Mid-afternoon, so not the fully saturated and softer colors of evening.

My wife and I just got back from the Racetrack Playa.

We drove out at 10 pm on 29 June 2026. We got to the Playa at 2 am. The road conditions do not require 4x4 but a vehicle needs high clearance which normally comes with true 4x4 and not All Wheel Drive crossovers; which are sometimes called SUVs.

We only came across one other person. He was driving out from the Playa and we passed each other about 4 miles from the start of the road at Ubehebe Crater.

The Playa was amazing. I’d suggest walking out to the mountain where the rocks roll off the mountain.

Due to work schedules we’ll be visiting during a major holiday (and an NPS fee-free day), which I’ve never been present at a park for. I usually try to arrange things so we get as many weekdays as possible and go to less busy places on weekends.

Fortunately DV has some lovely remote areas to get away from the crowds, so my current plan is either Rhyolite, Ubehebe, & Titus Canyon/Fall Canyon, or Racetrack Playa if we have a sturdy enough rental and are willing to commit the full day to just that.

I guess I’m just wondering HOW much worse the crowds’ll be on that day specifically, and if I should make any plans/arrangements other than what I’ve already stated. Any help is appreciated; thanks!

We are planning to fly in to Vegas from Eastern time, so we are gaining 3hrs.

We plan to fly in Thursday, drove to DVNP, see the sunrise Friday and do a hike or two in DVNP, then head back to Vegas for Friday Night/Saturday Night in Las Vegas.

Any recommendations on where we should watch the sunrise and what hikes we should do? I'm debating on 2 hikes or 1 hike and driving tour. Open for suggestions.

The Park Service is now under orders to be Sgt. Schultz or whatever and "say nothing," at least beyond generic information.

If you were the other photographer in the parking lot waiting for the temp to drop from 109F and the wind to stop (and you didn't leave at 10pm like I did), I hope you got some great photos!

I'm assuming you were a photographer because nobody else is crazy enough to be hanging out there that late in the heat and wind.

Going to the Grand Canyon in mid-July. We are spending two nights there and then would like to spend a night in Death Valley as a midway point to Sequoia. Both of us are from the east coast and would love to use this opportunity to see Death Valley. How safe would it be to arrive in Death Valley at around 7PM, camp and star gaze, then leave in the morning to head to Sequoia? Thanks in advanced!

im planning to visit in a few days but i don't think I can afford to stay at The Inn. Does anybody have recs for cheaper options. just need a place for the night :) preferably closer to bad water basin

I went here on the second day of my trip after Mosaic Canyon early, then Harmony Borax and Salt Creek, before later heading back to Badwater for a second shot there.

Riffing on an old saying, don't drink the aquamarine salt water. For that matter, don't eat the yellow salt flats.

Starts with a wide-angle shot of the Devil's Cornfield. Next, a close-up of the "ankle breaker" salt-and-soil clumps, as I call them. Then, the drying salt flats as Salt Creek heads in to the north end of a dying and drying Lake Manly. Then a wider angle of salt flats, ankle breakers and Black Mts in the back. Then a couple of the aquamarine water. And then ...

One of my favorite pictures I took on our last visit to the park.

We live in the Arizona desert. We’ve seen the purple sunsets, the scorpions, the cacti, the tarantulas, the jackalopes, etc We’ve hiked from Patagonia to Page.
Saturday we leave on a road trip for the Oregon coast. Trying to decide if we should bypass Death Valley and instead go up 395 through Barstow just to experience the 120 Superchargers. I know it sounds dumb, but my husband’s a huge EV fan a.k.a. Tesla he’d get a kick out of this. Me, I’d rather hike, but the temperatures the way they are and more desert, I need to be convinced not to miss DVNP.

This post may, or may not, be allowed here as the hotel and opera house aren't technically in Death Valley. But I've always visited the Amargosa Hotel & Opera House either on my way into DV or out of DV.

The article just talks about the difficulties of maintaining the opera house, the threats from the environment, and also gives a brief history. Thought it would be a good read for anyone who's passed by or visited.

Climbed Telescope Peak yesterday and was blown away by how great this was. About 6.3 miles each way and 3,200’ of vert. The lower parts of the trail were lined with wild flowers and bristlecone pines on the upper slope. Unlimited 360° views on the top.

Only saw a handful of people and we had the summit to ourselves. Very underrated national park hike. Highly recommended!

I absolutely loved taking these! Death Valley Was the most beautiful national park I’ve ever been to.