Best trails in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is located along the eastern border of south-central California, and includes a small area of Nevada. Death Valley is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. It protects Death Valley and parts of Panamint Valley, Eureka Valley, and Saline Valley. Death Valley is famous for being the hottest, lowest, and driest place in the United States. In 1913, Death Valley set the world record for highest air temperature at %{134_Fahrenheit}. Average summer temperatures here often hover around %{120_Fahrenheit}!
It may sound desolate, but Death Valley is far from one-note! In the park, you can explore a wide variety of landscapes, from canyons and badlands to sand dunes and snowy mountain peaks. There's even a waterfall in the middle of the desert! Death Valley is a Certified IDA International Dark Sky Park, which means it's also an exceptional place to view the night sky. You can see stars, planets, and the Milky Way from campgrounds and roads. Badwater Basin, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, and Harmony Borax Works are all excellent places to stargaze.
While exploring Death Valley, remember to stay on designated roads. Driving off-road is illegal in Death Valley and is one of the greatest environmental threats in the park. There are many paved and unpaved dirt roads you can follow to reach the hiking trails. Check out the park map for more information on designated roads.
The best time to visit Death Valley depends on where you plan to hike. Hikes at low elevations like Badwater Basin are best for cooler winter days. By contrast, high-elevation hikes to summits like Telescope Peak are best from late spring to early fall. In the winter and early spring, these routes are covered with snow. No matter when you hike, make sure to bring more water than you think you'll need to combat the dry climate.
There is a fee to enter the park, which you can pay online in advance or in person at a few locations within the park.
Top trails
- (4489)•Moderate•3.5 miNarrows, scrambling, and dryfalls make this hike a memorable adventure. Mosaic Canyon is the perfect hike for geology lovers and adventure-seekers. Here, hikers are greeted almost immediately by slick, winding narrows. Mosaic Canyon is the site of frequent flash floods, do not enter if there is a chance of rain! These narrows have been polished smooth by the scouring of debris-laden flood water. As you proceed up the canyon, look for the incredible mosaic breccia for which it is named....
- (2434)•Moderate•6.4 miThis loop trail in Death Valley National Park takes you through the colorful badlands of Golden Canyon, Red Cathedral, and Gower Gulch. The route offers a diverse landscape of vibrant rock formations, narrow canyon passages, and remnants of old borax mines. It begins with a scenic overlook from Zabriskie Point before descending into the heart of Golden Canyon. Follow the trail markers through the canyon to the Red Cathedral, a towering rock formation with hues of red and orange. From...
- (2350)•Moderate•2.3 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrThis popular out and back takes you to the majestic sand dunes. You can walk out as far as you'd like to explore and play. There is no defined trail, you can turn back whenever you are ready. It's worth going in the late afternoon when the sun hits the dunes, at sunrise for dramatic lighting, or even staying until the stars come out. Bring plenty of water for your trip and prepare accordingly! The dunes can create an optical illusion making the trail seem much shorter than it is.
- (1509)•Easy•0.3 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrSurrounded by a maze of wildly eroded and vibrantly colored badlands, this short hike to a spectacular viewpoint is one of the park's most famous. Zabriskie Point is a popular sunrise and sunset viewing location. The viewpoint is a short walk uphill from the parking area. Located east of Furnace Creek on Hwy 190. According to wheelchairtraveling.com: This trail is a favorite within the park. The desert views here at sunset are something else! Accessibility: There are 2 designated...
- (870)•Moderate•2.6 mi•Est. 1–1.5 hrA great hike for experiencing Death Valley's unique landscape. It offers an adventure through a rocky gulch that opens up to scenic views. This trail can offer great views of the sunrise or sunset. During warmer months, it is recommended to start this hike early to avoid the heat and bring plenty of water.
- (1350)•Moderate•1.0 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrThe most breathtaking viewpoint in the park, the mountain-top overlook is 5000 ft above the inferno of Death Valley. From the parking lot, hike along the ridge in either direction. Sunrise and sunset are especially magnificent here, and although this area is popular, it is easy to find solitude and set up the perfect shot with a short hike along the ridge to the north. More adventurous hikers can continue along the ridge to Mt. Perry, an 8 mile round-trip journey with approximately 1,200...
- (1107)•Moderate•1.8 mi•Est. 0.5–1 hrThe earth shook, roared, and exploded. When the debris settled, a new crater appeared. Ubehebe Crater in northern Death Valley National Park is an excellent place to explore the power of maars (explosion pit) volcanoes. It was here that molten lava came into contact with ground water, creating steam which eventually produced enough pressure to explode through the earth above and create a crater. Although Ubehebe Crater is only one of about a dozen craters in the Ubehebe volcanic field, it is...
