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We decided to explore the hottest place in California, and in the US. So we packed up our car and headed to the beautiful Death Valley National Park.
If you want to turn up the heat, this place will do the trick. From our road trip, I can now verify that it is indeed very hot there.
I’ll share our experience, what to know and expect, and personal photos from our adventure. This might help you plan your trip!
Getting There
We mostly traveled through the Mojave Desert to reach the national park. California has a lot of desertland to cover.
We came from chilly, dreary, overcast spring weather near the ocean. But we were soon met with sunshine and ice cream-meltin’ kind of heat.
In Searles Valley, we caught strong breezes. The scenery began to change, and very few cars passed us on the road.
I hopped out of the car to take some pictures as the pretty view was calling me. And I’m glad I wore my comfy cargo skirt this day.
Anyway, we passed a few people who had car trouble along the way. You do not want to get stranded in the desert. Good thing we stocked up on water and snacks.
Once we got to Death Valley, a sign stated that we were entering a fee area. I had my parks pass, so that took care of the fee.
Visiting Death Valley
The national park is open 24 hours each day. Let’s just say it never closes.
Unlike other national parks, the entrance had no gate or toll booth. So, we drove in without stopping at the Stove Pipe Wells Ranger Station.
We hung my park’s pass on the rearview mirror, but did not run into one ranger during our trip. Later, I learned that visitors should register at the station.
So, you might want to do this, as we’ll remember to do this next time!
Stovepipe Wells
After we entered the park, we came across Stovepipe Wells. In this cute little town, you can pick up food, fill up your tank, and use the bathrooms.
You can even camp there, but we didn’t see many amenities for camping, or campers, for that matter.
For this trip, we did not travel by van and stayed in hotels. However, taking the van would make a great road trip.
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.
Despite it being past my usual allergy season, I used up tissue after tissue.
My allergies only got worse as we 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 looking at flowers, we stopped at 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. We didn’t see any, but we sure saw the signs warning of snakes.
Tiny glitters of gold sparkled brightly when we ran the hot sand through our fingers. I had never seen anything like that before.
Harmony Borax Works
Further down the road, we found a point of interest and learned about Borax. Remnants of Harmony Borax Works stood in the distance.
We parked and took a trek to see the remainder of the plant built in 1882. After walking uphill on a dirt road to the old factory, we found the remains.
Then, we followed the path down to see one of the old wagons.
Luckily, the wind gusts, albeit hot gusts, gave us some relief.
I found the history of the company fascinating because I buy borax in the store. The white powdery stuff comes in handy for cleaning and washing.
Have you heard of the 20 Mule Team? I always saw the picture on the box and wondered how they came up with that idea for marketing.
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.
I’m sure it wasn’t easy to get water either. They had to do what they had to do back then.
Badwater Basin
Next, we stopped at 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 we 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.
We definitely needed 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!
Also, there was no breeze in the afternoon, so the intense sun rays pelted us the whole way. You’ll want to carry a water bottle, especially if you plan to do the long walk.
Artists Palette
Afterward, we took a little detour on Artists Drive Scenic Loop. This was one of my favorite places to see while visiting Death Valley.
You won’t even know it exists unless you venture off on Artists Drive Scenic Loop. So, follow the signs and keep driving back.
It’s all hidden away, so we didn’t see it until we actually got there. You won’t see it from the main road.
Here, we drove up and down hills and curves. It felt like a fun rollercoaster ride!
When we got to the viewpoint, it was gorgeous. It looked like a painted scene an artist created.
The scenery burst with pastel colors from volcanic deposits in the earth. We saw stunning views when we arrived in the late afternoon.
Pictures do it no justice, and I can’t begin to describe the cascade of colors. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.
I’m sure you’d get a special treat during sunrise or sunset. Artists Palette has the most beautiful colored rock formations in the desert.
We saw people hiking in the area, but we only walked around a little. After walking the basin in the heat, we were tired and headed back to our cottage.
More Salt Flats
On our last day, the sun beat down on the sand while driving. Whiteness highlighted the ground like new-fallen snow in some areas.
With snow-capped mountains standing in the background, it sure looked like snow on the ground. No… it was salt.
Don’t run out and make snow angels!
This comes from the rocks and rain that have washed down to form a layer of salt. The salt flats that you find were made over hundreds, thousands of years.
When I stepped on the ground, it felt slushy in some areas. I couldn’t tell if deep water would suddenly appear underneath the layer of salt.
And I didn’t chance it by venturing out further. I was curious as to how solid the ground was.
We didn’t see anyone else exploring out here. But as we drove along, we found someone doing dispersed camping.
It was windy in this area and not as hot as walking on the basin. And my allergies seemed to lessen at this point.
Ashford Mills Ruins
Along the way, we explored Ashford Mill Ruins, which once processed gold ore from a nearby mine. Few bricks remained, and we looked around.
We found rocks that looked like gold. And some other people exploring asked what we were looking at.
We told them we had found gold! Ha! I’m not sure if they believed us, but they examined the rocks for a very long time.
Travel Notes
The desert can turn dreadfully hot, even in springtime. It was so intense, and although we wore 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.
Exploring the desert during the cooler months might give you a more pleasant experience.
Final Thoughts
Despite the heat, I had a great time at Death Valley. And I wonder about the park’s interesting history that we discovered.
The desert is full of mysteries, and I look forward to returning. Perhaps we’ll find more to share with you.
More Travel Adventures
I have many other related posts on my blog. You might want to check them out.
- On our trip, we stayed in a cottage at The Ranch at Death Valley in Furnace Creek.
- Anza-Borrego Desert State Park is another hot place we love to explore.
- Zion National Park is one of our most favorite places to visit, but it’s not a desertland.
I’d love to hear about your travel adventures!
Originally published: May 27, 2024
