Home
Travel Blog
Death Valley National Park: A Hiking Paradise For Beginners And Seasoned Trekkers

Death Valley National Park: A Hiking Paradise For Beginners And Seasoned Trekkers

Aug 20, 2024

Last Updated on: Jun 12, 2025

The Death Valley National Park has geological bounties that will make you feel more than alive. The “hottest, driest, and lowest” national park enjoys the juxtaposition of Badwater, the lowest elevation in North America, Eureka Dunes, the highest sand dunes in North America, and snow-capped Telescope Peak.

You can easily call the landscape of the national park dramatic, or an explorer can find it to be the most amazing outdoor playground with volcanic rocks, mountains, deep canyons, the highest sand dunes, and old rivers.

From the humming songs of the sand dunes to the soothing sound of the flowing stream, this place is music to the ears of the visitors.

No wonder that despite its extreme weather conditions, the park had an impressive 1,099,632 visitors in 2023. (Source)

Death Valley Hiking Trails (Easy, Moderate, And Difficult) That Should Be On Your Bucket List

The hiking trails here come with varying difficulty levels. Here, I have discussed some of the most popular and interesting hiking trails with easy, moderate, and strenuous difficulty levels in three different sections.

Best Hiking Trails In Death Valley National Park For Beginners (Easy)

Death Valley is not probably the first place you will think of as someone new to trekking or hiking. However, this national park has some trails suitable for beginners.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

The Mesquite flat sand dunes, with a 2.3-mile distance, are the best creations of sand and wind. The enclosure of mountains works as a barrier to protect the sand from getting blown away.

The sand here creates ripples and dunes, and the area gets its name from mesquite trees found in abundance here. The Timbisha Shoshone tribe here makes flour from the mesquite tree bean pods. This variety of flour is sold in many specialty stores these days.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is also home to nocturnal kangaroo rats and rattlesnakes.

Badwater Salt Flat

A vast salt flat covering around 200 square miles, it is the most surreal place in Death Valley. The lowest elevation point in North America, Badwater Salt Flat, was a large inland Lake Manly in ancient times.

The landscape looks interesting with geometric salt polygons. You can take an easy walk through the stretch and have a look at the imposing Black Mountains and Telescope Peak.

Moderate Death Valley Hiking Trails

Most hiking trails in Death Valley are moderate in their difficulty level. Here, I will give a brief overview of the most talked-about ones in the park.

Darwin Falls Hike

Darwin Falls got its name from Erasmus Darwin French, an army physician. It is one of the very few perennial waterfalls in this national park.

The waterfall runs into a shallow pool with green vegetation around it. So, as you hike through this 2-mile trail, you will find many ferns, trees, aquatic plants, and amphibians.

Ubehebe Crater Rim Hike

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Grant Brittain (@jgrantbrittain)

This hiking trail is around 1 and a half miles long. The trail looks easy. However, you experience difficulty when you try to get back to the Caldera Rim. Further, from the very beginning of this hike, you will experience unevenness in the elevation.

As you take the black trail surrounded by dark hills, don’t forget to catch a glimpse of the green vegetation, which is very rare in the national park. Here, you will also love the view of streaks of dark orange in the formations, along with loose white sand.

You can even hike deep down the crater filled with pyroclastic deposits.

Fall Canyon Death Valley

This 3.5-hour hiking route comes with moderate to strenuous difficulty levels. Occasional flash floods form the narrow gorge and steep sides here.

The cave-like twisted passageways here look most amazing, and a touch of blue on the smooth granite walls adds a mystic charm to the place.

The Badlands/Zabriskie Point Loop

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Death Valley National Park (@deathvalleynps)

The Badlands, the lowest elevation point in North America, is nature’s display at its best. Hiking to the Badlands includes hiking to Zabriskie Point, the most picturesque location in the park. It is also a favorite sunset and sunrise point, and you will love clicking photographs here.

After watching the Sunrise at Zabriskie Point, you can continue hiking through the Badlands loop, which is made of sediments. Walk for 2.7 miles to reach one of the most important geological terrains of North America. The terrain, with a rugged beauty, used to be part of an ancient lakebed.

Difficult Death Valley Hiking Trails

This national park has many challenging hiking trails, and exploring some of them demands technical skills. Here are the top three most difficult hiking trails to conquer in this park.