- (765)•Hard•8.8 miThis route follows rolling terrain to the top of Mount Perry. There are stunning views of the Badwater Basin and Telescope Peak. The steepest section of the trail is the final push leading to the top of Perry. There is no shade, come prepared with plenty of food and water and be prepared for the intense desert environment.
- (1222)•Moderate•6.7 mi•Est. 2.5–3 hrFlowing water cascades into a shallow pool surrounded by lush green vegetation. The above description is not one often associated with Death Valley, but the arid Mojave Desert makes an exception at Darwin Falls. Nestled in an unassuming canyon with no water flowing beyond the canyon mouth, few would guess that around several dry desert bends hides a world of water and life. Darwin Falls was named for an Army physician, Erasmus Darwin French, who came to the West in 1846 during the...
- (384)•Moderate•3.4 mi•Est. 1.5–2 hrThe trail starts at the Zabriskie Point Parking Lot in Death Valley National Park. It offers stunning views of the surrounding badlands and unique geological formations. Along this trail, you can also see wildlife. Be on the lookout for desert bighorn sheep, coyotes, and jackrabbits. Due to the harsh desert environment, the trail is lined with sparse vegetation. However, resilient desert plants such as creosote bush, desert holly, and various cacti can be spotted. The area boasts...
Visitor info
National Park Service regulations allow school groups and other approved national and international academic institutions to obtain a waiver of Park entrance fees, provided that visit is for educational or scientific purposes, and the resources or facilities that the group intends to use, support those purposes. Submit your waiver through the link below at least one month prior to your visit.
This permit allows persons traveling on one motorcycle to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.
Non-commercial Groups (e.g., Scout groups, church groups, etc.) entering in a vehicle with a capacity of 16 persons or more are charged per-person for each person on board, not to exceed $200.
This permit allows a single individual traveling on foot or individuals traveling on one bicycle to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.
This permit allows all persons traveling with the permit holder in one single private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van/RV/aircraft) to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish during the 7-day period from the date of purchase.
This pass allows all persons traveling with the pass holder in one single private, non-commercial vehicle (car/truck/van) or those on a motorcycle to leave and re-enter the park as many times as they wish for 12 months from the month of purchase.
Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.
No entrance pass required on these days:
Monday, January 20 — Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Saturday, April 19 — First day of National Park Week
Thursday, June 19 — Juneteenth National Independence Day
Monday, August 4 — Anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act
Saturday, September 27 — National Public Lands Day
Tuesday, November 11 — Veterans Day
The Interagency Access Pass is accepted here.
The Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Scotty’s Castle are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. Orientation films include closed captioning. Social stories are available at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and on the website.
Loaner wheelchairs, assistive listening devices, audio descriptions, tactile exhibits, and Braille materials are available.
Many ranger-led programs have ASL interpreters available by reservation. Please contact the park at least 2 weeks in advance to make a reservation for interpretation services.
Additional information about accessibility at Death Valley National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.
The Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Scotty’s Castle are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. Orientation films include closed captioning. Social stories are available at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and on the website.
The Furnace Creek Ranch has wheelchair accessible rooms. It also has a wheelchair accessible general store, restaurants, saloon, borax museum, and post office. Furnace Creek Inn and Stovepipe Wells Resort have wheelchair accessible rooms. They also have wheelchair accessible swimming pools with lifts.
There are accessible restrooms or vault toilets at the following trailheads: Badwater, Zabriskie Point, Sand Dunes, Charcoal Kilns, Artist’s Palette parking on Artist’s Drive, and Ashford Mill.
Furnace Creek Campground has individual wheelchair accessible camping sites and restrooms.
Texas Spring Campground has individual wheelchair accessible camping sites and restrooms in the upper loop.
Sunset Campground has 16 individual wheelchair accessible camping sites and restrooms.
Stovepipe Wells Campground and Mesquite Springs Campground have no individual wheelchair accessible camping sites but have accessible restrooms and parking.
Thorndike Campground and Mahogany Flat Campground have no individual wheelchair accessible camping sites but do have accessible vault toilets.
Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.
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Frequently asked questions
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Activities
- Backpacking trails in Death Valley National Park
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- Scenic driving trails in Death Valley National Park
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Attractions
- Cave trails in Death Valley National Park
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- No dogs trails in Death Valley National Park
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- Scenic viewpoint trails in Death Valley National Park
- Waterfall trails in Death Valley National Park
- Wildflowers trails in Death Valley National Park
- Wildlife trails in Death Valley National Park
