Hike to see the pupfish of Death Valley!…read more To most people Death Valley is a dead and barren desert where nothing survives, but that is the furthest thing from the truth! Death Valley is full of surprises. This desolate and arid valley was once part of a massive freshwater lake! Salt Creek is a remnant of the long gone freshwater lake. As the giant lake dried up about 10,000 years ago freshwater converted to salt water. The creek is now home to a two-inch long fish called the Salt Creek pupfish. The fish lives nowhere else but here! As the home of this fish changed from freshwater to salt water, it evolved and managed to survive in its new environment. The pupfish can also survive in water from near-freezing to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit! To see this fascinating specie all you need to do is hike the 1-mile (roundtrip) long Salt Creek Interpretive wheelchair-accessible boardwalk trail. It traces the path of Salt Creek, and you can peer down into the pools of water and spot the fish swimming around. You must do this during the spring time, however, as the fish go dormant during the heat of the summer. You may also see songbirds and great blue herons during your visit at any time of year. Salt Creek Road is off CA-190 and located 13 miles west of Furnace Creek. It is unpaved but passable to sedans, I know because on my first visit in 2016, I drove my 2005 Thunderbird to the trailhead!

Salt Creek Trail is on a boardwalk that is a 1/2 mile loop over desert sand and spring fed salt…read morecreek. We were excited to locate the rare pupfish that spawn during Spring months, these tiny pupfish have survived in the Valley for 10,000 years yet surviving after a spawn for year ~ WOW! Unique stop worth popping over for an easy stroll to see flora, fauna and the rare pupfish. Plenty of parking and bathroom facilities plus picnic tables along with benches throughout the boardwalk to sit and enjoy the beautiful views all around.

Convenient location, place to stop with my dogs after a drive from St George Utah on the way to…read moreBishop. Fenced, dog potty clean up station, grassy areas and water station. Grass is over grown lots of fox tails, so watch your dogs.

I needed to find a park to have lunch after our visit to Rhyoilte and the Goldwell Open Air Museum…read more I looked on Yelp for parks in Beatty and it showed me Cottonwood Park. I didn't use Yelp to get directions but used my Car Play to ask for directions. Wrong thing tio do. It gave me Cottonwood Parks hundreds of miles away. Finally,I opened the Yelp app and got directions and we were right there. When we do day trips like this, my friend always packs some Taiwanese buns for lunch and we enjoy the open air dining as long as it's not August. Cottonwood Park is well kept. There are plenty of covered tables on the west side of the park. It's one block from the main roads in/out of Beatty so it IS easy to get to. We enjoyed our brief stop for lunch in Beatty.

Nice little interpretive trail with interesting history and description of how the borax was…read moreprocessed.

There was so much history at Death Valley! Harmony Borax Works is now registered a National…read moreHistoric Landmark. Harmony Borax Works was the central feature in the opening of Death Valley and the subsequent popularity of the Furnace Creek area. The plant and associated townsite played an important role in Death Valley history. After borax was found near Furnace Creek Ranch in 1881, William T. Coleman built the Harmony plant and began to process ore in late 1883 or early 1884. When in full operation, the Harmony Borax Works employed 40 men who produced three tons of borax daily. During the summer months, when the weather was so hot that processing water would not cool enough to permit the suspended borax to crystallize, Coleman moved his work force to the Amargosa Borax Plant near present day Tecopa, California. Getting the finished product to market from the heart of Death Valley was a difficult task, and an efficient method had to be devised. The Harmony operation became famous through the use of large mule teams and double wagons which hauled borax the long overland route to Mojave. The romantic image of the "20-mule team" persists to this day and has become the symbol of the borax industry in this country. The Harmony plant went out of operation in 1888, after only five years of production, when Coleman's financial empire collapsed. Aquired by Francis Marion Smith, the works never resumed the boiling of cottonball borate ore, and in time became part of the borax reserves of the Pacific Coast Borax Company and it successors. Harmony Borax Works was the central feature in the opening of Death Valley and the subsequent popularity of the Furnace Creek area. Come to visit this fascinating landmark in Death Valley!

This is a must do hike up to the top of the plateau for a view of the valley below plus interesting…read moreviews of the mining structures. We also saw wildflowers in March that were unique to this elevation such as the desert 5 spot. The short walk up to the base of the wooden derricks is easy, after that point, the grade is steeper but the path is well marked. The ore was hauled up the mountain using a unique cable system and if you hike up the hill for 20 minutes you will be able to see an ore bucket still attached to the cable up the mountain in the distance. This was actually a successful gold producing mine at the time, one of the few in the area. This site is not busy as it requires a ~ 3 mile drive on dirt roads just to get to it, plus a walk/hike to at least the base of the mine, and you can continue to hike up the hill for as far as you like.