Telescope Peak

Telescope Peak, with an elevation gain of 3,000 ft, is a round trip of around 7-8 hours. You can start trekking this route from the “Mahogany Flat Campground at the end of Upper Wildrose.”

This snow-capped mountain is a hikers’ paradise in summer. As you hike through the slopes and the forested areas and reach the peak, you will have the laurel of climbing the highest peak in the national park.

Further, the “ancient bristlecone pines,” wildflowers, and the panoramic vista of the valley from the top will take all your fatigue away.

Panamint Dunes

Hiking to Panamint Dunes will be a delightful experience if you want to explore the remote parts of the park. The most immersive experience you can have here is camping in the soft sand, watching the night sky in its full glory.

The hike (round-trip) will take around 5 hours, and the elevation will go up gradually. The sandy, uneven, and sometimes rocky landscape makes hiking to the top of four different dunes quite difficult.

Little Bridge Canyon

With an elevation gain of 590 m, Little Bridge Canyon is a round-trip hiking route of around 5 hours. The Little Bridge Canyon has a red mouth, and as you reach there, crossing many minor washes, you will be surprised to find a rainbow of colors.

Along with white stretches of Eureka Quartzite, you will also find red and bright yellow veins on the rocks. These colorful veins are formed by deposited iron oxide. Also, you will cherish the view of the sand dunes from Little Bridge Canyon.

Visit Eureka Dunes In Death Valley

Eureka Dunes, the largest dune field in North America, is a must-visit place in Death Valley National Park. It rises more than 680 feet above the neighboring dry lakebed at the western base.

Things To Explore

You can camp at the Eureka Dunes Dry Camp, which is at the base of the sand dunes. This place is great for seeing the sunrise and sunset and experiencing the changing colors of the sand dunes with the rays of the sun.

A hike to Eureka Dunes is arduous due to loose sands frequently stalling your movements. However, once you reach the top, you will see the magnificent Last Chance Mountains with their limestone walls. Also, don’t forget to listen to the songs of the sand dunes. The experience is other-worldly, for sure.

Further, it is hard to believe that a place like Eureka Dunes can have so much life and colors. You will love the Evening Primrose in a pristine white shade. You will also meet shining milkvetch (awaiting designation as an endangered species) and dune grass here.

Stay Safe

Extreme heat is a major concern in Eureka Dunes or throughout the national park. So, choose your gear, sunscreen, hydrating solutions, and other essentials while exploring the Eureka Dunes. Further, October to April is the best time to be at Eureka Dunes as the temperature then remains bearable.

Stargazing At Eureka Dunes

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Death Valley National Park (@deathvalleynps)

Moreover, Eureka Dunes is considered one of the favorite places for astrophotographers and skywatching enthusiasts. When you are at the Eureka Dunes at night, and you stare at the sky, you will feel like you are sinking in the world of stars and meteor showers.

Final Words

October to April is the best hiking season in the Death Valley National Park. Hiking during summer and spring, especially in the lower elevations of the park, can be very difficult.

Even during the months of winter, the weather conditions here remain dry. So, always carry treated drinking water and hydrating solutions with you while hiking in this national park, the quintessence of desert beauty.

Hiking in the park will allow you to visit the lowest elevation points of North America and the highest dunes. You can also conquer the snow-capped mountain peaks and the most vibrant trails made of colorful volcanic deposits.

So, are you planning to visit this dramatic land anytime soon? Don’t forget to share your ideas with us!

Death Valley National Park FAQs

Which Trail Is The Most Scenic Drive In Death Valley National Park?

Artists Palette is the most scenic drive in Death Valley National Park. As the name suggests, through the 0.5 km trail, you can see rocks showcasing various colors. The splashes of green, pink, yellow, orange, red, and blue colors in these rocks come from iron oxides, chlorite, and other compounds present in the local volcanic deposits.

So, this scenic drive truly tales the “volcanic past” of the park. While exploring this driving route, you can also catch a glimpse of the Black Mountains and serpentine white salt flats.

For the best experience, you can visit the Artists Palette during the Sunset or Sunrise.

What Is Special In Death Valley?

Despite its extreme desert conditions (Death Valley recorded the highest temperature in the world in July 1936, and the temperature was 134 degrees.), Death Valley is a wonderful place to explore from autumn to spring.

