Death Valley Trip

[jack_franklin]

<p>I am planning a trip to Death Valley in late Jan. Has anyone ever been to Death Valley at this time of year and if so <br>

what were the best photographic places you found. I have read an earlier post ..... Not much detailed information.<br>

Any help is greatly appreciated.<br>

JF</p>

 

[famico]

<p>The key to an adequate answer is to know how long you plan to be there. Death Valley is an immense place, and you can spend many days there, never seeing the same thing twice. Some places to consider are Badwater, Mosaic Canyon, any of the sand dune areas (dependent upon length of time you have, and how you entered DV), Zabriskie Point, Artist Drive, Ubehebe Crater, and Scotty's Castle.<br>

If you have a 4 wheel drive, there is also the Racetrack and Titus Canyon. Titus Canyon requires that you begin in Nevada and work your way down into DV (it's one way), but if you have the time and vehicle, it is a great ride to take.</p>

[charles_stobbs3]

<p>Lots of good info here - http://www.desertusa.com/</p>

[david_henderson]

<p>If you go to search box top right, type in Death Valley and change the search database from Adorama to All of Photo net, you will get 1000 threads or images to follow up which is a lot more comprehensive than anything you'll get here. Take a look at the images brought up- some of them will have more detailed location data .</p>

[jack_franklin]

<p>Thanks to ALL...... David VERY GOOD IDEA !<br>

JF</p>

[berg_na]

<p>We visited the park just last week, and found the<a href="http://www.nps.gov/deva/"> information provided by the National Park Service</a> very useful. There, you can checkout <a href="http://www.nps.gov/deva/photosmultimedia/photogallery.htm">the photo gallery</a> and download a pdf version of the same visitor's guide booklets that are distributed at the visitor's center. It's hard to see all of the interesting spots in a day during the winter time, since it gets dark by 5:00 pm, and you have to drive quite a distance between the various stops. The Dante's view is highly recommended. The Badwater Basin is an amazing place as well as the nearby Devil's golf course, but I wasn't able to find the honeycomb-shaped salt formations shown in the park brochure (shot below), I don't know if there is a special time to see them.<br>

<br /><img src="http://www.nps.gov/pwr/pgallerycontent/p/l/20081024202320.jpg" border="1" alt="" width="748" height="561" /></p>

[SteveH]

<p>Death Valley, relatively speaking, is a busy place in Winter. If you haven't already, you should get some reservations in either hotel or campground, wherever you plan to stay. I would not go into Death Valley at this time of year without knowing where you're staying. Also, remember that desert driving, even in the winter, can be hazardous - including snow over the passes - so be prepared with extra water (1 gallon per person per day), blankets and spare food for the trip.</p>

[dmanthree]

<p>I'll be there in April/May, and was wondering how long a drive it is to the racetrack? If possible, I'd like to get there during my brief visit.</p>

[daverave]

<p>David, the trip out to the Racetrack deserves most of a day especially if you want to catch good light. The road is very slow going and can take a couple of hours each way from the end of the pavement near Ubehebe Crater, 4WD preferred but not required. I wouldn't take a rental car. If your visit is brief, I would go other places and wait until you've got more time. Believe me, there is so much to see there. I've been ten times or so but have only gone out to the Racetrack once because of all of the other great landscape in DV. The other thing about the RT is that, fortunately, you are not supposed to camp there (it would be overrun.) </p>

[acjtucson]

<p>If you have an SUV, rental or not, go to the Racetrack unless the Morning Report (offical road condition report for Death Valley and weather report-Google "Death Valley Morning Report") says it is flooded. You will NOT regret it. If you go, by all means go and make a day of it. Get up to the crater by noon. Get to the Racetrack a couple hours before sunset so you can walk around. Park at the far end of the dry lake bed and walk about 10-15 minutes to the base of the dark hill at the southeast end of the lake bed. It is thought that is where the rocks come from that make the tracks. I was there in March and saw dozens of rocks and tracks. You can camp two miles past the Racetrack. There is a primitive campground , I think called Homestake (Lippincott Mine). Its quiet and you'll see a jazillion stars if it is clear. The road to Racetrack is not bad. Go slow and you shouldn't have problems. Its about 27 miles of bumpy but not difficult road. Badwater at sunrise is nice but it will be cold. Going out to the Devils Golf Course around sunset is very pretty also. </p>

[emira]

<p>

<p>

<p>I go to death valley at least once a month except July and August. Every time the Valley looks completely different. Every day the valley looks different. I would suggest Tecopa Hot spring for stay:</p>

<a href="http://www.tecopahotsprings.org/">http://www.tecopahotsprings.org</a>

<p> it is few minutes from Death Valley and a hot bath is wonderful after a full day walking around. The accommodations are primitive but all necessities are there. Don't miss China Ranch - it's about 10 minutes from Tecopa.</p>

</p>

</p>

[rick_wong]

<p>I just returned from a road-trip to Vegas from Seattle. One of my stops was Death Valley. My main interest was the Racetrack the road was in a lot better shape than when I visited last. This also means more people will be at the Racetrack (including Tour-ons), about twenty vehicles only 5 of witch were SUV's and 3 4x4 pickups. the reat were family vans and cars.<br>

I left Badwater at 2pm and arrived at the Racetrack around 4PM. I spent the next hour photographing and scouting rocks I wantd to photograph in the morning. I then spent the night at the campsites just south of the lake and was back to the rock I picked out for my shot. You need to know where you want to be because you will only have one shot before you lose the light. Another reason is that I had the whole lake bed to myself not one other person was at the Racetrack. The three other cars at the campsite were still parked there after the sun had come up.<br>

Thr Dunes near the entrance at Stovepipe wells was full of people if you want a shot with no footprints or people head up north to Eureka Valley Sand Dunes They are harder to get to so less people go there.<br>

As for the Salt formations at Bad water you just need to hike out to where you see the white patches <img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/photos/181645606_tL7yZ-S.jpg" alt="" /><br>

Eureka Valley Sand Dunes <img src="http://riwong.smugmug.com/photos/448632414_g4Vsw-M.jpg" alt="" /><br>

The Racetrack at sunrise</p><div></div>