Death Valley loop

Route description

Leave Las Vegas west on NV-160 to Pahrump, then continue to Death Valley Junction and CA-190 into the park. The first stop is Zabriskie Point, where golden badlands fold like cloth below the viewpoint; sunrise here is one of the classic desert views.

Badwater Road runs south along the valley floor to Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level and the lowest point in North America, where the salt flats crack into hexagons. On the way back, the one-way Artists Drive loop passes colorful hills but is closed to vehicles over 25 feet.

North on CA-190, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes near Stovepipe Wells are rippled dunes you can walk into straight from the road. From May to September avoid the midday heat, and walk in the early morning or late afternoon.

Leave the park east over Daylight Pass to Beatty, Nevada, passing the ghost town of Rhyolite just before it. Fill the tank before entering the park, carry plenty of water and do not rely on phone coverage; the most comfortable months are November to March.