Natural Bridge Canyon is a one of the easier hikes with a quick reward, LOVE these! From the…read moreparking lot that has bathrooms it will take about 15 minutes walking up a gentle but constant grade, along pebble floor to the Natural Bridge, which extends across the whole canyon and is quite impressive. Along the way you will see various chutes carved out from flood waters from manyy years ago, you can stand inside of these starring up into the deep blue skies peering out into the beauty of Death Valley to capture GREAT photops. Natural Bridge Canyon offers a short hike 2 miles round-trip with a expansive reward added bonus if you are adventerous continue up past the bridge to see the dry waterfall with the beautiful bluish-green rock colors andd if you are up for scrambling over take in the 20ft dry fall, huge boulders and chutes. ALWAYS bring plenty of H20, be safe and courteous to others.

It's a beautiful arch but nothing extraordinary. Probably my least favorite stop during my recent…read moretrip to Death Valley National Park. I was intrigued by how so few people had reviewed this part of the park, but now I can totally see why. That DRIVE! Ouch. Almost turned around. I was just thinking the whole time like... "Is my car gonna make it through this Gawd awful road?". Saw several cars behind me and a few in front of me just turn right around in the middle of the road. It says it's only 1.5 miles to the parking lot, but it feels like a journey because the road is unpaved and bumpy. If you don't have a 4 wheel drive, good luck and drive slooooow. Once you make it to the parking lot, there are a few restrooms and a trail map. But for that crazy ol' drive, this "hike" up to the arch is super short. AllTrails got it extremely wrong. The whole thing is maybe only about a mile roundtrip. You'll hike up a hill which isn't super steep, but it'll definitely have you huffing and puffing (especially in the heat). And then you'll look up and come up on the arch almost without even knowing it. It's not the most rewarding feeling, but the arch is pretty. I don't know... seeing those massive arches in Utah and Arizona has heightened my expectations. This wasn't worth the long bumpy drive in my opinion. If I could do it again, I wouldn't. I'm glad I can cross it off my list, but there are much better places to explore within the park.

Absolutely love this place!…read more You can walk, hike, bike, sit, etc. here. The views are super scenic and it's a very relaxing spot. I can't wait to get back here again!

Along Route 95 in Amargosa Valley there isn't much. It has the alien themed travel center. There's…read morea lot to do there if you know what I mean. Just past it is a natural area. There's no paved roads off the highway so be prepared. Big Dune is just that. It's big. This is easy to see from the road. It's a dune. This is a massive pile of sand. You can only get to it by taking unpaved roads, which can be some pretty rough terrain. Be careful with all the rocks you drive over. You don't want to get a flat tire. I would never take my personal car. If you want to get closer you should get an ATV. Mountain bikes would be good too.

Of all the places we visited as a family for Spring Break in Death Valley, Fall Canyon was my…read morefavorite. Situated in the northern half of the park, Fall Canyon is accessed via a 3 mile road off the main highway, consisting of dirt, sand, gravel, and rocks up to about the size of a cantaloupe-- not impossible to pass in your 1994 Ford Festiva, but I wouldn't recommend it. The park map suggests a "high-clearance vehicle," which means the few extra inches under a Jeep, a truck, or an SUV could mean the difference between making it to the gravel-covered parking lot, or blowing out your exhaust system on the rocks... the latter could prove to be life-threatening in the heat of the desert. That said, before setting out on any hike in DV, be sure to prepare: even traveling with my 4x4 truck, we carried two gallons of water per person in the truck, with Camelbacks that stored 3 liters of water each during our hikes, plenty of shelf-stable snacks like dried fruit, nuts, and trail mix, sunscreen, a couple of lighters, a good knife, light clothing, hats, a first aid kit... I know, rather Boy Scout of us, but you don't take chances when you're traveling on the periphery of civilization with young kids. Phones generally don't work here. Now that all the worry stuff is out of the way... Fall Canyon is desolate and beautiful. Unlike any canyon in my local San Gabriel mountains, Fall Canyon's stark rock walls, carved by aeons of occasional swift moving flash flood waters, rise in stark contrast from the flat canyon bottom of gravel and rocks. This place is a rockhound's dream: if you know where to look, a geology enthusiast can find pre-Cambrian igneous rock (that's nearly 1.7 billion years old, Mildred), limestone, sandstone, breccia, conglomerate, mudstone, quartz, quartzite, gypsum, and maybe even a few other surprises, brought here from far away by fast moving waters. During our trip in April, the area was flecked with colorful wildflowers, growing in earnest against the deadly heat just a few weeks away, and providing food for voracious hornworm caterpillars, eating as fast as they could. A beautiful collared lizard crossed our path, and we had a brief photo-shoot with it before releasing it unharmed. As the sun went down, lots of bats emerged from the caves in the canyon walls, feasting early evening insects. With young kids, we only journeyed about a mile and a half into the canyon. In some places, the slot canyon narrows, while in other areas, it is wide; in most cases, the steep walls on either side keep you directly on the path. I can't wait to return to this area either sans offspring or when they are a little older and can carry their own water, to further explore the deeper parts of this beautiful area.

