Really nice and easy lookout spot. Can get crowded so plan accordingly with parking. We went…read moretowards the end of sunset so some people were already heading out. It's a short walk to the lookout point once you park. Breathtaking views with cascading and layered rocks and the setting sun made it that much more beautiful. An easy must stop if at Death Valley NP!

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset here this week. It's a beautiful view at any time, but the colors on…read morethe unique rocks at sunset are really stunning. There's a large parking lot with a restroom here. There's a bit of an uphill climb to the top, but it is well worth the effort to walk up there.

The only hike we really did at Death Valley NP. It's about 2-3 miles RT with some incline and a…read morelarge stretch of uncovered trail so bring sunscreen and plenty of water! There are some challenging climbing pieces through slot canyons and some parts where you have to decide what is actually the trail. Then the end it kind of abruptly has a rock wall so there's no 'viewpoint' at the end but the rock marbling and mosaic rocks along the way are very cool to see. We saw a lot of groups here doing like discussion circles so seems like a popular spot to walk a little in and hang out.

Beautiful dry hiking trail. Reminds me of Zion Narrows without the water. Some bottleneck boulder…read morescrambling from time to time. Arrows made of rocks point the way. Stay on trail. One guy had to be rescued by helicopter in the last year. Very dry terrain. Bring extra water. Limited shade. I suggest using the restroom at Stovepipe Wells first. No cell service. Better go near wintertime. Can be cold, so layer up. Summer can reach over 120°F. We hiked almost 4 mi for about 2 hr.

The Nümü Tümpisattsi; Timbishsha or Panamint Shoshone people's name for this place is Tümpisa,…read morereferring to red ochre found in the Black Mountains. These indigenous people lived in ans around this valley over 10 millenia before the Bennett-Arcan and Jayhawker wagon trains passed through, headed for California's gold fields, naming it Death Valley on their way out. The Park Service has an excellent account of that journey of bad timing. The Park Service also states the hottest certifiable temperature on the planet was recorded at Furnace Creek and in Kuwait in 2013, This region's elevation ranges from 300 feet below sea level at Badwater to 11,000 foot (1,880 meter) Telescope Peak in the Panamint Mountain Range. This range of elevations give The Park a vast dirseity of plants and anumals, including the fabled North American Tourist. The Tourists began.migating through the Valley about 1937, and now, arriving from every corner of the earth. Should you come to Death Valley National Park? Of course you should. Many visitors arrivebinnthe region intent on seeing wvery National Park from Point Reyes to Yellowstone in three or four weeks. I discourage this, especially in summer, but...it is once in a lifetime and allnyou need os a selfie for the people back home to see your adventure.

We visited for a long weekend in January and such a cool experience! Known as the hottest part of…read morethe US. We loved the different scenery in different areas of the park. Going in January was not very hot and some water was in the basin which was cool to see! We were there from 10AM to sunset and was able to hit all the major spots and get a longer hike in. The park is pretty spread out too so be mindful of driving time. Most hikes are easy, out of the parking lot to a short walk but we did one longer hike that was fine with a January cooler temp, but I'm not sure I would visit during summer time.

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

You can take a short drive (less than a mile) over an unpaved road through Mustard Canyon. The…read morecanyon takes its name from the bright yellow rocks that it is composed of. You do not need a high clearance or 4 wheel drive vehicle to drive through it. The entrance is the same as the one to Borax Works, but goes on to become unpaved as it snakes through the Canyon.

I walked from Furnace Creek Campground through Mustard Canyon and back every morning. It was a nice…read morewalk, especially right before sunrise. It felt like nobody else was on the planet but me and the deep silence was humbling. Nice 5.2 mile walk.

Ok here is my first review of Telescope Peak, it might be a long one…read more Telescope Peak is located in the Death Valley National Park. It is a strenous but totally beautiful hike to the summit. The access to the trail is rather difficult depending on road conditions you might have to take a long detour if you travel from the Southwest. In my case the access to the trail from Trona was closed due to last years road damage so I had to drive through Panamint Valley to access the Western entrance of Death Valley and Emigrant Canyon road that leads further to the remote camp locations. Check the Morning Report on the park´s website for current conditions. Here is my trip report of September 2014: Arrived at Mahogany Flat campground about 5pm. The road to the campground is in very bad shape, they recommend a high clearance 4x4 vehicle but my regular Dodge Charger made it as well, you just have to drive slowly and carefully. Camped overnight at Mahogany Flat. At night it became obvious why it is called Telescope Peak. The sky was clear and no other sources of light polluted the sky so with the naked eye you could spot billions of stars and many comets/shooting stars. Got up early the next morning to catch the sunrise from about half a mile up the trail to Telescope Peak. An amazing show of mother nature as Death Valley and the Bad Water Basin slowly got drenched in sunlight. Return to camp for a good breakfast and the start of the hike to the Telescope Peak about an hour later. To me the hike was quite challenging, the round trip took about 8.5 hours with an elevation gain of almost 3000ft. Especially the last 2 miles of the hike were demanding but with frequent stops and lots of drinking and snacking I reached the peak. The vistas from top of Telescope Peak are very spectacular. The entire Death Valley to the East including Badwater Basin and the Panamint Valley on your West. The Mojave Desert to your SW and the Sierras to the NW....Spectacular There is a log to sign at the peak. After about 40 minutes of relaxing, eating and taking in these stunning views it was time to return to camp. Here are my recommendations for this spectacular hike. Drive carefully on the road to Mahogany Flat. It is not as steep as one might think but the road is in very bad condition. Camp out a night at Mahogany Flat. Several camp sites available on first-come first-served basis. Might be more frequented on week end. Campground has pit toilets but there is NO WATER available so make sure to bring plenty with you. Camp fires are ok in the fire rings/pits on each site. Enjoy the clear sky at night, watch the stars and enjoy the silence out there, soul stimulating.... It does get cold at night because of the elevation at 8800ft so pack in some extra warmth for your stay. Do not miss the sunrise over Death Valley, it is fantastic, force yourself to get up. I even set up my alarm clock. For the hike pack in plenty of water I had about 1.5 gallons. A warm layer for windy situations and of course snacks, trail mix, jerky, sandwich, fruit, whatever you wanna eat and do not mind carrying in your backpack. Put on a hat, dont forget sunglasses and a camera and put on sunscreen. On the peak there is no shade and the sun will beat down on you. Enjoy yourself and the nature

