15 Incredible Things to Do in Death Valley National Park

Essential Tips / What You Need to Know Before You Visit

• Death Valley is the largest National Park outside of Alaska covering 3.4 million acres. There are almost 1000 miles of paved an dirt roads giving you access to popular and remote locations.
• Pick up an America the Beautiful National Park Pass to save money on future visits.
• Cellphone access within the park is very limited. For your best chance to get service, head to Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells.
• You can purchase wifi in Furnace Creek at The Oasis at Death Valley or the Death Valley Lodging Company in Stovepipe Wells.
• Although it’s a massive park, there is only one Visitor Center at Furnace Creek.
• During the summer, it is recommended that every person has at least one gallon of water per day.
• Light, long-sleeved clothes can help protect you from the sun. It’s also good to have layers if you plan on exploring higher elevations.
• Do not hike in low elevations when the temperatures are hot. Head to the mountains if you want to get on the trail.
• Stay on paved roads in the summer.
• Don’t reach into places where you can’t see. Rattlesnakes, scorpions, or black widows may be hiding out.
• If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or a headache, get out of the sun and hydrate. Damp clothes can help you lower your body temperature.
• Avoid canyons during rainstorms. Flash floods can happen.

When to Visit Death Valley

• Death Valley is an International Dark Sky Park. Visit during the new moon to see an amazing showing of stars. Some of the best spots to view the night sky are Harmony Bora works, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and Badwater Basin.
• Death Valley is best known for its heat. It is the hottest place on earth. The summer season runs from May to September with temperatures well over 100°F, and often over 120°F.
• The Fall season doesn’t start until late October. It is still warm, but much more manageable. Winter is cool during the day and cold at night. At higher elevations, you may find snow too.
• Spring is the most popular season for the park. Besides the warm weather and sunny days, wildflowers bring in a lot of visitors.

Death Valley Map to Help You Get Around

More Things to Do in Death Valley National Park

• Eureka Dunes – more remote, but cleaner dunes than Mesquite.
• Father Crowley Point
• Keane Wonder Mine
• Mosaic Canyon
• Rainbow Canyon
• Twenty Mule Team Canyon Drive
• Wildlife – Find desert kit foxes at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Death Valley Hikes from Easy to Difficult

All the hikes are out and back and mileage and time needed is round trip unless specified as a loop or point to point hike.

• Harmony Borax Works (0.4 mi loop, 50 ft △, 30 min, easy)
• Salt Creek Interpretive Trail (0.9 mi, 26 ft △, 30 min, easy)
• Natural Bridge (1 mi, 86 ft △, 45 min, easy)
• Badwater Salt Flat (1 mi, 0 ft △, easy)
• Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (2 mi, 185 ft △, 1.5 hr, moderate)
• Ubehebe Crater Loop (1.5 mi loop, 500 ft △, 1 hr, moderate) – has parts that are exposed that might be difficult for those afraid of heights.
• Darwin Falls (2 mi, 450 ft △, 1.5-2 hr, moderate)
• Badlands Loop (2.7 mi loop, 300 ft △, moderate)
• Golden Canyon (3 mi, 574 ft △, moderate)
• Desolation Canyon (3.6 mi, 600 ft △, 2.5 hr, moderate)
• Mosaic Canyon (4 mi, 1200 ft △, 2.5-3 hr, moderate)
• Willow Canyon (4.2 mi , 776 ft △, 2.5 hr, moderate)
• Gower Gulch Loop (4.3 mi loop, 715 ft △, moderate)
• Sidewalker Canyon (5 mi, 1580 ft △, 6 hr, difficult)
• Fall Canyon (6 mi, 2460 ft △, 3.5 hr, moderate-difficult)
• Dante’s Ridge (8 mi, moderate)
• Panamint Dunes (8 mi, 1028 ft △, 4-5 hr, difficult)
• Little Bridge Canyon (7 mi, 1900 ft △, 5 hr, difficult)
• Corkscrew Peak (7 mi, 3093 ft, difficult)
• Wildrose Peak (8.4 mi, 2200 ft △, 6 hr, difficult)
• Telescope Peak (14 mi, 3000 ft △, 7 hr, difficult)

What to Pack

• Boots: We love our waterproof Danner Boots!
• Layers: Layers are essential to shed when it gets hot but layer up when it’s cold. Here are our favorite jackets.
• Socks: Comfortable boots are only helpful with good socks.
• Sun Protection: Just because it’s cloudy doesn’t mean you don’t need SPF.
• Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun and debris during certain activities.
• Camera: We brought our R5.
• Battery Charger: this beast of a charger charges two phones at the same time.
• Bug Spray: these have come in so handy. The Bug Bite Thing is also helpful if you use it right after they bite.
• Reusable Water Bottle: We love their super light trail series.
• Backpack: A day pack is nice when you’re out all day. If you carry camera gear, check our favorite camera backpacks or travel backpacks!
• Hiking Poles: If you plan on doing longer hikes, pack your trekking poles!
• Want to know what to wear to the airport? These are our ideal airport outfits.
• Carry on essentials to improve your next flight.

Where to Stay

Camping in Death Valley National Park

There are 9 campgrounds in Death Valley. During the summer (May to September), only a few are open since it’s so hot. All sites during the summer are first-come, first-serve so it gets really busy during holiday weekends.

From October to April, it is rare that all campgrounds fill up. All of the sites are first-come, first-serve except for Furnace Creek Campground. 

Here is a list of campgrounds:

• Furnace Creek (open year-round) – 136 sites, 18 hookups
• Sunset (Oct – May) – 270 sites
• Texas Springs (Oct – May) – 92 sites
• Stovepipe Wells (Oct – May) – 190 sites
• Mesquite Spring (open year-round) – 30 sites
• Emigrant (open year-round) – 10 tent-only sites
• Wildrose (open year-round) – 23 sites
• Thorndike (open year-round) – 6 sites (requires high clearance)
• Mahogany Flat (open year-round) – 10 sites (requires high clearance)

Read all camping rules and regulations here.

What’s Nearby

Distances are from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.

• Amargosa Opera House (30.6 mi SE, 35 min, map)
• Rhyolite Ghost Town (37.7 mi N, 50 min, map)
• Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (42.8 mi E, 50 min, map)
• Tecopa Hot Springs (65.3 mi SE, 1 h 15 min, map)
• China Ranch Date Farm (75 mi SE, 1 h 30 min, map)
• Dumont Dunes (83.2 mi SE, 1 h 30 min, map)
• Trona Pinnacles (111 mi, 2 h 20 min, map)
• Manzanar National Historic Site (115 mi W, 2 h 10 min, map)

More Resources

• Death Valley Trails Map
• Hiking Guide to Death Valley
• Death Valley Enamel Pin