NO FALLING, JUST A LITTLE SLIPPING!!!!…read more BACKGROUND: Fall Canyon is one of many colorful ravines in the hills surrounding Death Valley in California; shaped by occasional flash floods that flow from the higher mountains beyond, the canyon is remote and little-visited; deep and moderately narrow for many miles, with occasional shaded, cave-like passageways of great beauty. Some of these narrow, twisting sections are enclosed by smooth granitic walls with an unusual bluish tint. As with most other Southwest canyons, the rocks are layered, but quite differently to the orderly slot canyons of Utah - here the strata are multi-colored, buckled, twisted and eroded, the result of ancient geological forces. Fall Canyon is easily reached and offers a perfect wilderness experience, though it should be avoided during the summer months when the weather becomes too extreme. STATS: Distance: 9 miles Elevation Gain: Approx. 2,200ft. or roughly 400-500ft./mile ESSENTIALS: At least 2 liters of water Know your limits Comfy hiking shoes with good lugs Layered Clothing High protein food/snacks Electrolytes Camera Hat (optional) Sunscreen Trek poles (optional) High profile vehicle (strongly recommended) OUR ROUTE: Before heading home from a magically majestic weekend in Death Valley, me and The Crew headed here to Titus-Fall Canyon for a quick in-&-out. The drive from the paved road to the trail head was more than a little dirty and dusty, it was quite bumpy, thank goodness for high profile vehicles. Low profile cars would probably bottom out and leave a trail of car parts on the road. From the trailhead we headed up a soft sandy wash for about three miles, similar to the one at Furnace Creek. There is very little elevation gain, so it's completely doable for beginner hikers. It's the sandy wash provides a quad workout. The canyon closes in a smidge and provides some shade and the shadows created by the slightly limited shinning sun creates some breathtaking sites and colors of the slot canyon. The slots in this canyon don't get so narrow that packs have to be removed, and there's no need to spoon to the left or spoon to the right to get through. There are offshoot slots throughout this wash, which are worth taking a gander, especially if you are not wanting do all nine miles of this hike. Although there are no signs leading you to the end of the trail, the mouth of a 30ft. waterfall will be your sign that the end is here. DISCLAIMER: Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please, if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Remember when going for a hike, no matter how short you think it may be, always be prepared. Carry at least two liters of water for every five miles (more if the weather is warm), protein bar, nuts, and electrolytes. Wear sturdy lug sole shoes and protective clothing. Some areas the weather can change quicker than a fireman can put on his gear. It is also very important, always always always let a family member or friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Lastly, have fun when you hike it up. Review 86 Yelp 100+ Challenge 2015 #deathvalley #hikingdeathvalley #hiking #belowsealevel

Glamping at Tarantula was the perfect mix of wild desert beauty and total comfort. Our glamping…read morecamper was super cozy, with bathrooms very nearby and the outdoor shower under the stars was pure magic (there is also an indoor shower). The sweet cats are very social and really know how to climb up every high spot at the camp! Great entertainment without being annoying. Sierra, our camp host, was friendly, helpful, and made us feel right at home. We also loved the Wine Hall which doubles as entertainment central, camp kitchen & cool hangout... We really enjoyed our wine under the stars, next to a vineyard, and the endless desert views. If you want to experience Nevada Desert, without giving up good coffee, comfy beds, and a killer stargazing shower, this is your spot. We'll definitely be back!

Amazing stay - - so happy we found this lovely place!!! The property is so well laid out. They…read morethought of everything. Choose between camping, glamping or the Bottling Room. That's where we stayed and it was fantastic. Bedding was super comfortable. Kitchen area is small but so well stocked. Just look in all the cabinets/drawers and you will probably find what you are looking for. Loved the outdoor shower - - might not be for everyone:) There are a couple chairs just outside that we took advantage of and had ourselves a relaxing happy hour, enjoying the view. You can park your car right outside the door so pretty easy unloading/loading. Keep in mind that there isn't a lot around there - - kinda the point - - so come prepared with your food, etc... So glad we signed up for the sip and stargazing. Definitely looking forward to next time.