Great 15 mile (round trip) hike with a spectacular views in all directions.read more

This view is absolutely worth the drive there and back at any time of day. I recently went midday,…read morebut I've been at sunset as well and it is stunning at any time of day. We were lucky to visit during the recent superbloom and there were so many flowers along the drive. Don't skip this stop while in the park!

Nice little drive up the mountain. Great views! Couple of…read morehiking trails for different view angles.

Easy 5 minute detour just past the Chevron and we find a little town gem here! Basically they are…read morecaverns carved from miners in the 1920s and people lived there til the 70s. From Highway 127, there's an unpaved road that leads past the cemetery next to Chevron. After the Cemetery, there's a small spot to park. A lot of the homes are locked (Probably cause of vandals, anyways it seems like the locals are taking care of this place), though you can look in through the windows. Apparently some people took refuge here in cave #7 from Charles Manson after they found that that they were targeted next by him. Nice place for some creative photo ops, but definitely a place to check when passing through!

Gayle and I took a morning walk through Dublin Gulch (past the cemetery) and enjoyed the various…read moreminer-carved caverns that also provided home spaces well into the 70s and beyond. It's an easy stroll, and I found peering into these abodes to be fascinating.

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!

I've a bit of the wanderlust running through me, and it's getting stronger with each day passing…read more To try and negate some of this growing restlessness, I thought perhaps reviewing one of my past adventures would help to calm the stormy seas inside of me before I go insane. I have a dirty past. Quite literally. I am one of very few chicks that dug dirt and rocks from a very tender age (mind the bad pun). And they continue to excite me even after a decade away from school. There's hardly anything more exciting than hiking to gods know where for some geologic/paleontologic mindjob. Was that TMI? Oops, my bad. But, please, don't go anywhere! Allow me to share one of my fondest geology trips with you. I loved my majour in college. What's not to love about a study that allows you to spend more than half of your collegiate time outdoors, rain or shine? I was never much one for classroom settings. Don't let the geeky exterior fool you. I'm the type to bring a laptop out into the wild unknown to play my video games. ^_- Whoever said you can't have it all? All that's missing is a wonderful companion to share it all with. My Spring Fieldtrip assignment was to map Rainbow Basin, outside of Barstow, California. I believe the area we had to map was about 3 square miles, up and down peaks and in and out of valleys. 9 glorious days did we spend out there. Rainbow Basin is a gorgeous stretch of land. If you haven't been there yet, promise me you will. If only for a day. The best part is during sunset in the main valley. There's a specific point in the valley where you crest a rise and just sit there, waiting for the magickal moment where the sun dips just low enough in the sky to light up the cliff face where there's a huge syncline composed of various oxidized layers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rainbow_Basin.JPG). These layers, composed of various different minerals, oxidized over time to produce different shades of colours - red, purple, yellow, green, blue... The beauty is when the sun lights up these different layers to give you the most amazing display of coloured rock ever. Hence, the name of the basin itself. I'm thinking of a road trip back there this summer to view this phenomenom once more; only this time, I'll be bringing a camera to document my memories. Will you join me? Bring your sleeping bag, but forget the tent. We'll snuggle under the summer stars together.

Beautiful place. Love the colors and formations. Geology is wonderful. Enjoyed the scenic drives as…read morethe valley walls get closer and closer as your car wanders through the basin. The road Is nicely graded that goes through a wash. Very epic, scenic panoramic views. Highly recommend spring, fall or winter times to visit as it can get hot!! We went in February, Not too far of a drive from Barstow or on the dirt road. We also hiked among the Mojave desert vegetation and enjoyed the Joshua trees. Think we got a glimpse of the lakebed with Goldstone. Great picture taking opportunities!