Death Valley in winter

[priimak]

Hi All.

 

I am contemplating visit to Death Valley in December or January and perhaps

camping there for a night or two. The problem is that I'd like to do it with my

5 year old son. Do you think it is a good idea? Also, if possible I'd like to

drive somewhere into dunes away from the main highway and camp right by the car.

Is such thing possible? What I mean by that is I wouldn't want to camp at

parking lot and possibly would like to find a place remote enough where I could

drive a car ( it is a AWD car ). I am not exactly sure what I am looking for

there in terms of photographic subject. Dunes, dry bed land anything of good

potential. What would you recommend?

 

--

Dmitri

[erik_loza]

Look into Furnace Creek. Death Valley in December should be quite nice. Be prepared for cold weather and check the mountain passes if you're coming in from the west. Good luck and have a safe and enjoyable trip.

[robert x]

Great idea but it will get very cold at night.

[J.W. Wall]

The park has a web site where you could check for information and any camping regulations. http://www.nps.gov/deva/ Maybe rent a small recreational vehicle/camper with adequate heat?

[priimak]

Thank you guys. One more question. As I am talking more photographs I found that I had to spend more time adjusting brightness on my sunset and sunrise photographs. Using graduated ND filter probably is much better and faster. Considering contrast in a Death Valley would say graduated ND is a must if I go there?

[del_gray]

A graduated ND filter is extremely helpful there. Also, the main dunes that most people go to happen to be right near the road, so it is an easy walk of only a few minutes to get to them from the pull-out.

[sergey_oboguev]

You certainly can, children are not an uncommon sight there. Just be safe and reasonable. Bring sunscreen, plenty of water, emergency food (such as danishes and jerky, can be bought at most gas stations) and proper clothing. It can be quite warm during daytime even in winter and it can be quite cold after dusk, especially at higher elevations.

 

I'd think twice before taking hard roads with young child, but there is plenty to see in the valley for two-three days even along the paved roads. You can also make an excursion to nearby areas in Sierra, especially Alabama Hills (next to Lone Pine, CA) or Trona.

 

However should you decide to take bad roads (such as to Racetrack or Eureka dunes) plan for possibility of car break down or flat tire (and your spare tire can go flat, too). Travelling on the paved roads within the valley is safe, however once you depart onto 4WD roads plan accodingly lest you trip turns into disaster. Road to the Racetrack especially *is* bad. There is no cell phone coverage in these remote areas (and I am not sure if there is coverage in the valley at all), so if your tire goes flat and you happen to be the last person on the road you'd have to spend long night in possibly sub-freezing temperature. Danger of flash floods along the unpaved roads is also something to be aware of. Parts of Titus canyon are spectacular, but very few cars go there, so if your car goes down you may get stuck there for unpredictable time. I personally got in the habit of renting satellite phone when venturing into the areas like these.

 

I am not sure about *camping*, I personally never did that. If you intend to camp you might want to contact the park and make reservation for camping area in advance. However with smaller child especially it might be a sounder idea to just check in to some hotel or motel. Accomodations inside the valley are often full during this season, so you'd better make reservation well in advance. If you find everything is full or too expensive, you can stay in Beatty, NV which is ~ 30 minutes drive from the heart of the valley. They have a number of motels, including Motel 6 and (right next to Motel 6) Stage Coach casino with its own hotel and 24-hour restaurant. Accomodations at Beatty are about $50 per night.

 

If you shoot film, certainly bring ND grad. Otherwise you can shoot multiple digital exposures and blend them as HDR.

 

Problem with Mesquite dunes (one at the center of the valley) is that lots of people walk on them so anything close to the road will be covered in foot traces. Every square foot. Literally. Unless there happens to be a windstorm the night before which is not too likely. You may get luckier if you hike into the remotest areas of the dunes, it takes about half an hour of quick stride for an adult to get there (with child, obviously longer, but you can try to market climbing over the dunes as a fun). Eureka dunes are much larger and are much less visited than Mesquite dunes but heed the warning above.

[sergey_oboguev]

As for the photography, you may want to get the following book: Tim Fitzharris, "AAA's National Park Photogaraphy".

 

http://www.amazon.com/AAAs-National-Park-Photogaraphy-Fitzharris/dp/1562515497

 

It has very useful chapter on Death Valley, with sketch map pinpointing the locations and some nice photographs. Be sure however to bring the real map of the valley and, ideally, the GPS unit.

