Easy parking and a short walk to get through a lookout. The photos don't do the color justice and I…read morethink when it's not peak light, you'll see them more vibrant but still fascinating to see up close! Theres not too much of an actual path here then just climbing around for a lookout and then returning to the parking lot.

No visit to this NP is complete without doing the one way artist's palette drive. The drive is easy…read morewith lots of pullouts. There are currently many wildflowers to be seen here as well. You can easily enjoy the views from the far or venture out on a trail or short walk from Parking spots.

Of all the places we visited as a family for Spring Break in Death Valley, Fall Canyon was my…read morefavorite. Situated in the northern half of the park, Fall Canyon is accessed via a 3 mile road off the main highway, consisting of dirt, sand, gravel, and rocks up to about the size of a cantaloupe-- not impossible to pass in your 1994 Ford Festiva, but I wouldn't recommend it. The park map suggests a "high-clearance vehicle," which means the few extra inches under a Jeep, a truck, or an SUV could mean the difference between making it to the gravel-covered parking lot, or blowing out your exhaust system on the rocks... the latter could prove to be life-threatening in the heat of the desert. That said, before setting out on any hike in DV, be sure to prepare: even traveling with my 4x4 truck, we carried two gallons of water per person in the truck, with Camelbacks that stored 3 liters of water each during our hikes, plenty of shelf-stable snacks like dried fruit, nuts, and trail mix, sunscreen, a couple of lighters, a good knife, light clothing, hats, a first aid kit... I know, rather Boy Scout of us, but you don't take chances when you're traveling on the periphery of civilization with young kids. Phones generally don't work here. Now that all the worry stuff is out of the way... Fall Canyon is desolate and beautiful. Unlike any canyon in my local San Gabriel mountains, Fall Canyon's stark rock walls, carved by aeons of occasional swift moving flash flood waters, rise in stark contrast from the flat canyon bottom of gravel and rocks. This place is a rockhound's dream: if you know where to look, a geology enthusiast can find pre-Cambrian igneous rock (that's nearly 1.7 billion years old, Mildred), limestone, sandstone, breccia, conglomerate, mudstone, quartz, quartzite, gypsum, and maybe even a few other surprises, brought here from far away by fast moving waters. During our trip in April, the area was flecked with colorful wildflowers, growing in earnest against the deadly heat just a few weeks away, and providing food for voracious hornworm caterpillars, eating as fast as they could. A beautiful collared lizard crossed our path, and we had a brief photo-shoot with it before releasing it unharmed. As the sun went down, lots of bats emerged from the caves in the canyon walls, feasting early evening insects. With young kids, we only journeyed about a mile and a half into the canyon. In some places, the slot canyon narrows, while in other areas, it is wide; in most cases, the steep walls on either side keep you directly on the path. I can't wait to return to this area either sans offspring or when they are a little older and can carry their own water, to further explore the deeper parts of this beautiful area.

NO FALLING, JUST A LITTLE SLIPPING!!!!…read more BACKGROUND: Fall Canyon is one of many colorful ravines in the hills surrounding Death Valley in California; shaped by occasional flash floods that flow from the higher mountains beyond, the canyon is remote and little-visited; deep and moderately narrow for many miles, with occasional shaded, cave-like passageways of great beauty. Some of these narrow, twisting sections are enclosed by smooth granitic walls with an unusual bluish tint. As with most other Southwest canyons, the rocks are layered, but quite differently to the orderly slot canyons of Utah - here the strata are multi-colored, buckled, twisted and eroded, the result of ancient geological forces. Fall Canyon is easily reached and offers a perfect wilderness experience, though it should be avoided during the summer months when the weather becomes too extreme. STATS: Distance: 9 miles Elevation Gain: Approx. 2,200ft. or roughly 400-500ft./mile ESSENTIALS: At least 2 liters of water Know your limits Comfy hiking shoes with good lugs Layered Clothing High protein food/snacks Electrolytes Camera Hat (optional) Sunscreen Trek poles (optional) High profile vehicle (strongly recommended) OUR ROUTE: Before heading home from a magically majestic weekend in Death Valley, me and The Crew headed here to Titus-Fall Canyon for a quick in-&-out. The drive from the paved road to the trail head was more than a little dirty and dusty, it was quite bumpy, thank goodness for high profile vehicles. Low profile cars would probably bottom out and leave a trail of car parts on the road. From the trailhead we headed up a soft sandy wash for about three miles, similar to the one at Furnace Creek. There is very little elevation gain, so it's completely doable for beginner hikers. It's the sandy wash provides a quad workout. The canyon closes in a smidge and provides some shade and the shadows created by the slightly limited shinning sun creates some breathtaking sites and colors of the slot canyon. The slots in this canyon don't get so narrow that packs have to be removed, and there's no need to spoon to the left or spoon to the right to get through. There are offshoot slots throughout this wash, which are worth taking a gander, especially if you are not wanting do all nine miles of this hike. Although there are no signs leading you to the end of the trail, the mouth of a 30ft. waterfall will be your sign that the end is here. DISCLAIMER: Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please, if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best. Remember when going for a hike, no matter how short you think it may be, always be prepared. Carry at least two liters of water for every five miles (more if the weather is warm), protein bar, nuts, and electrolytes. Wear sturdy lug sole shoes and protective clothing. Some areas the weather can change quicker than a fireman can put on his gear. It is also very important, always always always let a family member or friend know where you are going and when you expect to be back. Lastly, have fun when you hike it up. Review 86 Yelp 100+ Challenge 2015 #deathvalley #hikingdeathvalley #hiking #belowsealevel

This is a great stop while touring the park. There's a big parking lot with restrooms. You can view…read morethe dunes from the parking lot easily, but I highly recommend walking out onto the dunes a bit. This is such a photographic spot and so unlike any other spot in the park.

