Pro-tip: Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is a must for anyone in Southern Nevada visiting…read moreDeath Valley National Park. Ash Meadows is located in the Nevada portion of Death Valley National Park. It is sometimes referred to as the Galápagos Islands of North America considering it has the highest concentration of endemic species in the United States & the second highest in all of North America. The Devils Hole desert pupfish found at Ash Meadows was actually the first ever species to be listed as endangered (by President Truman). Additionally, the wildlife refuge is one of the last remaining natural desert springs oases in the Mojave Desert, where turquoise water, grapevines, and aquatic species are abundant.

The preserve roadways are dusty gravel so pick your car/truck accordingly. No low-riders!…read more There is a visitor center, 2 boardwalk trails, a bunch of reservoirs and a couple of devil holes to hike around to. There are 2 park entrances and no cover charges or parking payments. There are restrooms at certain spots. It is still unspoiled and the color of the glacial spring water is a most relaxing blue hue. At the 2nd boardwalk, I think I saw their infamous guppy fish. Overall, the boardwalk trails, reservoirs and devil's hole trail are actually doable in a day and won't leave you hurting.

Easy 5 minute detour just past the Chevron and we find a little town gem here! Basically they are…read morecaverns carved from miners in the 1920s and people lived there til the 70s. From Highway 127, there's an unpaved road that leads past the cemetery next to Chevron. After the Cemetery, there's a small spot to park. A lot of the homes are locked (Probably cause of vandals, anyways it seems like the locals are taking care of this place), though you can look in through the windows. Apparently some people took refuge here in cave #7 from Charles Manson after they found that that they were targeted next by him. Nice place for some creative photo ops, but definitely a place to check when passing through!

Gayle and I took a morning walk through Dublin Gulch (past the cemetery) and enjoyed the various…read moreminer-carved caverns that also provided home spaces well into the 70s and beyond. It's an easy stroll, and I found peering into these abodes to be fascinating.

Really nice and easy lookout spot. Can get crowded so plan accordingly with parking. We went…read moretowards the end of sunset so some people were already heading out. It's a short walk to the lookout point once you park. Breathtaking views with cascading and layered rocks and the setting sun made it that much more beautiful. An easy must stop if at Death Valley NP!

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset here this week. It's a beautiful view at any time, but the colors on…read morethe unique rocks at sunset are really stunning. There's a large parking lot with a restroom here. There's a bit of an uphill climb to the top, but it is well worth the effort to walk up there.

The only hike we really did at Death Valley NP. It's about 2-3 miles RT with some incline and a…read morelarge stretch of uncovered trail so bring sunscreen and plenty of water! There are some challenging climbing pieces through slot canyons and some parts where you have to decide what is actually the trail. Then the end it kind of abruptly has a rock wall so there's no 'viewpoint' at the end but the rock marbling and mosaic rocks along the way are very cool to see. We saw a lot of groups here doing like discussion circles so seems like a popular spot to walk a little in and hang out.

Beautiful dry hiking trail. Reminds me of Zion Narrows without the water. Some bottleneck boulder…read morescrambling from time to time. Arrows made of rocks point the way. Stay on trail. One guy had to be rescued by helicopter in the last year. Very dry terrain. Bring extra water. Limited shade. I suggest using the restroom at Stovepipe Wells first. No cell service. Better go near wintertime. Can be cold, so layer up. Summer can reach over 120°F. We hiked almost 4 mi for about 2 hr.

We visited for a long weekend in January and such a cool experience! Known as the hottest part of…read morethe US. We loved the different scenery in different areas of the park. Going in January was not very hot and some water was in the basin which was cool to see! We were there from 10AM to sunset and was able to hit all the major spots and get a longer hike in. The park is pretty spread out too so be mindful of driving time. Most hikes are easy, out of the parking lot to a short walk but we did one longer hike that was fine with a January cooler temp, but I'm not sure I would visit during summer time.

