Zabriske Point
is a beautiful vista of the middle portion of Death Valley overlooking
Furnace Creek Ranch and Furnace Creek Wash. Best viewed in the early
to mid morning when the sunlight hilights the golden colors and
bedding of the Zabriske formation, and the Panamint mountains across
Death Valley.
From Furnace
Creek Ranch take Hwy 190 south Continue past the Furnace Creek Inn
and continue on 190 for approximately 3 miles to the Zabriske Point
turnoff (on the right hand side of the road).
Turn right
onto the Zabriske Point road and follow it approx. 2 mi. to the
Zabriske Point overlook.
Distance:
Approx. 5 mi.
Travel time:
Approx.
10 min.
2.
Devil's Golf Course
While not actually
a "golf course" per se, you can occasionally find golf
balls (presumably struck by Devl's Golfers) ) in greater or lesser
degrees of decay out among the salt pinacles of Devil's Golf Course.
From Zabriske
point, travel back to the main highway (190) and turn left, heading
west, back into Death Valley.
At the Furnace
Creek Inn (approx. 2 miles from the Zabriske road) make a left and
head south on Badwater Road.
Travel south
on Badwater road for approximately 10miles. You will pass the turn
off for the West Side Road, and the entrance to Artists Palette
-- you will come back to this later).
Turn right
onto the Devil's Golf Course road and head west for approx. 1/2
mile on this well-graded Dirt Road to the Devil's Golf Course parking
lot.
Distance:
Approx. 12 mi.
Travel Time:
Approx. 20 min.
3.
Badwater
A small, ponding
spring along side of the road marks the location of the lowest point
in the western hemisphere. Technically, the lowest geographic spot
is located some distance out on the salt flats, west of the Badwater
spring though there is no marker that I am aware of indicating the
exact location.
Travel east
on the Devil's Golfcourse Road to retun to Badwater Road and turn
right (south) on Badwater Road. Travel south on Badwater Road for
approx. 7 miles. The Badwater parking lot will be clearly visible
on your right.
Distance:
Approx. 7 mi.
Travel Time:
Approx. 15 min.
4.
Artist's Palette
Artists Palette
is an interesting geologic smorgasboard of minerals and rocky outcroppings
that create a very colorful display in the foothils of the Black
Mountains
Leave the Badwater
parking lot and turn left, heading back north on Badwater Road.
Travel northward on Badwater Road approx. 9 miles (you will pass
the Devil's Golf Course road.
Artist's Palette
will be clearly visible on your right. It is a one-way looping road
that will take you past several viewing areas and points of interest
as it winds its way through the heavily-eroded badlands.
Distance:
Approx. 9 mi.
Artist's Palette loop distance is approx. 3 miles.
Travel Time:
Approx. 15 minutes
Time to view the loop is approximately 1/2 hour.
5.
Mushroom Rock
The Artist's
Palette loop will drop you off right at Badwater Road. Turn right
onto Badwater road and head north again. Keep a careful watch along
the right side of the road. Just a few hundres yards north of the
Artist's Palette Road on Badwater Road is the unusual erosional
feature called Mushroom Rock. A large and distinct outcropping of
basalt, this rock has been weathered and eroded over time to form
a distinctive mushroom shap.
The feature
is no longer clearly marked for visitors, though it is right along
the edge of the road. In the past several years, numerous incidents
of unintended vandalism have occurred which have unfortunately significantly
diminished the unique characteristics of Mushroom Rock. But it still
remains to me a sentimental favorite feature of Death Valley.
Distance:
Less than 1/4 mile.
Travel Time:
Blink-of-an-eye.
Please note
that this tour can be easily accomplished before lunch time. Those desiring
to spend more time exploring these features (such as extended time hiking
the salt flats at Badwater or Artist's Palette) are encouraged to pack
a picnick lunch and eat along the way. Others may opt to get an early
start, and return to Furnace Creek for lunch.
After lunch,
visitors can travel to the ruins of the Harmony Borax Works just 1/2 mile
north of the Visitors Center in Furnace Creek. This ruin is among the
most famous and easily accesable attactions in Death Valley. Once you
have finished visiting the Harmony ruins, you can take a short and leisurely
drive through Mustard Canyon which winds its way from the Harmony Borax
Works parking lot, through the badland features immediately to the north,
and back to Hwy. 190. When you reach Hwy 190 on the Mustard Canyon Road,
turn right to return to Furnace Creek.
Day
Trip Guide - Only have a day or two to visit the largest National
Park in these 48 contiguous states? These quick trip suggestions
might help you make the most out of your brief glimpse of Death
Valley.
Death
Valley Safety - Don't lose your cool or your life when visiting
Death Valley. Here are some safety tips and reminders to help you
plan a safe visit to Death Valley National Park.
