The Most Spectacular Views in the Hottest Place on Earth – Death Valley, CA

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley’s best views contradict everything you expect from a desert. Rainbow-striped hills, vast salt polygons, dunes that sing, and mountains that go from palm trees to pine forest in one drive. Here are the views worth sweating for.

The Lowest Point in North America: Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin sits 282 feet below sea level and covers 200 square miles of white salt flats. The salt forms perfect hexagonal shapes up to 5 feet wide, creating patterns across the landscape.

When winter storms arrive, a shallow lake one to two inches deep appears and mirrors the mountains perfectly. After each flood, the salt rebuilds itself as minerals settle into new crystal formations that grow increasingly complex over time.

The Golden Rock Formations at Zabriskie Point

Ancient lake sediments from 5 million years ago created the golden waves of rock at Zabriskie Point. Early morning sunlight turns these striped formations bright orange and yellow, while casting deep purple shadows in the valleys.

From its position 710 feet above the valley, visitors can see 50 miles across Death Valley to the Panamint Mountains. Early morning draws photographers who capture the dramatic play of light and shadow across the rocky landscape.

The Colorful Hills of Artist’s Palette

Different minerals paint the hillsides in stunning colors – purple from manganese, red and pink from iron, and green from mica. A 9-mile road called Artist’s Drive winds through these colorful volcanic hills, with the best views appearing in late afternoon light.

Scientists study these hills because Mars has similar mineral patterns. The colors become brighter after rain washes away the dust and reveals fresh mineral deposits underneath.

The Star Wars Sand Dunes at Mesquite Flat

The Star Dune rises about 130-140 feet high, standing above two square miles of wind-shaped sand. Strong winds of 45mph make the dunes hum, while sand sliding down their steep sides creates an eerie sound.

At dawn, you can spot tracks from foxes, rats, and snakes in the smooth sand. The dunes became famous when George Lucas filmed scenes for Star Wars here in 1977, featuring the robots C-3PO and R2-D2.

The Moving Rocks of Racetrack Playa

Heavy rocks, some weighing 700 pounds, mysteriously slide across this dry lakebed, leaving trails behind them. Scientists found the answer in 2014: sheets of floating ice, pushed by 17 mph winds, move the rocks when temperatures rise above freezing.

Getting here means driving 27 rough miles on dirt roads to reach 3,708 feet elevation. The rocks only move a few times each year, but their tracks stay visible in the hard mud for months.

The Year-Round Waterfall: Darwin Falls

An 80-foot waterfall flows constantly, fed by springs that release 200 gallons each minute. The wet environment supports 100 plant species, including 40-foot tall cottonwood and willow trees.

The two-mile round trip trail crosses the stream several times before reaching the falls. Bighorn sheep often visit at dawn and dusk, while rare birds nest in the thick plants.

The Natural Stone Bridge Over the Canyon

A limestone arch stretches 50 feet across and stands 35 feet above the trail. Flash floods carved out this bridge, while mineral-rich water made it stronger over time.

The canyon walls rise up to impressive heights, showing clear fault lines and mineral streaks. Scientists have found fossils of ancient horses and camels in the limestone rock.

The High Viewpoint: Dante’s View

From 5,475 feet up, Dante’s View shows 100 miles of Death Valley landscape. On clear winter mornings, you can see both Mount Whitney (14,505 feet high) and Badwater Basin (282 feet below sea level).

The parking area on the Black Mountains stays 20-30 degrees cooler than the valley below. Mounted telescopes let visitors spot the moving rocks on Racetrack Playa, 25 miles away.

The Spiky Salt Formations at Devil’s Golf Course

Sharp salt crystals grow as big as golf balls across this rough terrain. The formations keep changing as underground water brings dissolved minerals to the surface.

When summer temperatures pass 120°F, the crystals make cracking sounds as they expand and shrink. A park guide in 1934 said ‘only the devil could play golf’ here, giving the area its name.

The Fish Stream: Salt Creek

Salt Creek flows all year despite temperatures reaching 134°F, home to the rare Death Valley pupfish. These tough fish live in water six times saltier than the ocean and handle temperatures from freezing to 116°F.

A half-mile boardwalk passes through salt grass, perfect for watching the bright blue male fish guard their areas in spring. The clear water makes it easy to see their mating displays.

The Historic Charcoal Ovens

Ten dome-shaped kilns stand 25 feet tall, built by Chinese workers in 1877 for making charcoal for silver mines. The ovens burned pine and juniper wood at 2,000°F to make fuel hot enough for melting silver ore.

Each kiln turned 42 cords of wood into 2,000 bushels of charcoal at once. Their curved shape creates perfect echoes inside – whispers carry clearly from 30 feet away.

The Highest Peak: Telescope Peak

Telescope Peak reaches 11,049 feet, often snow-covered from November through May. The challenging 14-mile hike climbs 3,000 feet through five different plant zones.

Ancient bristlecone pine trees over 3,000 years old grow near the top. On very clear days, hikers see Mount Whitney 100 miles northwest and Las Vegas 85 miles east.

The Glowing Walls of Golden Canyon

Morning sun lights up these mineral-rich walls in shades of amber and red. A moderate 3-mile round trip passes through narrow canyons with 600-foot walls. The rock layers contain fossilized palm leaves from 5-7 million years ago when the climate was wetter.

The trail connects to Zabriskie Point through Gower Gulch, making a 7.5-mile roundtrip hike through dramatic rock formations.