Itinerary: Day 1 -…read moreVisitor Center, Zabriskie Point, 20 Mule Team Canyon, Ubehebe Crater Day 2 - Badwater Basin, Devil's Golf Course, Artists Drive, The Ranch, Dantes View Day 3 - Mesquite Sand Dunes, Mosaic Canyon Day 4 - Salt Creek We found out real quick that we need to pay attention to elevation levels in the park. Lower elevations in the early morning and late evening and higher elevations in the afternoon to handle to heat. I also recommend hats and sunbrellas. After running our plan by a ranger, then headed to Zabriskie Point. Short hike up to an amazing viewpoint. The variety in the landscape is stunning. After, we drove through the unpaved 20 Mule Team Canyon and saw a lot of rock formations there too. I have a hatchback and made it through nicely. Ubehebe Crater was a bit of a drive, but the crater was also over 10F cooler and super windy. Also huge and awesome to see. We hiked a bit to the Little Hebe Crater, and hiked into the crater itself. So cool! There were some wildflowers around the area that were really pretty. We went to Badwater Basin early in the morning and saw the salt up close - looks very different than seeing it from the higher viewpoints. Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America at 282ft below sea level. The white salt was vast and stretched as far as some adjacent mountain ranges. There's a small natural pool that had snails! Artists Drive was really colorful - so many hues of red, blue, gray, brown, white... it was really beautiful. Definitely one of the most picturesque views I saw in the park. There are restaurants, stores, and gas stations in the park. We had lunch at Wild Rose Tavern at The Ranch, then enjoyed some ice cream at the parlor. We enjoyed the cooler temperatures at Dantes View, which was stunning. There's such a great panoramic view from up there, and seeing Badwater Basin both up close and from so high up in the same day was surreal. There were a lot of bugs though, but also a lot of wildflowers! Not as many as a few weeks prior, but still very pretty to see in the desert. The Mesquite Sand Dunes I would definitely recommend visiting in the early morning. There's barely any shade, and it can get hot. What a unique part of the park! Same with Salt Creek, though it's much shorter and more manageable. We so many pupfish! At times, it looked like they were jumping out of the water. I want to come back to do some stargazing and astrophotography another time!

Yo that Ashley G. person is a schizo!!! but anyways this place is gorgeous, great temperature…read moreduring the summer months

Excellent hike in the Mt Charleston mountain area, about 40 minutes outside of Vegas…read more Ample parking lot but it was definitely packed and the restrooms were kind of gross and no TP. This is a popular hike so be prepared to see humans. This is about a 2.8 mile in and out hike with the hike to Cathedral Rock mainly all incline. You are def gonna work for the views but man it is so worth it. I definitely got my workout for the day and enjoyed the views once on top. The rock definitely looks like a cathedral, no joke. The climb back down pretty easy and took half the time to get up. Really nice hike and a memorable one. If you wanna get out of the city, this is a moderate hike that will get your heart pumping and the views are so sick! Loved it!

Glamping at Tarantula was the perfect mix of wild desert beauty and total comfort. Our glamping…read morecamper was super cozy, with bathrooms very nearby and the outdoor shower under the stars was pure magic (there is also an indoor shower). The sweet cats are very social and really know how to climb up every high spot at the camp! Great entertainment without being annoying. Sierra, our camp host, was friendly, helpful, and made us feel right at home. We also loved the Wine Hall which doubles as entertainment central, camp kitchen & cool hangout... We really enjoyed our wine under the stars, next to a vineyard, and the endless desert views. If you want to experience Nevada Desert, without giving up good coffee, comfy beds, and a killer stargazing shower, this is your spot. We'll definitely be back!

Amazing stay - - so happy we found this lovely place!!! The property is so well laid out. They…read morethought of everything. Choose between camping, glamping or the Bottling Room. That's where we stayed and it was fantastic. Bedding was super comfortable. Kitchen area is small but so well stocked. Just look in all the cabinets/drawers and you will probably find what you are looking for. Loved the outdoor shower - - might not be for everyone:) There are a couple chairs just outside that we took advantage of and had ourselves a relaxing happy hour, enjoying the view. You can park your car right outside the door so pretty easy unloading/loading. Keep in mind that there isn't a lot around there - - kinda the point - - so come prepared with your food, etc... So glad we signed up for the sip and stargazing. Definitely looking forward to next time.

Enjoyed going thru this river and canyon on a side by side! We camp at Dumont Dunes and this is…read morelocated in that vicinity. This river is an underground river but when it rains hard there's so much water on the trails it looks so cool! Such a great experience seeing this canyon! Totally recommend!

