DEATH VALLEY - Authentik USA
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DESTINATIONS
DEATH VALLEY
★★★
Death Valley... Despite its morbid name, you will be charmed by this mysterious
place with its mountains, canyons, sand dunes and salt pans. Summer temperatures
can rise above 50 degrees Celsius. The world record highest air temperature of
57o Celsius was recorded here in 1913! Surprisingly, Death Valley is home to 1,000
species of nocturnal plants and animals. It’s not easy to survive with an average of
just 50 millimetres of rain per year! Death Valley also contains the lowest point in
North America, Badwater Basin, at 86 metres below sea level. Star Wars fans will be
interested to know that dozens of scenes were shot here. Filming locations include
Artist’s Palette, Golden Canyon and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
© iStockPhoto, Fhogue
BA DWAT E R ROA D, S CE NIC D RI V E 178
WHAT TO DO PARC NATIONAL DEATH VALLEY ★★★
— Season: Open year-round, 24 hours a day.
THE OASIS AT
DEATH VALLEY ★ Visitor center: The Furnace Creek Visitor Center & Museum is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This lush resort is an oasis in Entry fee: $30/vehicle including occupants. Valid 7 days. Purchase the America the Beautiful Pass for $80 if you plan to
the middle of the desert. It has visit more than 2-3 parks.
a hotel, a ranch, restaurants,
Shuttle service inside the park? No
shops, a gas station, campsites,
a golf course, a lot of palm trees www.nps.gov/deva
and more.
HIGHWAY 190, DEATH
VALLEY 760-786-2345
OASISATDEATHVALLEY.COM
DANTE’S VIEW ★★★
Dante’s View outlook soars
more than 5,000 feet above
the valley floor, offering
breathtaking panoramic views
of the valley with the Panamint
Mountains in the distance. The
© iStock-186863277, stevegeer
paved access road is open to all
vehicles under 25 feet in length
and begins at Hwy 190 just east
of Furnace Creek.
T H E OA SIS AT D E AT H VA L L E Y
© iStockPhoto, ViewApart
DA N T E’S V IE W
★ Noteworthy ★★ Worth the detour ★★★ Must see
DESTINATIONS
BADWATER BADWATER ★ evaporate. Note that it is panorama of the badlands
ROAD ★★ This is the lowest point important not to walk on the near Furnace Creek and is
Badwater Road is actually in North America, at 86 salt flats in hot weather. one of the most beautiful
Highway 178 between metres below sea level. places to see a sunrise or
Furnace Creek and Shoshone. Badwater Basin is a vast ZABRISKIE sunset. A short walk up a
It is the starting point for surreal landscape of salt flats. POINT ★★★ paved hill from the parking
several of the park’s most Heavy rains (flash floods) Zabriskie Point is located just lot will take you to this
beautiful viewpoints. periodically create temporary east of Furnace Creek on amazing vantage point.
lakes here that quickly Hwy190. It offers a stunning
ARTIST’S
PALETTE ★★
Artist’s Palette is an area
on the face of the Black
Mountains noted for a
variety of rock colors (red,
pink, yellow, green, purple)
worthy of an artist’s palette.
The colors are produced
by the oxidation of the
different metals in the rock,
and the result is uniquely
beautiful, especially in the
late-afternoon light. Artist’s
© iStock-149302744, LucynaKoch
Palette is reached via Artists
Drive off Badwater Road, a
9-mile (one-way) paved road
which, once again, is only
accessible to vehicles under
25 feet in length. Z A B RIS KIE P OIN T
© Authentik USA, Simon Lemay
© Authentik USA, Simon Lemay
A RTIS T’S PA L E T T E BA DWAT E R BA SIN O N BA DWAT E R ROA D
Hiking ★ Noteworthy ★★ Worth the detour ★★★ Must see
DEVIL’S GOLF
COURSE ★★
Devil’s Golf Course is a vast
barren landscape of large salt
formations created by the
evaporation of a lake 2,000 years
ago. The deposited minerals have
been eroded by wind and rain into
jagged spires. It was named after
a line in the 1934 Death Valley
© Authentik Canada, Simon Lemay
guidebook, which stated that "only
the devil could play golf on such
a surface". It is reached by a small
road off Badwater Road that is
often closed after it rains. D E V IL’S GO L F CO U R S E
SCOTTYS CASTLE ★★
Gold prospector Walter Scott
(known as Scotty) boasted that he
built this Spanish-style villa with
money from his fictitious gold
mine. In reality, it was the 1920s
vacation home of his wealthy
friends, the Johnsons. Today, park
rangers dressed in 1930s style
clothes lead guided tours inside
© iStock-819440710, 4nadia
this richly furnished 25-room
villa that is vibrant with history.
Currently closed. Check their
website for reopening details:
WWW.NPS.GOV/DEVA/LEARN/ S COT T Y’S C A S T L E
HISTORYCULTURE/SCOTTYS-
CASTLE.HTM
RHYOLITE ★★
Rhyolite sprung up in 1904 during
the gold rush and just as quickly
declined in 1910 for economic
reasons. Today it is a ghost town
whose old stone building are
now crumbling ruins. It is hard
to believe that in its heyday the
town had 10,000 inhabitants,
© Authentik Canada, Simon Lemay
banks, restaurants, hotels, stores,
theatres and all the conveniences
of a large town of the time.