Second to last stop of our day at Death Valley. Lots of people but lots of area, keep walking out…read moreto the untouched areas where you see the sand ripples on the ground. A peaceful spot to watch some of the sunset.

I highly recommend using the information and mile markers outlined in the Moon Death Valley travel…read morebook, without this detailed information I don't think we would have found the mine! There are some carins that help mark they way, but they can be easy to miss because there is so much rock all around. We actually didn't see the carins that mark the first turn off until we came back! The elevation gain for this hike is about 1,200 feet in a little over 2 miles to the mine. It is pretty slow going due to all the scree and there is also quite a bit of scrambling up and down over larger rocks. There, back, and exploring the hike took us 3.75 hours. Overall the canyon hike is cool, but there are cooler canyons in Death Valley. The real treat is the mine destination and getting to explore. There are some "signs" that you are on the right track, pressed wood, old cans, a lookout tower, etc, so keep lookout for them as you hike up the canyon. The old mine and mine camp are pretty cool to look through as they are pretty untouched. There is a Hantavirus Advisory posted (transmitted by rodents) so be sure not to touch or disturb the camp. While you're there be sure to sign the log book located in the refrigerator next to the stove. Very cool destination hike. Remote location, we didn't see one car from the time we passed Badwater Basin until we left and were driving back; there is no cell phone signal. Be sure to be prepared with food, water and emergency supplies!

The farthest point I think in the park and we got to see it with a little water which created this…read moreincredible reflection. Good amount of parking and you can walk as far as you'd like on the basin. Peep the sea level sign on top of the mountain to really grasp how 'low' you are!

We decided to take a little day trip out to Death Valley to view the wildflower bloom, hike a bit…read moreand visit Lake Manly (otherwise known as Badwater Basin). I really wanted to walk in the glorious saltwater. We were there on a Thursday and this place was hopping with people. I had forgot that spring breaks have begun. We eventually found a place to park and made our way out to the water via the boardwalk that heads out. We all know that Badwater Basin is the lowest point in the USA. It is 282 feet below sea level and it sure was pretty. The basin normally does not have water, but with all the rain California received this winter the water was almost up to my shins. The saltwater flats cover over 200 miles. The basin includes sodium chloride, gypsum, borax, and calcite. The best part of the visit was that by the time I stepped out of all that saltwater, my feet were so soft. It was truly a natural exfoliation for the feet. Be respectful and leave your pets at home as they are only allowed on designated dirt roads. Most of all LEAVE NO TRACE and Happy Adventuring.

Nice little drive up the mountain. Great views! Couple of…read morehiking trails for different view angles.

This view is absolutely worth the drive there and back at any time of day. I recently went midday,…read morebut I've been at sunset as well and it is stunning at any time of day. We were lucky to visit during the recent superbloom and there were so many flowers along the drive. Don't skip this stop while in the park!

Entering Death Valley National Park from the south via Jubilee Pass Rd. And heading north on…read moreBadwater Rd. You will pass Ashford Mills Ruins. This is what is left of a gold mining operation from a century ago. There are a few standing walls of some old buildings and some remnants of the mining equipment, but little else. Of note, when we visited in April, there was a pretty good wildflower bloom in this area, and everything was covered with Sphinx moth caterpillars-- there were thousands of them crossing the road and unfortunately our truck claimed more than a few speeding down the highway. If you're pressed for time, this one is not essential to see in comparison to Badwater Basin, Mesquite Dunes, Mosaic Canyon, etc. if you have nothing but time, stop in here to stretch your legs and see how with enough time, the desert reclaims just about everything. From dust you come, and to dust you shall return.

Neat piece of history if you happen to be driving by. I definitely wouldn't make a specific trip…read morethere just to see the ruins as there really isn't much to see. Nice spot to stop to stretch your legs and use the bathroom. If you are heading north, the next bathroom is Badwater Basin which is an hour away.

You can take a short drive (less than a mile) over an unpaved road through Mustard Canyon. The…read morecanyon takes its name from the bright yellow rocks that it is composed of. You do not need a high clearance or 4 wheel drive vehicle to drive through it. The entrance is the same as the one to Borax Works, but goes on to become unpaved as it snakes through the Canyon.

I walked from Furnace Creek Campground through Mustard Canyon and back every morning. It was a nice…read morewalk, especially right before sunrise. It felt like nobody else was on the planet but me and the deep silence was humbling. Nice 5.2 mile walk.