 

You may also look at Death Valley images at Q.T. Luong web site for some ideas:

 

http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np.death-valley.all.html

 

(obviously, there will be no wildflowers yet in December/January time frame and salt lakes are most likely to be dry)

[sergey_oboguev]

<p><i>> if possible I'd like to drive somewhere into dunes away from the main highway and camp right by the car. Is such thing possible? What I mean by that is I wouldn't want to camp at parking lot and possibly would like to find a place remote enough where I could drive a car</i></p>

 

<p>General practice in national parks is that you can camp only in designated camping areas, i.e. a camping ground next to the trailer parking lot. You can not set up a tent in an arbitrary area, unless perhaps it is a multi-day hike in remote area under appropriate permit. In most cases, you cannot even park a car overnight along the highway and you cannot drive off-road. You can call the Visitor Center and check with them, but this is the most likely answer you will get.</p>

[bkpix]

You can't car camp in Death Valley outside of the back country, which means driving a bit on gravel roads -- some of which are fine for a regular car, and some of which are not. Stop by the visitor center in Furnace Creek and inquire before you set off. The rangers there are always friendly.

 

There are some tent sites available in the campgrounds at Furnace Creek and at Stovepipe Wells. Frankly, this might be a better option for you than trying back country car camping.

 

The temperature in DV is not really bad in January at all for car camping, assuming you have decent sleeping bags and don't expect tropical heat.

 

What can be challenging is windy weather, which brings up dust storms, and the occasional rain gust. Don't count on sleeping out without a good tent.

 

The park is beautiful in winter and is fairly empty.

 

Your son will love it.

[priimak]

Thank you all for your all very generous responses. And yes, do know about usual camping

regulations at the sate parks however I've drove through the Death Valley once a got

impression that it is pretty empty, hence my question about camping somewhere in the back

country by the car. I will enquire with the park about it.

 

Don't know about GPS, I don't own one and it seems kind of expensive.

 

Graduated ND filter. Any recommendation for once size fits all one :) ? I know it's been asked

thousand times but I thought I would tease you with it again.

[david_senesac]

There is no parking anywhere along paved roads in Death Valley NP. However one can do so along dirt roads that are outside the gray areas shown on the below map link.

 

http://www.nps.gov/pwr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/DEVA_DEVA_Map.jpg

 

In order to more clearly understand where these boundaries are enough to camp in those areas, you might also download the followed detailed map:

 

http://www.nps.gov/pwr/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/DEVA_30kmhaj7_DEVA_Map.gif

 

Generally if one is interested in any of the features of the Stovepipe Wells, Furnace Creek, to Badwater areas, it is often more expensive in terms of gas burned and time wasted to reach the legal points on any of the dirt roads. So most people dispense with that hassle even if they dislike public campgrounds like me just pay the $12 to stay at the main Sunset campground. The one chink in that is if one wants to work Dantes View. The legal dirt road in Greenwater Valley is a bit less than 20 miles or a couple gallons of gas roundtrip from Furnace Creek. Of course any deserts roads are dangerous places to get stuck at during the rainy season if one doesn't have a way to regulary check weather forecasts. ...David

[anish]

you'll be fine with your boy. i've been there many times in winter and the coldest it gets is the lower 30s, but usually doesn't dip much below 40. just keep him in a warm bag and he'll be just fine. each time i'm there, i see lots of little kids (many younger than 5) running around the campground, having a great time. the key is to make sure he has enough warm clothing and warm sleeping bag.

i can confirm that you can only camp in campgrounds, or off certain dirt roads, but only 2+ miles away from the paved roads. it is much simpler to just go with the campgrounds. furnace creek is nice, but fills up in winter. try for a reservation, otherwise, sunset has overflow space.

photographic opportunities are endless. the dunes are great, but don't limit yourself. i seldom go to the dunes, as they are always crowded, dotted with footprints, and, well, maybe a bit cliche. it is rare to see a shot of the dunes that doesn't look like a million other shots. anyway, the badlands around zabriskie point are awesome, the valley floor has many interesting features, the salt flats are a must... just wander and keep your eyes open. there is more to see and photograph than you could possible imagine. i will actually be there for 5 days starting next weekend. 6 days in zion after that. i can't wait!!!

 

Anish