Death Valley National Park

Now we can say we’ve been to the lowest spot in North America: Death Valley National Park. It’s amazing how you drive over a mountain pass at 4,000ft elevation above sea level and then you pass through the Badlands and down to 290ft below sea level in the Badwater Basin. There are absolutely no trees, no greenery around, it’s a desert and the land is barren. Still there’s a different kind of beauty hidden in the landscapes. Colorful artistic mountains exist because of various minerals in the soil. “Mustard Canyon” is filled with mustard colored mountains, “Artist’s Palette” mountains are made of different shades of various subtle colors purple, pink, orange, green, blue etc. “Badwater Basin” is the lowest point of the Death Valley and is a complete saltwater marsh land and very unique. “Devil’s Golf course” is another rugged and rough salty area. “Mesquite Flat Sand dunes” is a sandy area huge sand desert filled with great dunes. “Golden Canyon” is a magnificent trail passing through golden and orange sandstone mountains. This place has so many attractions to see. 

We came prepared.There’s no cell network in this area. We filled our vehicle with diesel, food, extra drinking water (most important) before entering the park. The visitor’s center at Furnace Creek has food and fuel but no services are available anywhere else in the park. It is advised to visit the park in the winter months as the temperature is tolerable. We read all the warning signs and wore proper clothes as it can get very hot during day and sudden chill cold in the evenings.

On the southern edge of Death Valley is China Ranch Date Farm with over 1000 date palms. It’s an Oasis in the desert.! As you drive to this place, you think you’ll never get there but after you do it’s truly beautiful! The road itself is an adventure. Very narrow in some parts. Worth the journey to see this sparkling green oasis hidden in a remote valley in the middle of the Mojave Desert. We had a date shake and it was fantastic! We also enjoyed the old gypsum mines and hole in the wall rock formations.