​Happy Birthday National Parks Service!

100 years of NPS! Now, that’s quite something, especially given the great job they do. Moving to the US after a childhood spent in India and the Middle East, national parks and the role they play was something I only realized well into my adult life. Now I enjoy every chance to explore a new park on my list, especially since we’ve moved to California, which is basically national parks heaven I hear! One of the first national parks I visited was about 3 months into setting up home base in L.A – we went to Death Valley National Park and here’s a quick round up of the experience!

At the entrance to Death Valley National Park, started out sunny but still pretty chilly.

This is the hottest, driest and lowest national park so extreme weather and even extreme temperatures within a day are normal. While the name sounds slightly off-putting, it is amazing the number of different landscapes you get to see here! This is also the largest national park in the US outside Alaska – yeah, let that sink in a bit! There are many interest points charted across the park so plan your trip well if you have limited time. We planned on driving in one afternoon, spending the night at a motel and driving out the next day so we have essentially a day and a half to cover the view points we shortlisted. Remember also that this was end December so pretty chilly during the day and got progressively closer toward nightfall. We also had limited daytime hours to explore the park as a result.

They had some pretty crazy pie specials here and also the last decent restroom facility before you hit the park.

The drive from L.A to the park was only about 5 hours to the entrance, shorter if you leave earlier and beat the general traffic. En route, stopped for breakfast at a little eatery called Ranch House Café. Seemed like a family run place with a few home-y faves. Seemed like the only place close enough and along the way. The entrance to the park was $20 per vehicle fee BTW.

Panamint area Springs

For a first impression, not too shabby at all!

First up: Father Crowley Vista: We did have to drive off-road a bit to get there but what a gorgeous view! In the middle of nowhere land, expanses of mountains-scape in varying shades and colors, called Rainbow Canyon. There is a viewpoint bench there and you can sight cars in the distance like ants on a track – take a minute to sit here and enjoy the scene but also the fresh air. There were a couple other points in Panamint we would have loved to hit up but had to make a move in the interest of time. There is also the Scotty’s Castle Area that we missed altogether.

Furnace Creek Area

Pictures don't capture well, the colors are quite the sight!

Artist’s Drive: This scenic drive is a loop through hills in different colors and shades, like an artist almost painted over them. Very beautiful to see in person and is a one-way drive so once you start you have to go all the way.

this is but one corner/angle of what the salt flats look like. Its HUGE!

Badwater Salt Flats: This is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. Badwater Basin is like a field of white salt. You see it like a flat white surface from a distance and as you drive closer, you’ll see the cars and tourists lined up. Walking on the flats is kinda cray-cray, almost feels like ice and it might give way but it is just a really thick coating of salt on sand. If you are curious, yes, I tasted like an itty bitty particle and it was mighty salty!

Interesting history here, lots of info. If you like reading everything then give yourself a half hour to 45 minutes at least.

Harmony Borax Works: An 18th century borax refinery was located here so they have an interpretive trail describing the history associated with the industrial activity there at that time. Pretty cool if you like general trivia like that. Read about the Twenty Mule Teams.

Gives you somewhat of an idea of the valley rom up top. you can see the beginning of the slow flurries on that board!

Dante’s View: This was the last stop on our plan and we almost did not make it thinking it would take too much time but so glad we took a chance. The drive up the winding slope is quite exciting and once you get there – the view is totally worth it – 5000 feet above Death Valley itself. Lucky for us, it began snowing right as we started walking along the point so we had a great experience enjoying the snowfall and the view together. Within seconds the place was covered in white and park services started having people, leave as the roads going down the slope would soon get all slippery.

Stovepipe Wells Area

phone pictures don't do justice but if you have a professional camera, this would be paradise for your shots

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: No there ain’t no BBQ shack here! But I bet if you go in the summer you will be grilled like you are on one J The sand dunes just pop out of nowhere here so you can see the real desert side. Kinda difficult to walk on and you can probably build a sand dune of your own from all the sand in your shoes after but amazing dune slopes.
Mosaic Canyon: This looks like mosaic walls chiseled away to make a cool hiking trail. Did not get too far as it was close to nightfall here but again, very cool architecture if you could call it that.

part of the boardwalk, give yourself about a half hour to 45 minutes if you want to walk along the whole way and read all the information provided

Salt Creek: At the time we visited there wasn’t much of a creek to speak of but did see some river trails and were told it is home to a rare pupfish. There is a boardwalk and ample information along it to keep you entertained.

Interestingly the gave us keys to the wrong room so imagine our surprise when we entered and saw someone else's belongings there!!

Night stay: We stayed at the Stagecoach Motel in Beatty, NV close to Rhyolite for the night. Pretty cheap rates considering we booked just a few days before. Don't expect too much, its just night haul type place. There are some restaurants nearby for a quick meal and a Denny's onsite. The drive there was kinda scary actually. Rhyolite used to be a major city in its heyday but is now a ghost town. So there were a bunch of ruins and sculptures.

One of the sculptures in the ghost town. Imagine how scary this looked lit up at night. Yeah, boo!

What you should know before you head here/or any national park

• Carry plenty of drinking water no matter how dependable water facilities may be, have some snacks handy and positively carry an emergency kit with a torch, blanket, etc.
• Check your tires and tire pressure, ensure you have an extra tire in case of emergency, stay with your car at all times if you have a breakdown. Park Service will find you and assist.
• Stick to the paths advised and only go off-road if you know your vehicle is capable of handling the terrain, you are sure of directions AND you have the necessary permits to be using backroads.
• Also carry a can of gas because gas stations inside national parks are pretty much a rare sight so if you need gas you are going to have to leave to find a gas station...
• ...which are difficult to find because you will most probably not have cell phone access in most places inside the park.  There were entire routes that we were taking by going old school and just following instructions on signboards because there was absolutely no cell phone reception whatsoever. Even had to stop in the dark at one point and flag down another oncoming vehicle to find out if we were headed in the right direction so PLEASE travel with a group.
• Always stop at a Visitor Center to get one of the latest maps that tell you where the different entry checkpoints are, where the latest road blocks or construction zones are and where bathroom facilities are located.
• DO NOT feed desert animals! We had a close encounter with a pair of wild foxes while we pulled aside on a paved road for some pictures. They came right up to us, almost looking at us like they knew we’d give them something. The speed with which we all jumped back into the car was hilarious, because who knows if this thing decides to bite onto one of our healthy bodies and not let go!! We saw signs everywhere to not feed the wildlife and joked about what could possibly survive in Death Valley until the foxes decided to come and play :) 

Since then, the only other national park I’ve visited was Joshua Tree in the summer, and I’ll have a post on that here soon enough but meanwhile, if you visited Death Valley, or any other park in California or in the US, I’d love to read about your experience. Leave me a link in the comments below!