Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
On a weekend getaway to Death Valley National Park, I saw and experienced a lot. Okay, but what’s there to see if you only go for two days?
Well, the hottest place in California has a lot to explore from unique landscapes, beautiful desert flowers, and old remnants. And let’s not forget about the extreme heat!
And I lived to tell about it, so I’ll share what to know when visiting, what to see and do, and tips.
Getting to Death Valley
I traveled from Los Angeles, through the Mojave Desert to reach the national park. If coming that way, take the 210 West to the CA-14 North.
Then get on the US-395 North to California 190 East.
In Searles Valley, the scenery began to change with strong breezes. I saw a few people with car trouble and you don’t want that to happen!
Visiting Death Valley
The national park is open 24 hours each day. Let’s just say it never closes.
Upon entering Death Valley, a sign warned about entering a fee area. I hung my park’s pass on the rearview mirror.
Unlike other national parks, the entrance had no gate or toll booth. You’ll want to stop at the Stove Pipe Wells Ranger Station and register.
Stovepipe Wells
The first day and first stop was Stovepipe Well. This is a cute little town where you can pick up food, fill up your tank, and use the bathrooms.
You can even camp there, but I didn’t see many amenities for camping, or campers, for that matter.
While sitting outside one of the stores and eating chips, I chatted with a lady from Quebec. She and her husband traveled all the way from Canada in their RV.
Now, that’s a long road trip…
The scenery amazed them, and they planned to explore more of the West. They loved soaking up that desert heat!
Beautiful Desert Flowers
If you visit in the springtime, you might see beautiful flowers. And if you’re lucky not to have pollen and allergies, you can enjoy yourself without sneezing.
Those dreaded desert flowers took a toll on me! The pollen flew around so much, and I knew this meant bad news for me.
My allergies only got worse as I ventured deeper into the park. I had to wear a mask outside, and it helped a lot.
It gave me some relief from sneezing, at least. If you have spring allergies, be prepared.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
After viewing flowers, the next stop was Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. The name comes from the Mesquite trees that grow sideways in them.
Some people walked barefoot in the hot sand. Whew!
I don’t know how they did it in this heat. The sun’s brutal reflection off the sand baked us.
Whether you walk around or just want to snap photos, you’ll want a hat and sunglasses. Yeah, there’s no shade out there.
Plus, I’d watch out for rattlesnakes in these dunes. There signs warning of snakes.
Tiny glitters of gold sparkled brightly in the hot sand. I had never seen anything like that before.
Harmony Borax Works
Further down the road, there’s a neat point of interest. Remnants of Harmony Borax Works stood in the distance.
I trekked along the wooden fence to see the remainder of the plant built in 1882. It’s a uphill walk on a dirt road to the old factory.
Then, you can follow the path down to see one of the old wagons and other remnants.
Luckily, the wind gusts, gave me relief. It was hot!
Have you heard of the 20 Mule Team? I buy this cleaning agent in the store, and always wondered about the picture on the box.
Well, they used mules to transport the borax to market—165 miles of Death Valley terrain! Yes, mules across the hot terrain.
I couldn’t imagine going that far in the heat. Plus, the workers had to live in tents and it wasn’t easy to get water back then.
Badwater Basin
The next stop was the lowest point below sea level in North America. The National Park Service states that Badwater Basin is 282 feet below sea level.
This was a popular place to stop because the parking was a little tight. They had ticket machines to pay for parking.
A bright white ocean of salt flats reflected the high noon sun. Some people opted to walk without shoes in the hot, slushy mix of sand and water.
Just watching them made my feet hurt!
The basin had become a lake because of all the rain that fell during winter. But by the time I visited, most of the water had already dried up into a mushy mess.
There were signs posted that no boats were allowed. They also warned to stay on the path.
You might want sunglasses and a hat out there! Some people had umbrellas or towels to shield themselves from the sun.
I’m glad I wore my long denim skirt because that shielded my legs from burning. Side note: I upcycled it from pants that were too big!
Regardless, the intense sun rays pelted me the whole way. You’ll want to carry a water bottle, especially if you plan to do the long walk.
Artists Palette
Afterward, I discovered one of my favorite places in Death Valley. Take the little detour on Artists Drive Scenic Loop.
You won’t even know it exists unless you venture on this road. So, follow the signs and keep driving back.
You’ll drive up and down hills and curves. It felt like a fun rollercoaster ride!
It’s all hidden away, so I didn’t see Artists Palette until arriving. You won’t see it from the main road.
The viewpoint was gorgeous. It looked like a painted scene an artist created.
The scenery burst with pastel colors from volcanic deposits in the earth. Pictures do these beautiful rock formations no justice!
I’m sure you’d get a special treat during sunrise or sunset. I saw stunning views in the late afternoon.
Some people were hiking in the area, but I was too tired to do that.
More Salt Flats
The second day was more low-key with more picture-taking. Salt flats lined the area while heading towards the park’s exit.
With the sun blaring, the ground looked like newly fallen snow in some areas. Don’t run out and make snow angels!
With snow-capped mountains standing in the background, it sure looked like snow on the ground. No… it was salt.
The salt flats were made over hundreds, thousands of years with rocks and rain. It washed down to form a layer of salt.
When I stepped on the ground, it felt slushy in some areas. I couldn’t tell if deep water would suddenly appear, so I didn’t go further.
People were dispersed camping in the area. The wind picked up, and it wasn’t as hot as in the basin.
Ashford Mills Ruins
The last stop was Ashford Mill Ruins, which once processed gold ore from a nearby mine. Few bricks remained in this area.
I saw small rocks that looked like gold. And some other people exploring asked if they were.
They examined the stones for a long time, as if they were wishing to strike it rich. Well, I wish that were the case, but no, not on this trip!
Travel Notes
The first day of travel was a bit exhausting, and you might not want to cram so much in.
Note that there’s much more to explore, and there wasn’t time to go hiking.
And oh yeah, the desert can turn dreadfully hot, even in springtime. It was so intense that, even with hats, it was brutal.
If you plan a road trip, make sure you bring plenty of water. It’s bad enough to get car trouble, and worse without water.
Going in the winter might give you a more pleasant experience.
Overall
Despite the heat, I had a great time at Death Valley. You can still explore a lot in two days.
Even if you only have one day to spend, it’s worth visiting. The park has a lot of interesting history, and I can’t wait to return!
Read More
