Death Valley Road Trip
What an unexpected surprise Death Valley was for our road trip. Do not let the name put you off visiting.
We spent a whole day driving in Death Valley and visiting the sites and we still didn’t see all the beauty that Death Valley has to offer. We stayed in Barstow for the night before heading to Death Valley first thing in the morning. This then lead to us driving on to Las Vegas after the day at Death Valley. The area is a National Park so you will need a pass to drive in the area. We purchased one at a Visitor Center along the way. Here we were given maps and directions and a plan for the day. The Park Rangers were extremely helpful.
Salt Flats
Our Death Valley highlights were:
Badwater Basin
This stunning salt flat is the lowest point in North America. The area is a surreal landscape of vast salt flats. We loved walking along the salt flats which looked like sand from the car park. The kids loved the freedom of the space and also tasting the salty ground.
Badwater Basin
Artist’s Drive
This was a highlight of Death Valley as it was the most unusual mountain formation we had seen. The colours are simply stunning and so varied and different around each corner.. Hence the name Artist’s drive due to the colours and changing palette of the hills. The road is one way and does a winding loop over 14km of sealed road. Late in the afternoon is the best time for photos in the afternoon light.
Artist’s Drive
Zabriskie Point
This lookout was on the way to leaving the National Park and heading to Las Vegas. The views once you walk up the gently hill were like nothing we had seen before. It was like looking at what I imagine the moon surface to be like.
Zabriskie Point
The entire Death Valley blew us away as every corner was a different mountain formation and a different colour. We wished we had more time to spend looking at more but time wasn’t on our side. If the weather is not too hot plan to spend a full day in Death Valley enjoying the awe inspiring scenery. We visited during the Winter months so there was no issue with high temperatures.
Salty Ground