I have been hiking in the area for over a decade and it's always been a very special…read moreplace--history, great geology, and a date shake--all are part of hiking here. The Amargosa Rover Canyon offers several trails in China Ranch and beyond. There are two ways to hike the canyon itself. The best way to enjoy most of the entire canyon is to spot cars. Leave one at China Ranch and drive the other to Tecopa, California and park where there's public parking behind the post office. From here, hike south following the trail. Mostly you'll hike on the railroad bed of the T&T Railroad (Tonopah and Tidewater) bed as it follows the Amargosa River through the canyon. At places, the trail leaves thew railroad bed and makes wide arcs on the east side of the trail. After 5 miles, you'll reach the turnoff for China Ranch and where the spur from the T&T was built to bring gypsum from the mines above the ranch from the Morrison Siding. Along the way through the canyon from Tecopa, you'll see areas with barbed wire. This is where horses and cattle were fenced in to keep them off the railroad tracks. You will see no track. The railroad stopped operating in 1940 and the rails were pulled up and used for World War II needs. About a mile and a half from the Ranch, there's a turnoff to the west (right) and this leads to a little waterfall on the river. Beyond this about 1/4 mile, there's another turnoff--again to the west--that leads to a slot canyon that is blocked by a huge chockstone. Both side trails have signs but they have faded a lot over the years. When you almost reach the 90º bend in the river, the trail goes up a hill and heads east (left) toward the ranch. Before going up the hill, take time to look at the wood left from when this was where the gypsum was loaded onto ore cars over 100 years ago. Follow the trail from here to China Ranch. On this last bit, you'll come to a building. My first photo of this building is from 2005. The building was called the Tuff Building and the sign that was there said it was first a bar and then an assay house. The building was supposed to have been repaired that years. 1w2 years later, another portion has fallen over including the concrete piece from the doorway with the 1903 construction date in the concrete. I'm sure when I hike here next year, the rest of the southerly wall will be down too! What a shame! There are several hikes. After this 6.5 mile hike, you'll want to have a date shake and perhaps some date cookies. You earned them. On another day(s), you can explore the other trails in China Ranch. After your shake, take the car you left at the ranch and ride back to Tecopa to get the one where you started your hike. This is the way to see almost the entire canyon.

Hike to see the pupfish of Death Valley!…read more To most people Death Valley is a dead and barren desert where nothing survives, but that is the furthest thing from the truth! Death Valley is full of surprises. This desolate and arid valley was once part of a massive freshwater lake! Salt Creek is a remnant of the long gone freshwater lake. As the giant lake dried up about 10,000 years ago freshwater converted to salt water. The creek is now home to a two-inch long fish called the Salt Creek pupfish. The fish lives nowhere else but here! As the home of this fish changed from freshwater to salt water, it evolved and managed to survive in its new environment. The pupfish can also survive in water from near-freezing to above 100 degrees Fahrenheit! To see this fascinating specie all you need to do is hike the 1-mile (roundtrip) long Salt Creek Interpretive wheelchair-accessible boardwalk trail. It traces the path of Salt Creek, and you can peer down into the pools of water and spot the fish swimming around. You must do this during the spring time, however, as the fish go dormant during the heat of the summer. You may also see songbirds and great blue herons during your visit at any time of year. Salt Creek Road is off CA-190 and located 13 miles west of Furnace Creek. It is unpaved but passable to sedans, I know because on my first visit in 2016, I drove my 2005 Thunderbird to the trailhead!

Salt Creek Trail is on a boardwalk that is a 1/2 mile loop over desert sand and spring fed salt…read morecreek. We were excited to locate the rare pupfish that spawn during Spring months, these tiny pupfish have survived in the Valley for 10,000 years yet surviving after a spawn for year ~ WOW! Unique stop worth popping over for an easy stroll to see flora, fauna and the rare pupfish. Plenty of parking and bathroom facilities plus picnic tables along with benches throughout the boardwalk to sit and enjoy the beautiful views all around.

I shared many photos during our hikes here but I realize I didn't leave a review…read more Big Falls is one of my favorite trails at Mt Charleston any time of year. I love the little bit of climbing we can do, the views we find, and as always, the people who come with us. I haven't visited this trail in so long, so I don't have fresh or new commentary. It's been over 8 years since I've been here. All the photos I see I shared here are with my old dog, who passed away, and maybe one day I'll return with my current dog.

After wanting to do this hike for years, I finally got to go this morning with a friend leading the…read moreway. Since there isn't really an official trail to follow, I'm glad that I had someone who knew where to go. Even though it's June, there is still snow in parts of Mount Charleston due to the amount of rain that we had in the past few months. The snow is melting, so there was lots of water to see on this hike, which I loved. My friend, her dog, and I crossed quite a few areas with running water, so I was glad to have waterproof boots. It was also helpful to have hiking poles, as there were parts of the trek that they came in handy, notably when we encountered some snow to get to the falls. Big Falls itself did not disappoint; it's a beautiful sight! We had it to ourselves, too, which made this hike even better. We did see a couple of people on our way back to the parking area, but it's definitely not crowded like Mary Jane Falls or Cathedral Rock. Our hike was about 3.2 miles round-trip. Be advised that the amount of running water will depend on the weather and time of year; our timing was just right today.