"Low Valley Highs" Death Valley National Park by goingsolo

Death Valley National Park Travel Guide: 896 reviews and 1,904 photos

Death Valley National Park - Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park

Every national park contains unique beauty, even this seemingly barren terrain. Desert landscapes, in general, are striking regions filled with contrasting pale and sunburnt colors, windswept and arid masses where the merest hint of verdant color seems a trick of the mind.

Death Valley is desert beauty and more. It is so stark, so extremely barren that, perhaps paradoxically, it is a soul searchingly beautiful place. Arid landscape flanks the weather beaten road which feels the effects of too much sun and then, without warning, the crushing torrent of a flash flood. Salt crystals accumulate on soil where nothing can grow and subtle rock formations in the form of mountains populate the horizon. Death Valley is eerie and otherworldly, desolate and beautiful.

Death Valley National Park - Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park is a land of extreme highs and lows. Summertime highs can soar to an unimaginable 120 deagrees F while winter temperatures can plummet to nearly 100 degrres lower. Death Valley also contains the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, at 282 feet below sea level, while the pinnacle of Telescope peak reaches over 11,000 ft, a mere 15 miles away. The area is also the one of the most arid regions on the globe, averaging less than 2 inches per year. But when it rains, it sometimes pours. And floods.

Golden Canyon - Death Valley National Park

Golden Canyon

I spent two days touring this land of extremes, hiking its canyons and peering at its salty flatlands. Visiting a desert climate is a delight in winter as daytime highs are pleasant and nights are pleasantly chilly. On this page, I'll try to hit the highs and lows of Death Valley as I saw them.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Unique in its extremes and beauty
  • Cons:Remote desert location which presents many dangers, especially in the summer
  • In a nutshell:A winter time treasure trove of unique sights.
  • Last visit to Death Valley National Park: Nov 2004
  • Intro Updated Dec 8, 2004
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Reviews (96)

Death Valley National Park - Death Valley National Park Parting of the waters Off The Beaten Path (27)

Golden Canyon's light colored walls contain deposits of silt and clay which were once located at the bottom of a lake.... more travel advice

Death Valley National Park - Death Valley National Park Amber waves... of rock Off The Beaten Path (27)

These layers of rock have been tilted upwards as a result of movement along a major fault line in the Valley, which... more travel advice

Death Valley National Park - Death Valley National Park Salt of the Earth Off The Beaten Path (27)

The Golden Canyon walls contain mineral deposits which are remnants of the ancient lakes which once covered the area.... more travel advice

Death Valley National Park - Death Valley National Park Those bad badlands Off The Beaten Path (27)

The extreme heat is not the only reason why Death Valley is a virtually lifeless zone. This land was once covered with... more travel advice

Comments (7)

  • Reply
    Dec 8, 2010 at 1:47 AM

    The Death Valley National Park is a desert located in the southwestern US. Bad water, a basin located within Death Valley. wildlifeworld360.com/death-v...

  • Reply
    MATIM's Profile Photo
    Mar 11, 2009 at 9:15 AM

    good info and great pictures, thanks!

  • Reply
    Belgium_traveler's Profile Photo
    May 16, 2008 at 4:55 AM

    we are going to the westcoast for 30 days this october, and I was looking for some additional information to plan my trip a bit... Just have to say you got most amazig pictures and really good travel pages... they have been really helpfull allready!

  • Reply
    mydreamquest's Profile Photo
    Mar 20, 2007 at 11:59 PM

    Amazing pictures and description of Death Valley. I'll be there in a month. Your comments helped. thx

  • Reply
    Redang's Profile Photo
    Dec 24, 2005 at 7:59 AM

    What a great place, isn't it?

  • Reply
    Dec 2, 2005 at 10:03 AM

    It's cold..I needed a virtual trip somewhere HOT. I was here in Spring of 94 and is still one of the most mesmerizing places I've been! GREAT page!! J

  • Reply
    icyjo24's Profile Photo
    Dec 9, 2004 at 7:00 AM

    Great pics of Death Valley... hope to have the chance to go there one day.. greetings from singapore..

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