Britt FabelloCalifornia, USA

Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Britt FabelloCalifornia, USA
Death Valley National Park, California, USA

To the ignorant, it might be hard to imagine why one would want to visit a place called “Death Valley”. But even beyond the novelties (extreme low elevation, record-breaking heat), it’s surprisingly colorful, serene, and grounding.

ITINERARY

LOGISTICS

  • Death Valley is the hottest place on earth. Bring PLENTY of water and be mindful of the sun! The weather in mid-March was perfect, if sometimes a bit too hot.

DAY 1: March 16, 2023

  • Drove from Los Angeles to Death Valley.

  • Groceries for lunch.

  • Hiked Mosaic Canyon Trail. Amazing curved, smooth stones. Loved the really narrow parts of the canyon, especially the parts where you needed to scramble.

  • Checked into our hotel.

  • Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes at golden hour. Beautiful. Walked around barefoot.

  • Dinner at Toll Road Restaurant.

  • Stargazing on the side of the road. This wasn’t planned. Britt noticed the stars were really clear on the drive back from dinner, so we pulled over to enjoy it.

DAY 2: March 17, 2023

  • Groceries for breakfast.

  • Hiked Badwater Basin Salt Flats Trail. A bit boring, but worth it for the novelty (and the really strange, alien salt structures).

  • Scenic drive through Artists Drive. Much more colorful than you’d think given the barren landscape. Beautiful shades of red, orange, green, teal, and purple.

  • Groceries for lunch.

  • Golden Canyon Trail. The name doesn’t lie. Loved the contrast between the round and sharp shapes. Dramatic views at the end of the trail near Red Cathedral.

  • Swam at the hotel pool, which is natural hot springs water. Really refreshing.

  • Dinner at the Last Kind Words Saloon. Outrageously expensive. The food was OK. Not many options around!

DAY 3: March 18, 2023

  • Groceries for breakfast.

  • Hiked Natural Bridge Trail. Lots of shade. Not too crowded except for the bridge area.

  • Zabriskie Point. Drove up for the views, but we walked a little bit down some of the trails that start from here. (Golden Canyon is directly beneath this area.)

  • Scenic drive through Twenty Mule Team Canyon. Very pretty.

  • Groceries for lunch.

  • Dinner at The 19th Hole. Inexpensive decent meal.

  • Golden hour at Dante’s View. (It was technically golden hour, but it was cloudy…)

DAY 4: March 19, 2023

  • Groceries for breakfast.

  • Checked out of hotel.

  • Drove from Death Valley to Los Angeles.