Brandon's Adventures -- Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park

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Where: Located in central-eastern California, Death Valley is about a 8 or 9 hour drive from the San Francisco Bay area, and much less than that from Los Angeles or Las Vegas. The eastern edge of the park lies on the California/Nevada border.

What: Despite the name, which (to me) implies that there is not much there, the park has a lot of interesting geology, beautiful scenery, and a colourful history. Badwater, at 280 ft below sea level, is the lowest point in the continental U.S. and is located in the park.

When: Just about any time except summer is a great time to visit Death Valley. I prefer the spring and fall, as temperatures are comfortable and there are not too many other people around. By May or so temperatures will start getting up into the high 30s (Celsius), which is over 100 deg. F. Mid-summer highs exceed that, and both vehicle and foot travel must be well-planned and taken carefully, as the heat is not very forgiving.

Why: It's one of my favourite national parks! I've been there three times in thirteen months, and each time there was something different and interesting to see. There is much to see and do, especially if you come equipped with a high-clearance 4-wheel drive and are willing to go off into the numerous backroads.

The following pictures were made on separate trips. Click on any photo to see it full-size.