Would you like to explore a beautiful hot desert? You might want to plan on visiting Death Valley National Park.
We discovered some great places along the way. If you check them out, don’t get stranded in the heat!
You can read about my trip before you go, so you’ll know what to expect on your visit. Also, if you need lodging, check out my blog post on the ranch we stayed at.
Visiting Death Valley
If you want to turn up the heat, visiting Death Valley National Park will do the trick. It’s quite toasty and only one of the hottest places on Earth!
Let’s also add that this place has beautiful scenery! If you want to explore a California desert, this place will not disappoint!
The chilly, dreary, overcast spring weather brought gloom, and we missed the heat. We wanted ice cream-melting, egg-frying on the sidewalk kind of heat.
Sizzle… sizzle…
So, we planned a road trip to the desert, and I looked forward to the sunshine. Sunny weather, here we come!
On the way to Death Valley, we started to feel some heat and strong breezes in Searles Valley. The scenery began to change, and very few cars passed us on the road.
Good thing we stocked up on water.
You do not want to get stranded without water and snacks over here. By the way… yes, we did pass a few people who had car trouble along the way.
Once we got to Death Valley, a sign stated that we were entering a fee area. I had my national parks pass, so that took care of the fee.
Unlike other national parks, this entrance had no gate or toll booth. So, we drove in without stopping at the ranger’s station.
We hung the pass on the rearview mirror but did not run into one ranger during our two-day trip. I found out later we should have registered at the station.
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 enjoying chips and apple juice, 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 beautiful California scenery amazed them, and they planned to explore more of the West. They loved soaking up the hot weather in the desert.
Beautiful desert flowers
Death Valley has some beautiful flowers in the springtime! And if you’re lucky not to have pollen and allergies, you can get up close to the flowers.
Those dreaded desert flowers took a toll on me!
My allergies got worse as we ventured deeper into the national park. I had to wear a mask outside, and it helped a lot. It gave me relief from sneezing, at least.
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.
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. You’ll have to walk up a dirt road to the old factory.
Luckily, the wind gusts, albeit hot gusts, gave us some relief.
I found the history of Harmony Borax Works fascinating because I buy borax in the store. The white powdery stuff comes in handy, and I use it to boost my washing detergent.
Have you heard of the 20 Mule Team?
That’s how they transported the borax to market—165 miles of Death Valley terrain! Yes, by mules.
I couldn’t imagine working in the heat. Some people had to live in tents… And how did they get water?
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.
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.
We definitely needed sunglasses and a hat out there! Some people had umbrellas or towels to shield themselves from the sun.
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.
Here, you will drive up and down hills and curves. It felt like a rollercoaster ride!
It really does look like a painted scene—bursting with pastel colors from volcanic deposits in the earth.
You won’t even know it exists unless you venture off on Artists Drive Scenic Loop. It’s all hidden away!
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.
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.
That’s salt, not snow
The sun beat down on the sand while driving through Death Valley. 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. This was 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.
Ashford Mills Ruins
Along the way, we explored Ashford Mill Ruins, which once processed gold ore from a nearby mine. Few bricks remain, and I thought about the history.
What kind of stories would the laborers have told? What about the heat and other dangers?
This desert’s mysteries ran through my mind. And I thought about people who traveled there and never returned home.
Visiting Death Valley during the cooler months might give you some relief. But it can turn dreadfully hot—even in springtime.
You might want to check out my blog post about where we stayed on our trip. It has to be one of the cutest cottages in the desert.
And if you want to visit another desert on your West Coast road trip, check out my blog posts on Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
As always, have a safe trip to Death Valley so you’ll live to tell your story. Speaking of stories…
I’d love to hear about your adventure travel stories near and far!
Updated: November 30, 2024