Rhyolite is 35 miles north-east
(less that an hour) from Furnace
Creek Visitor Center.
RH YO LIT E
FESTIVAL talks, family programming,
and an exploration fair. At
— night, visitors can attend
© iStock-1145132935, Bonnie Nordling
Death Valley Dark Sky Festival evening programs, night sky
Dates : late February photography workshops, a star
Death Valley offers party, and much more!
exceptional conditions www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/
for stargazing. During the death-valley-dark-sky-festival.
day, the Dark Sky Festival htm
features guided hikes, ranger S TA RG A Z IN G IN T H E VA L L E Y
★ Noteworthy ★★ Worth the detour ★★★ Must see
DESTINATIONS
AUTHENTIK ADVICE
• Plan your activities early in the morning or at also true if you plan to hire an RV in the USA, • Do not hike in low elevations when tempera-
the end of the day (avoid midday, especially in as the temperature can be harsh on this type of tures are hot.
July-August). vehicle.
• If you experience dizziness, nausea or a hea-
• Wear a lightweight cotton long-sleeve shirt to • Ensure that your vehicle is in good working dache, immediately find shade and drink water
keep sun off the skin: it will be cooler than a order with good tires and monitor the engine or sports drinks. Dampen your clothing to lower
T-shirt. temperature. If your engine overheats, you can your body temperature.
pour water directly onto the radiator (never on
• Bring appropriate sunscreen with a higher SPF the engine) to lower the tem perature. Radiator • Never place your hands or feet where you
than you normally use, a wide-brimmed hat, and water is available from storage tanks along the can’t see them. Rattlesnakes, scorpions or black
don’t forget your sunglasses! park’s roads. widow spiders may be hidden there.
• Drink at least 4 liters of water per day to replace • Drive only on paved roads. If your car breaks • Car accidents are the main cause of death in
loss from sweat. Be aware of balancing fluid and down, stay with it until help comes. Death Valley. Follow the speed limits, slow
electrolyte levels (bring salty snacks or sports down on steep downhill grades, and wear your
drinks). • Keep your gas tank full because distances are seatbelt.
long inside the park and fuel is only available in
• Carry extra drinking water in your car in case Furnace Creek Ranch, Stovepipe Wells Village • Your cell phone may not work here. The same
of emergency: you may need it for your radiator and Panamint Springs Resort. goes for your GPS.
or yourselves if your car breaks down! This is
© iStock-811733144, Vadim Anvaer
T H E IN N AT T H E D E AT H VA L L E Y DININ G
WHERE TO EAT
—
1 ARMAGOSA CAFE Generally open Friday to Monday desert salt pans and the majestic *** Hours may vary ***
($$-$$$) from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in high Panamint Mountains. The eclectic
This new and popular little season. menu is inspired by classical,
restaurant serves delicious DEATH VALLEY JUNCTION continental, southwest, and TIPS
home-cooked farm-to-table 760-852-4432 Pacific coast cuisine. There is also
Meals and groceries are costly inside
meals and great coffee! The WWW.AMARGOSACAFE.ORG afternoon tea, a tradition since the park because of its remote loca-
lunch menu offers a selection of 1927, and Sunday brunch. Please tion. If possible, bring a cooler with
sandwiches and salads. Armagosa 2 THE INN AT DEATH VALLEY note that there is a dress code snacks, sandwiches and beverages.
Cafe is in Marta Becket’s DINING ($$$- $$$$) for dinner (no shorts or T-shirts). Ice is easy to find and you will be
able to keep everything cool. Also,
Armagosa Opera House and This restaurant at The Oasis at Reservations required. Open daily be aware that the restaurants in the
Hotel (across from the theatre), Death Valley resort is probably from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 park are nothing exceptional, but
at the corner of California the best you will find in the park! p.m. to 9 p.m. they will meet your needs.
Highway 127 and State Line The Inn Dining Room offers fine DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK,
Road in Death Valley Junction. dining at breakfast, lunch, and HIGHWAY 190 / 760-786-3385
dinner with stunning views of the WWW.OASISATDEATHVALLEY.COM
$ Inexppensive $$ Moderate $$$ Upscale $$$$ Fine dining
DEATH VALLEY R H YO L I T E ★★
NEVADA
San Francisco
95
CALIFORNIE
ARIZONA
Beatty Los Angeles
Sc
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S C OT T Y ’ S C A S T L E ★★
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Death Valley Z A B R I S K I E P O N T ★★★
374
National Park
★★★ Amargosa
Valley to Las Vegas
Beatty
Junction 95
Visitor
center
OA S I S AT T H E D E AT H VA L L E Y ★ 2 A R T I S T ’ S PA L E T T E ★
Furnace
Creek
395 NEVADA
190
Bad w
190 1
ate
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Death Valley
d.
Junction
to Sequoia
D E V I L’ S G O L F C O U R S E ★★
NP
373 Parhump
★ Noteworthy
CALIFORNIA DA N T E ’ S V I E W ★★★
160
B A D WAT E R ★
178
★★
178
N d . Shoshone
ter R
a
B A D S WAT E R R OA D ★★
dw
Ashford Ba
Junction
Worth the detour
1 = Restaurants
Valley Wells = Parks
★★★
= Scenic drive
20 km 178
to Barstow
127
Must see
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