Death Valley Self-Guided Driving Tour

Welcome to the Death Valley Tour

Experience the harsh beauty of a land like no other: Death Valley. Famed for its record-breaking temperatures, this valley also serves some sizzling scenery, from sprawling salt flats to rainbow-colored badlands and soaring mountain ranges. This self-guided driving tour shows you the best spots in the park and fills you in on this area’s rich history. Follow in the footsteps of Gold Rush miners and hear their stories as you explore this bizarre, unforgettable valley.

About the Tour

Your journey will begin at Death Valley Junction, just a short way outside the park. As you drive, you’ll get acquainted with some basic facts about safety in such an extreme climate. You’ll also hear about the unfortunate miners who gave this place its ominous name.

Soon, you’ll have the opportunity to take a detour to Dante’s View, offering incredible vistas from 5,000 feet above the valley’s lowest point. Past that, you’ll come to an iconic scenic drive at Twenty Mule Team Canyon, which shows off some of the area’s strange and beautiful badlands.

Next is Zabriskie Point, a phenomenal place to watch the sunrise or start a badland hike.

Then it’s on to the oasis of Furnace Creek, where the valley’s hottest-ever temperature was recorded.

After a stop at the visitor center, you’ll head down Badwater Road, where you’ll find the Golden Canyon Trail, one of the park’s most popular hikes. Beyond that is the strange and captivating landscape of Artist’s Drive, home to brilliantly colorful rock formations that look like they’ve been splattered with paint!

Then you’ll see Devil’s Golf Course, a seemingly endless field of craggy salt crystals which pop under the heat of the Death Valley sun. Next, you’ll pass the Natural Bridge Trail, offering a look at a rocky bridge formed by erosion.

Finally, you’ll arrive at Badwater Basin. This isn’t just the lowest elevation point in North America; it’s also where you can walk across Death Valley’s famous salt flats! Your Death Valley tour concludes here.

Tour Start Address:

From Death Valley Junction: Link

From Towne Pass, California: Link

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