California and Nevada · 8 trails · picked by Nova Bound
Photo: Tuxyso, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
The hottest, driest and lowest national park is also one of the most colorful. Salt flats 282 feet below sea level, rippled sand dunes, polished marble canyons and gold-and-rose badlands all sit beneath peaks that rise over 11,000 feet. Plan two or three days, because the distances are huge. November through March is hiking season. Summer here is dangerous, with highs that can pass 120°F: stay close to your car, carry extra water, and finish any low-elevation walk by 10 a.m.
TRAILS
1 OF 8
Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4.3 mi loop
Elevation gain
850 ft
Badwater Road · Golden Canyon trailhead — A walk through the colors of the valley. Golden Canyon winds between tilted gold walls, a side path climbs toward the Zabriskie Point badlands, and Gower Gulch brings you back past old borax mines. For a shorter outing, hike Golden Canyon to the rust-red cliffs of Red Cathedral and back, about 3 miles. Go at sunrise, when the canyon glows and the air is cool.
⚠︎ In summer, finish by 10 a.m. Carry plenty of water; there is none on the trail.
Photo: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 8
Badwater Basin
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1–5 mi
Elevation gain
Flat
Badwater Road · Badwater Basin — Walk out onto the lowest point in North America, 282 feet below sea level. Near the parking lot the salt is packed by footsteps, but go a mile or so out and it breaks into crisp white hexagons that stretch toward the mountains. Look back at the cliffs for the sea level sign high above you. Sunrise and sunset are the best times, and summer midday is brutal.
⚠︎ No shade. In summer, visit only early or late and stay close to the parking area.
Photo: King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 8
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Difficulty
Easy
Length
2 mi
Elevation gain
185 ft
Stovepipe Wells · Mesquite Flat Dunes parking — Rolling dunes rise just off the highway, and there is no trail: pick a crest and walk. The highest dune is about a mile out. Low sun brings out the ripples and long shadows, and on a full moon night the dunes glow. Note a landmark before you start, since every dune starts to look the same.
⚠︎ The sand gets extremely hot in summer. Go at dawn or after sunset.
Photo: daveynin, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 8
Badlands Loop from Zabriskie Point
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
2.7 mi loop
Elevation gain
535 ft
Highway 190 · Zabriskie Point — Start at the famous overlook, then drop into the rippled yellow and brown badlands you were just looking at. The trail wraps around Manly Beacon and returns through a maze of small gullies. Catch sunrise at the viewpoint first, then hike while it is still cool. Follow the trail signs; the side washes all look alike.
Photo: Christian David, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 8
Mosaic Canyon
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4 mi
Elevation gain
1,200 ft
Stovepipe Wells · Mosaic Canyon road — Within minutes of the car, the canyon narrows into curving walls of water-polished marble you can run your hand along. Many visitors turn around after the first half mile of narrows, and that alone is worth the trip. Farther up, short scrambles over smooth rock lead to more narrows and a dry fall. Shoes with good grip help on the slick stone.
Photo: Mikenorton, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
6 OF 8
Natural Bridge
Difficulty
Easy
Length
1 mi
Elevation gain
100 ft
Badwater Road · Natural Bridge — A short, steady walk up a gravel wash to a big natural arch spanning the canyon. Past the bridge, look for dry waterfalls and wall textures that show how floods carved this place. It is a quick stop on the way to Badwater. The access road is gravel but usually fine for regular cars.
Photo: Alisha Vargas from Reno, NV, US, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
7 OF 8
Ubehebe Crater Rim
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
1.5 mi loop
Elevation gain
500 ft
North end · Ubehebe Crater — Walk the rim of a volcanic crater about 600 feet deep, blasted out when rising magma hit groundwater. Colored layers line the walls, and a smaller crater sits just to the south. The loose cinders make it harder than it looks, and the wind can be fierce. Stay well back from the edge.
⚠︎ Exposed edges and strong winds. Not for anyone uneasy with heights.
Photo: samiamx, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
8 OF 8
Telescope Peak
Difficulty
Strenuous
Length
14 mi
Elevation gain
3,000 ft
Panamint Range · Mahogany Flat — The highest point in the park, at 11,049 feet, with Badwater Basin more than two miles straight below. The trail traverses high ridges and ancient bristlecone pines before switchbacking to the summit. This is the summer hike in Death Valley, since it is often 30 degrees cooler up here. Start early and turn back if afternoon storms build.
⚠︎ The last 1.5 miles of road to Mahogany Flat are rough; high clearance and 4WD are advised. Snow can cover the trail in winter and spring.
Photo: Pimlico27, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Death Valley trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.