for active duty military.
View more info on Death Valley’s website HERE.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Restroom
To see everything then you must start early. We started at sunrise and the view at the sand dunes was amazing. There are several different sand dunes you can visit inside the park but these are the easiest to visit and are right off the main road. The trail is short and you can venture as far as you’d like into the dunes. The sand is cold and feels amazing on your feet compared to the hot desert air.

In-between the dunes you’ll find these patches of soft rock.

Salt Creek Trail
Easy, 0.5 Mile
We went to this trail specifically to see pup fish. These tiny tadpole-like fish are only found here in the world. This easy trail had a boardwalk and informational signs.
View the trail on All Trails HERE.

Harmony Borax Works Trail
Easy, 0.4 Mile
This trail is also short and easy and provides a look into Death Valley’s history. Death Valley use to have many mines before becoming a National Park. Harmony Borax Works was a mine that pulled out borax. It astonishes me that people use to live out here in the middle of nowhere to work at these mines.
View the trail on All Trails HERE.

Furnace Creek Visitor’s Center
Furnace Creek is one of the visitor’s centers in the park and this area is one of the only places to find gas, food and water. Between the visitor’s center and the ranch it is like an oasis in the desert. Insid the center is a small gift shop and museum. We love participating in the Junior Ranger program. This is a FREE program for kids (or adults) where you can grab a small workbook, fill it out during your visit, and return it for a badge. You can grab those books here as well as maps and trail advice. There are also nicer restrooms. I highly recommend filling up on gas before heading to the park, you don’t want to pay these price, ouch!

furnace creek visitors center death valley

The Ranch at Death Valley
Drive a tad further and you will come to the Ranch at Death Valley. The ranch offers restaurants, gift shops, ice cream and nice shady areas. The ice cream was delicious and is a great treat on a hot day. You can also find a post office! In the General Store there are quick eats and some grocery items if you need something fast. The General Store also had the best selections of souvenirs in the park.
For more info on the Ranch at Death Valley, click HERE.

Zabriskie Point Lookout
This was by far my favorite view in Death Valley. This lookout is breath taking and offers incredible sights at every angle. There is a very short paved walk up to the lookout area. When we were there we saw an artist finishing up his work. There are restrooms in the parking lot.

Dante’s View
Here is another amazing viewpoint. This sight truly looks like the real “Death Valley”. This lookout is a short walk to the top as well. There are restrooms in the parking lot.

Badwater Basin Salt Flats
Easy 1.9 Miles
This trail is easy and flat, but keep in mind there is no shade whatsoever. It was about 103 degrees when we walked out. The entire area is salt flats but they have been tread on and flattened unless you go all the way out on the trail. The ridges and lines in the ground are really interesting. Badwater Basin is also the lowest point inside Death Valley National Park.
View the trail on All Trails HERE.

Devil’s Golf Course
Easy, 2.6 Miles
We did not do the trail here, it really is not necessary. You can see the “golf course” from the parking lot. These really intricate (and dangerous) rock formations are sharp and difficult to walk on.
View the trail on All Trails HERE.

Artist’s Drive Scenic Drive
You will find the turnoff for the scenic drive called “Artist’s Drive” which is a 9 mile one way drive. This drive offers stunning views of really unique mineral piles of rock.

Artist’s Palette
Easy 0.4 Mile
Artist’s Palette is a pull off area abut halfway through Artist’s Drive. (It is not the first pull off area, there will be a sign). This is a very short trail and you simply must do it! You really cant tell in these pictures because photos don’t do it justice. These piles of minerals are full of color and are beautiful in person.
View this trail on All Trails HERE.

Father Crowley Vista
Father Crowley Vista was our last stop and is a very popular overlook. There is also a trail here but I personally think the view from the top is plenty. This is where the earlier Star Wars movies were filmed.
View the trail on All Trails HERE.