A Weekend Guide To Death Valley
If you’re looking for a weekend guide to Death Valley, than you’re in the right place.
I took a quick trip here and visited all the scenic spots Death Valley has to offer. I took note of some travel tips and locations that I know you won’t want to miss if you’re heading out to this National Park.
The best place to stay if you don’t want to camp, is at The Ranch At Death Valley. It’s the perfect central location to everything, and you won’t break your bank by staying a couple of nights. They have multiple restaurants on the property, free wifi, and a pool to cool off if you’re vacationing during the hotter months of the year.
The first place you’re going to want to visit is the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. There is a parking lot you can leave your car in. If you’re visiting these sand dunes during the hot months (April - October) I suggest heading there for sunrise or sunset. We went in October, and arrived at 4:30pm for sunset and we felt a little short on time. It takes quite a while (about 30-45 minutes) to walk out on the dunes to get to a good vantage point for photos. What no one tells you is how hard it actually is to walk up and down these sand dunes. Definitely bring water and shoes you’re comfortable walking in. The views (and photos) will be worth the hike once you get there!
The second spot to check out on this guide is Bad Water Basin. There’s a parking lot here too and the trail is super easy to access! You can’t miss it. The walk out to the basin though is a bit long (10-15 minutes depending on how quick you walk and how many people are here). So if you’re on a time crunch for sunset or sunrise, plan accordingly. It took us about 15 minutes to walk out to a good spot where you could really see the unique salt buildup. We were here for sunrise. It’s extremely quiet except for when you’re walking. The sound of the salt crunching beneath my feet is something I’ll never forget!
The last spot I recommend for your weekend trip to Death Valley is Zabriskie Point. It’s another popular spot to stop at in this National Park and an easy access point! There isn’t a marked trail for this spot, and there are multiple signs telling you where “not” to walk, so be aware. This spot was perfect to visit right at sunrise. It lit up the mountains right off in the distance and was bright enough before the sun rose to get some great photos. Try to get your shots early though, because as soon as the sun rises this place is flooded with visitors!
