Day 23 - Death Valley Day

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The road from Lone Pine to Death Valley National Park was beautiful, but it kept getting better. Our first stop inside the park was at the overlook at Father Crowley Point. The colors and textures were amazing. From Panamint Springs through Panamint Valley and over the Panamint Range we climbed over 4,000' before heading down to Stovepipe Wells. The sand dunes east of Stovepipe Wells were something to see, some were 100' high, but there were just a few acres of dunes.
Soon after, we started seeing wildflowers. Just a few at first, then fields of them. What a thrill to actually see the desert in bloom. There were whole hillsides covered in yellow flowers. We also saw some white flowers and some purple, but mostly yellow daisy-like flowers.
The Visitor Center at Furnace Creek is 190' below sea level. From there we went to Zabriskie Point, as we heard it was a "must see." No kidding! The view from the lookout was spectacular in all directions.
Next down to Badwater, 282' below sea level, the lowest point in the western hemisphere. The salt flats were awesome. At Badwater there was a sign up on the mountain showing sea level. There was a boardwalk out into the basin and people could walk out onto the salt flats.
The drive from one end of the park to the other was probably around 150 miles, and all of it was beautiful. Death Valley National Park did not disappoint.

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Photos

Desert in bloom
Death Valley NP

Death Valley National Park
From Father Crowley Point overlook

from Zabriskie Point
Death Valley NP

from Zabriskie Point
Death Valley NP

from Zabriskie Point
Death Valley NP

from Zabriskie Point
Death Valley NP

Badwater Basin
282' below sea level

Badwater Basin
Salt Flats, Death Valley NP

Comments

[Barbara]

Unbeleivable sights. How totally different from our landscapes. I have so enjoyed my trip with you!!!

[Linn Nance]

Terrific pictures of Death Valley....you have certainly seen a wide range of landscapes on your travels.