Skip to main content
Best trails in Death Valley National Park

Best trails in Death Valley National Park

4.3(38,505 reviews)

·

United States
#35 of 60 national parks

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

Showing results 1–10 of 119
Explore more trails

Visitor info

Hours & contact
Open 24 hours
Passes & fees
Starting at $0
Accessibility
General park hours
Every day • Open 24 hours
Phone
(760) 786-3200
Entrance pass
Education/Academic Groups

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.

$0
Get details from the park
Motorcycle

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.

$25
Purchase pass
Non-commercial Groups

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.

$15
Get details from the park
Per Person

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.

$15
Get details from the park
Private Vehicle

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.

$30
Purchase pass
Annual pass
Park

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.

$55
Purchase pass
All U.S. national parks

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.

$80
Purchase pass
2025 Fee-free days

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

Overview

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.

Facilities

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.

Camping

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

Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.

Parks

Headed to a park?

Take AllTrails with you

Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Death Valley National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Death Valley National Park is Mosaic Canyon Trail, which has a 4.7 star rating from 4,489 reviews. This trail is 3.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 974 ft.

What is the longest trail in Death Valley National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Death Valley National Park is Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop. This trail is estimated to be 30.5 mi long.

How many trails are in Death Valley National Park?

There are 119 trails in Death Valley National Park. These trails have an average 4.3-star rating from 38,505 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Death Valley National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Death Valley National Park has you covered. Panamint Valley to Death Valley OHV Loop boasts the most elevation gain with 15,695 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Telescope Peak via Shorty's Well Route [CLOSED], which will get you 11,571 ft of elevation gain.

Are there camping trails available in Death Valley National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 16 camping trails in Death Valley National Park and the most popular is Telescope Peak Trail with an average 4.8 star rating from 1,092 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Death Valley National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 5 running trails in Death Valley National Park and the most popular is Twenty Mule Team Canyon with an average 4.5 star rating from 164 community reviews.

Are there biking trails available in Death Valley National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 6 biking trails in Death Valley National Park and the most popular is Twenty Mule Team Canyon with an average 4.5 star rating from 164 community reviews.

What are the best summer hikes in Death Valley National Park?

What are the best fall hikes in Death Valley National Park?

What are the best winter hikes in Death Valley National Park?

What are the best spring hikes in Death Valley National Park?

Are there any trails with scenic mountain peak views in Death Valley National Park?

Are there any trails with waterfalls in Death Valley National Park?

Yes, there are 2 trails with waterfalls in Death Valley National Park, including Darwin Falls Trail via Old Toll Road and Natural Bridge Canyon Trail [CLOSED].

Are there any trails with volcano viewpoints in Death Valley National Park?

Yes, there is one trail with a volcano viewpoint in Death Valley National Park: Ubehebe and Little Hebe Crater Trail.

Are there any trails with springs in Death Valley National Park?

Are there any trails with scenic viewpoints in Death Valley National Park?

Yes, there are 16 trails with scenic viewpoints in Death Valley National Park, including Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop via Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail, Zabriskie Point, Dante's View Trail, and Ubehebe and Little Hebe Crater Trail.

Are there any trails with rivers in Death Valley National Park?

Are there any trails with historical ruins in Death Valley National Park?

Yes, there are 10 trails with historical ruins in Death Valley National Park, including Harmony Borax Works, Wildrose Peak Trail, Surprise Canyon Trail, Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, and Panamint City and Sentinel Peak via Surprise Canyon Trail.

Are there any trails with caves in Death Valley National Park?

Yes, there is one trail with a cave in Death Valley National Park: Devil's Hole Overlook.