Hikes in Death Valley National Park

The trails and attractions below are listed from north to south and west to east. The outings may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help plan a trip to Death Valley. Each trail and attraction links to its own report complete with photos, maps, directions, and everything else needed to explore the park. An interactive map is also provided.

Highlights of Death Valley

Hiking Death Valley National Park

Death Valley covers some 3,000 square miles and is the largest national park in the lower 48 states. Badwater Basin, the lowest point North America, is among the park’s many attractions.

The park receives approximately two inches of rain per year and the thermometer-busting temperatures have set world records. Hiking in the extreme summer temperatures can be dangerous. Many campgrounds close during the summer months. Late fall and early spring are the best time to visit most of Death Valley’s attractions.

The park’s highest point, Telescope Peak, towers over Badwater Basin at a height of 11,049 feet. Trails in the higher elevation around Telescope Peak are better suited for summer visits.

Trail or Attraction	Description	Distance	Latitude, Longitude
	Ubehebe Crater A parking lot along the rim provides a great view of the crater, and there are also three trails to choose from.	0 - 2 miles	37.012327, -117.455034
	Mosaic Canyon This out and back hike starts up a smooth marble slot canyon and exposes visitors to unique Death Valley geology.	1 - 4 miles	36.570411, -117.143455
	Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes This hike explores the most visible (but not the largest) sand dunes in Death Valley	1 - 3 miles	36.618876, -117.1136
	Grotto Canyon This out and back hike requires a bit of climbing and is a lesser-visited trail in Death Valley.	2 - 4 miles	36.583024, -117.104058
	Salt Creek This easy out and back hike crosses a short boardwalk bordering a little creek.	1 mile	36.605937, -116.990891
	Harmony Borax This short walk around the Harmony Borax plant offers a window into the mining past of Death Valley.	0.25 miles	36.479987, -116.873517
	Golden Canyon – Gower Gulch Loop This loop visits some of the most stunning terrain in Death Valley.	4 miles	36.420525, -116.847839
	Badlands Loop This loop offers a great immersion into the terrain beneath Zabriskie Point.	2.5 miles	36.419884, -116.812431
	Zabriskie Point Zabriskie Point offers a stunning panorama of the badlands near Furnace Creek.	0.25 miles	36.419884, -116.812431
	Twenty Mule Team Canyon This 2.8-mile one way road lets visitors experience a fine canyon right from the driver’s seat.	0 miles	36.406155, -116.793594
	Artist’s Drive This 9-mile drive crosses a sloping mountainside composed of vibrant soil colored by rich metals.	0 - 0.5 miles	36.368588, -116.802878
	Darwin Falls This out and back hike visits a refreshing year-round waterfall on the western side of Death Valley.	2 miles	36.320721, -117.523908
	Wildrose Peak This out and back hike summits a 9,064-foot peak in the Panamint Mountain Range, which runs down the western side of Death Valley.	8.4 miles 2,200 feet	36.276135, -117.079504
	Charcoal Kilns These conical constructions converted lumber to charcoal for area miners from 1879 to 1882.	0 - 0.5 miles	36.246617, -117.075984
	Natural Bridge Canyon This is a great out and back hike for those interested in learning about the geological history of Death Valley.	2 miles	36.283208, -116.771135
	Badwater Basin This is the lowest place in North America -- a required stop for first time visitors to Death Valley.	0 - 1 miles	36.230242, -116.767634
	Dante’s View This towering overlook above Badwater Basin offers panoramic views of Death Valley.	0 - 1 miles	36.221239, -116.726232
	Sidewinder Canyon This out and back hike visits narrow slot canyons full of pour-overs, carve outs, and dark passages that beg to be explored.	4 - 7 miles	36.065292, -116.745064
	Ashford Mill These ruins, where gold was once processed for the Ashford Mine, provide an example of how tough life can be in this harsh desert.	0.1 miles	35.918925, -116.683303