Death Valley National Park is the lowest, hottest and driest place in North America, yet it has so many unique features worth exploring. Truth be told, this vast and varied national park was not on my list of parks to visit. That is until several pieces fell into place and we found ourselves with a map, an RV and a week of vacation time. We rolled out of Minnesota armed with a park guide and a sense of adventure. We found crusty earthscapes, colorfully painted canyons and even a desert waterfall. Death Valley National Park is packed with adventure. Here are our top destinations to die for in Death Valley National Park.
Sunrise at Zabriske Point
Since we drove cross country in an RV to get to Death Valley, we arrived after dark. The first thing we planned to see on our first full day in the park was a Death Valley sunrise. What an introduction! We arrived about 30 minutes before sunrise to allow time to walk the path to the overlook and jockey for the best vantage point. Honestly, all the vantage points will not disappoint. Sunrise at Zabriskie Point is an excellent way to greet the park.
Badwater Basin
At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America. It’s the remnants of a dried-up inland lake. A short, one-mile walk from the parking lot will take you to the salt polygons. This dizzying array of shapes form when groundwater rises up through concentrated salt deposits and evaporates. Badwater Basin is about 17 miles or a 30-minute drive from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. To beat the crowds and the heat, I recommend driving out here first and working your way back towards Furnace Creek.
Artist Drive
Just north of Badwater Basin is the one-way entrance to Artist Drive and Artist Palette (no vehicles over 25 feet allowed). The curvy road offers scenic vistas of canyons and mountains. About halfway through the 9-mile drive, stop and walk the half-mile trail to Artist Palette. The vivid pinks, blues and even greens all presenting on one mountainside is breathtaking. The colors are a product of the oxidation of metals and other elements in the soil here. En route to Artist Drive stop off at Devil’s Golf Course and put an ear to the rock salt spires. You can hear the salt crystals cracking as they expand in the heat.
Mesquite Sand Dunes
As if painted canyons, salt flats and fabulous sunrises weren’t enough, Death Valley National Park is also home to sand dunes. There are five areas in the park where sand collects; Mesquite Sand Dunes are the easiest to get to and the most popular. There are no trails to follow to Mesquite. Any attempt to mark trails would be blown in by the constant wind anyway. Just pick a dune in the distance and head that direction. It’s not easy walking, but a stroll atop these more than 100-foot high sandhills is a unique Death Valley adventure. If you’re looking for another easy hiking adventure in the park, stop at Golden Canyon for a 2-mile hike and views of Cathedral Rocks before making your way to Mesquite from Artist Drive.
Pro Tip: Sledding on the dunes at Mesquite does not work. We tried it. Disappointment.
Darwin Falls
On the west side of the park is Darwin Falls. Yes, a waterfall in the desert. It’s no Niagara, but the fact a waterfall exists in a place with an average of 2 inches of rainfall per year is remarkable. It’s an easy 2-mile hike to the falls area with a bit of rock scrambling and a shallow stream to cross. To get to the falls, don’t miss the unmarked gravel road leading to them. From the east, take the first left turn just past the Panamint Springs gas station.
Pro Tip: If you’re interested in visiting another unique feature of the park, check out the Charcoal Kilns at Wildrose. You may even see an invasive donkey along the roadside.
Racetrack
By far the best to die for destination in Death Valley National Park is the Racetrack. Though it’s difficult to get to and takes almost an entire day to see it’s incredible and was our trip’s highlight. To get to the Racetrack area we rented a Jeep from Farabee’s. Jeep rental pick up is adjacent to the park’s visitor center, making it very convenient. We picked up our four-door Jeep first thing in the morning and started making our way to the Racetrack area. The first 33 miles on Scotty’s Castle Road are easy as they are on paved roads.
The pavement ends however at Ubehebe Crater and from here you’ll travel about 20 mph for the next 27 miles until you reach the Racetrack. You’ll know your close when you reach Tea Kettle Junction. Hop out here to stretch your legs and read the kettles other Death Valley travelers have left behind. The Racetrack is just another 7 miles down the road.
Entering Racetrack Road 
Ubehebe Crater 
Tea Kettle Junction
The north end of the Racetrack area is known as the Grandstand. The large gray monoliths here seem to be spectating on the action on the lake’s south end. That south end action of this dried-up lake bed is the sailing or moving of rocks. It’s only on the south end where the combination of rain, freezing temperatures, ice and wind create the perfect combination that allows the rocks to “move.” It’s a fascinating process and my favorite feature in Death Valley.
After racetrack we made quick stops at Salt Water Creek and Harmony Borax Works before returning our Jeep.
Boondocking
You won’t find boondocking on any Death Valley National Park map. It’s more an experience than a destination. Boondocking is camping off-grid, away from designated campgrounds or other services. Boondocking is allowed in Death Valley as long as you overnight at least one mile from a paved road. We boondocked two of the four nights we spent in the park. Our favorite boondocking location was in the Joshua Tree Flats on the west side of the park. The bumpy 7-mile drive to the flats was worth the incredible sunset views and the time spent just us and the desert.
These destinations were truly to die for sights while exploring Death Valley National Park. Our family discovered these must-see places in Death Valley National Park by experiencing the park in a rented RV. It was the second time we’d embarked on such an adventure. Come see how we spent our time in an RV while exploring Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
Happy Adventuring, Rochelle