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We took a weekend trip to Death Valley National Park, where we visited Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf Course, Zabriskie Point, and Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes.

It was about a 5 hour drive from Los Angeles to Death Valley, mostly through desert. This was during late winter, where daytime temperatures are more moderate.

We stayed at a hotel called The Ranch at Death Valley. A unique aspect of the ranch is an outdoor museum of old trains and stagecoaches.

After checking in, we drove out to see the attractions.

First, we went on a hike on the Golden Canyon Trailhead, a stunning hike that winds through a maze of narrow canyons and towering rock formations. The trail is popular for its striking colors, with the canyon walls ranging from golden yellow to deep red. Hikers can choose to do a short out-and-back hike or a longer loop, and the trail is suitable for hikers of all levels. We went in the middle of the day, and parts of it are shaded by the canyon walls, but most of it is in the sun.

Then we drove to our next destination, Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. The salt flats are spread out over miles, and the vast expanse of the white, crystalline landscape is otherworldly. Visitors can walk out onto the salt flats.

After that, we drove to do another hike at Natural Bridge Trail. The Natural Bridge Trail in Death Valley National Park is a short, yet stunning hike that takes visitors through a narrow canyon and ends at a towering natural bridge, which spans over 50 feet. The trailhead is located just off of Badwater Road, and visitors will traverse over rocky terrain and small hills as they make their way through the canyon. The trail is just under a mile round trip, making it accessible to hikers of all levels, and offers a great way to experience the park's natural beauty in a short amount of time.

After the hike, we took a leisurely drive through Artist’s Palette, a scenic drive that provides visitors with a unique opportunity to experience the park's colorful geology. The drive is a nine-mile, one-way loop that takes visitors through a variety of breathtaking landscapes, including winding canyons, towering hills, and jagged peaks. Along the way, visitors will see a striking array of colors, ranging from deep reds to vibrant blues and greens, which are the result of various mineral deposits in the rocks.

We then made a quick stop at Devil's Golf Course. The area is covered in sharp, jagged salt crystals that have been eroded by wind and rain over millions of years, creating a vast and desolate expanse of craggy terrain. The salt crystals are incredibly hard and sharp, making the area nearly impossible to traverse on foot. However, visitors can take in the stark beauty of the landscape from the safety of designated viewing areas.

After a full day of adventure, we went back to The Ranch to relax in the pool.

Early the next morning, we drove out to Zabriskie Point to watch the sunrise. It's one of the most iconic and popular viewpoints in the park, offering visitors a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding badlands and mountain ranges. The viewpoint is accessible via a short walk from the parking lot, and the scenery is particularly spectacular at sunrise and sunset when the sun's light casts a golden hue over the surrounding landscape. The rocky outcrops that dominate the foreground of the view are part of the Furnace Creek Formation, a colorful and geologically fascinating area of the park.

We continued on to Salt Creek Interpretive Trail, a unique and fascinating trail that provides visitors with a glimpse into the park's ecology and natural history. The trail is a boardwalk that winds through the Salt Creek area, which is home to one of the park's few remaining water sources. The Salt Creek Interpretive Trail is an easy and accessible walk, making it an ideal stop for visitors of all ages and abilities.

Before leaving Death Valley, we headed to the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes. The sand dunes, which cover over 14 square miles, are among the tallest in North America, with some reaching up to 100 feet in height. The dunes are formed by winds that blow across the valley, creating shifting patterns and curves in the sand that are constantly evolving. Visitors can hike out onto the dunes, taking in the stunning vistas and marveling at the otherworldly beauty of the landscape.

Visiting Death Valley in the winter was perfect, as the temperatures were cool enough for us to see a lot of sites and really enjoy the park and play with our kids.

0:00 Death Valley Introduction
0:43 The Ranch at Death Valley
1:52 Golden Canyon Trailhead
3:12 Badwater Basin
5:05 Artists Palette
5:48 Devil's Golf Course
6:17 Pool at The Ranch
7:05 Zabriskie Point
7:50 Salt Creek Interpretive Trail
8:52 Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes