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.

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.

Natural Bridge Canyon is a one of the easier hikes with a quick reward, LOVE these! From the…read moreparking lot that has bathrooms it will take about 15 minutes walking up a gentle but constant grade, along pebble floor to the Natural Bridge, which extends across the whole canyon and is quite impressive. Along the way you will see various chutes carved out from flood waters from manyy years ago, you can stand inside of these starring up into the deep blue skies peering out into the beauty of Death Valley to capture GREAT photops. Natural Bridge Canyon offers a short hike 2 miles round-trip with a expansive reward added bonus if you are adventerous continue up past the bridge to see the dry waterfall with the beautiful bluish-green rock colors andd if you are up for scrambling over take in the 20ft dry fall, huge boulders and chutes. ALWAYS bring plenty of H20, be safe and courteous to others.

It's a beautiful arch but nothing extraordinary. Probably my least favorite stop during my recent…read moretrip to Death Valley National Park. I was intrigued by how so few people had reviewed this part of the park, but now I can totally see why. That DRIVE! Ouch. Almost turned around. I was just thinking the whole time like... "Is my car gonna make it through this Gawd awful road?". Saw several cars behind me and a few in front of me just turn right around in the middle of the road. It says it's only 1.5 miles to the parking lot, but it feels like a journey because the road is unpaved and bumpy. If you don't have a 4 wheel drive, good luck and drive slooooow. Once you make it to the parking lot, there are a few restrooms and a trail map. But for that crazy ol' drive, this "hike" up to the arch is super short. AllTrails got it extremely wrong. The whole thing is maybe only about a mile roundtrip. You'll hike up a hill which isn't super steep, but it'll definitely have you huffing and puffing (especially in the heat). And then you'll look up and come up on the arch almost without even knowing it. It's not the most rewarding feeling, but the arch is pretty. I don't know... seeing those massive arches in Utah and Arizona has heightened my expectations. This wasn't worth the long bumpy drive in my opinion. If I could do it again, I wouldn't. I'm glad I can cross it off my list, but there are much better places to explore within the park.

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!

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!

Pretty decent rest stop in the middle of nowhere. The restrooms are ok not super clean but decent…read more There are plenty of pinic tables and an area for dogs to strech. You will how ever notice the sulfur smell (rotten egg smell) since its next to a plant. There was plenty of TP and hand soap.

Trona Highway Safety Rest Stop is located...wait for it,...... in Trona,California…read more It is a typical rest stop we find in the California desert. This one has shade, a bathroom, and alot of billboard showing the interesting history of Trona, the mining that goes on , and the Searles Valley and lakebed. It can be quite windy, and given its desert location, it has austere landscaping that blend in with the surrounding valley. It is worth a stop to perhaps eat something purchased at the excellent TIS General Store just down the road, stretch you legs, and bone up on the local history

So I make no bones about my love for abandoned things. Yes, it does make me feel a bit like Indiana…read moreJones minus the whip, cool factor, and the only real enemy here in the desert is me being unprepared or doing something stupid. They Keystone Mine is roughly halfway between the Panamint Valley and the Barker Ranch of Charles Manson fame. It is just before the Death Valley National Park boundary. During its productive years used to mine gold. I simply explored the mine entrance and offices. The mine itself is located away from the main gate area and involved pretty rough terrain over miles of switchbacks to get to so I passed. I did attempt to drive above the wash plant and encountered conditions that I could have gotten past with my stock 2016 MDX but decided not to chance it given there is no one out here and no cell service. The main building was pretty cool to explore as were the remains of the washplant, the swimming pool, and the shower area. As with most of these places there is plenty of stuff abandoned in place decaying slowly in the dry conditions. There is also a lot of fauna about if you are patient. From various raptors to wild sheep and donkeys Aside from this there are no services etc so you need to bring whatever you want to use. There are a few camping areas and some of the cabins are for public use. There is also lots of flora and fauna if you are patient. If you want to get to the actual mine, a legit off road capable vehicle with good ground clearance is needed. Also you need to be prepared for desert conditions. I made the run in April and it was still mid 80's. Summertime may be much higher.

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.