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Badwater – Start your explorations at 282 feet
below sea level. At Badwater, there are miles and miles of salt pan in every
direction. Close to the road is a small, shallow pool of water. This is
"bad water," salty water so named because an early prospector's
horse wouldn't drink the stuff. Take a long walk out on the salt pan for
a unique sensation of salt squeaking under foot. Look up at the cliffs (to
the east) to spot the big white dot that marks sea level. |
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Note: Badwater is very hot in summer (temperatures average
over 110 degrees), one of the hottest places on earth. |
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Devil's Golf Course – Down the road from Badwater,
take a detour to the Devil's Golf Course. It's a large area of crusty salt
formations, a complete miniature fantasy world of tiny crystalline pinnacles.
Spend some time just peering at the amazing encrustations, like something
from an alien planet. If you walk out over the Devil's Golf Course, be sure
to wear closed shoes (those salt crystals are sharp). |
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Natural Bridge – Take a short uphill hike, about
half a mile, to the Natural Bridge. The bridge is pretty impressive, 30
feet high and 30 feet thick. Under the bridge, there's plenty of gravel
for play and sandstone nooks and crannies to hide in. If you continue up
the narrow canyon a little bit, it's a wonderful place to shout out to hear
the echoes. |
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Furnace Creek Visitor Center – Be
sure to stop in at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center to pick up maps and
a good selection of books about the geology, flora and fauna of Death Valley.
If you have little ones, pick up a copy of The Little Pupfish of Salt
Creek and cute stuffed animals typical of Death Valley – road runner,
desert tortoise, big horn sheep, scorpion and tarantula. |
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The Museum has an excellent 3-D topographic model of
Death Valley where you can see its spectacular geology up close, from the
ancient lake bed to snow covered peaks. There's also exhibits about the
plants, animals and minerals (such as borax used in soap and detergents,
fiber glass, cookware and corrugated cardboard), and Native Americans. Stop
at the touch table to feel a big horn sheep ram, date palm frond, coyote
skull, and fossils. |
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Furnace Creek Ranch – The Borax
Museum at the Furnace Creek Ranch resort has mining exhibits and an
old stagecoach and locomotive, plus a great old steam tractor and old wagons
out front. Purchase tickets to use the swimming pool. Or get horses at the Furnace Creek Ranch Stables – kids have to be 5 years old. |
