Situated only 4 hour drive from Orange County is one of the most interesting national parks I have visited – Death Valley. Death Valley can be one of the hottest places in the world during summer, but we were luckily to visit during winter which is much more bearable.
The biggest tip I have is make sure you have enough fuel to make it to the Stovepipe Wells town. As we had our fuel light come on once we turned off the 127 highway, this made for an anxious drive through the park while panicking if there will be an open gas station in the park and thinking of what options there are if no gas station soon. Luckily we made it to Stovepipe Wells town and a huge sigh of relief when we pulled up to the gas station and even happier that it was cheaper then the gas station we passed on the 127 highway.
Must see places
Our first stop is at Zabriskie Point. This viewing point is amazing to see all the different gorges and see where the started mining for borax before it was appointed National Park status.
Next after stopping by the Visitors Center for a souvenir park map is Devils Golf Course. This is a huge salt pan on the floor of Death Valley basin, where you can walk over the large salt formations.
Then situated just across the road from here is Natural Bridge. Its a short half mile walk up from the car park, walk among huge cliffs to come up to this impressive rock formation that has formed a bridge over the canyon below.
Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America being 282 feet below sea level. This expansive salt flat is amazing to see and you will feel get some amazing photos in the middle of the salt flat.
Artists Drive is a about a 6 mile loop through some of the most colorful rock formations I have seen. The rock formation color change throughout the day from the sunlight. While we were driving they were having a sports car photo shoot which closed the road down for a bit but was cool to stumble across it.
Lastly was the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, we stopped here as the sun was setting and the temperature was dropping. Apparently its one of the best places for star gazing in Death Valley, we unfortunately didn’t stay long enough but did see some amazing stars on the drive back from Death Valley.