Hiking through the vibrant canyons can be the most amazing outdoor pursuit in Death Valley. Hike to Dante’s View in the Black Mountains and enjoy the diverse landscape of Death Valley. Go for a trek along the 1.5-mile trail that follows the Ubehebe Crater rim. Have a look into the abyss, which is 600 feet deep.

Further, you can enjoy the best Sunrise and Sunset moments and a panoramic view of the adjacent area from Zabriskie Point.

You can even take a ride through the lowest elevation in North America, Badwater, with its salt flats and pools.

Moreover, when you are in this national park, you must have an encounter with the Mesquite Flat Dunes wildlife and wildflowers, which are in full bloom in the spring.

Where Is The Most Photographed Place In Death Valley?

Diverse weather conditions and intriguing geology make Death Valley a favorite of photography enthusiasts. You must have seen Zabriskie Point as the background for many posts on socials. This place is named after Christian Zabriskie, a noted figure of the Pacific Coast Borax Company.

Zabriskie Point, close to Furnace Creek, has a vantage point that offers an amazing view of the park and the surrounding area. You will enjoy the view of the badlands with brown and yellow hills. Further, don’t forget to behold the salt flats covering the Death Valley floors.

Zabriskie Point is also a great place to cherish the golden and red hues of the Sunrise and Sunset. When you especially look at the Manly Beacon from Zabriskie Point during the Sunrise or Sunset, you get an unforgettable view.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes is another great place to click photographs if you are looking for a classic desert landscape.

Also read

Sibashree Bhattacharya

Meet Sibashree Bhattacharya, a travel enthusiast who has a decade-long experience in transcending virtual barriers with her words! Her deep love for travel is apparent from her travel escapades to the mountain, often taking her readers on a journey, her words acting as Portkey! Fun fact: Sibashree loves to dive deep into the history of the places she is about to visit, making her travels even more wholesome. If you were wondering how her articles are not short of time travel, this answers it!

Your Shortcut to Top-Rated Work Abroad Programs

BY Sibashree Nov 11, 2025

Searching for "work abroad programs" online is a complete mess. You'll find outdated government forms and spammy ads for "easy European jobs." It's enough to make anyone want to give up. But here's the good news for Canadians: you can completely skip that nightmare. This guide cuts through all the nonsense. We'll show you what a trustworthy program looks like, where you can actually go, and the exact plan to get you from your couch to a job overseas. No scams. No stress. Just a clear path forward. What Does "Top-Rated" Work Abroad Programs Mean? A top-rated program isn't just any job you find overseas. It's an official, recognized cultural exchange with the proper visa to back it up. The real difference comes down to the support system. That official backing is your safety net. It’s what lets you work legally and actually enjoy the experience instead of constantly worrying about the details. Where Can Canadians Work? Thanks to international agreements, Canadians have some fantastic options. Your destination will shape your entire adventure, so think about what you want. Are you chasing city life, mountain trails, or a completely new culture? These five spots are consistently popular and reliable for Canadians: Australia: The classic down-under adventure, packed with hospitality and farm work. New Zealand: A paradise for hikers and ski bums, with vineyard jobs to match. The United Kingdom: Dive into history and hop over to Europe, with a huge service industry for jobs. Ireland: Famous for its welcome mat and tech companies that need English speakers. Japan: For a total change of pace, with roles in English teaching and tourism. The Make-or-Break Eligibility Rules Before you go any further, make sure you can honestly check off every one of these boxes: Citizenship: You've got a valid Canadian passport. Age: You're between 18 and 35. Bank Account: You can prove you have around $2,500 in savings. Clean Record: You can get a police background check if they ask for it. Health Insurance: You'll buy full medical coverage for your whole trip. No skipping this. The Application Plan Trying to figure this out as you go is a recipe for delays and frustration. A successful application is a project that needs a clear plan. Follow these steps in order to move efficiently from dreamer to departure. Step 1: Do Your Homework Don't just pick a country because it looks good on Instagram. You need to get real about the day-to-day life there. Your research should give you straight answers to a couple of key questions. Ask yourself: How hard is it actually to find a job there? Can I afford the rent and other costs without panicking? What are other Canadians saying about their experience there now? What are the specific visa conditions on the official government immigration site? To cut through the noise, the most efficient way to apply for top-rated work abroad programs Canada is to use a proven service like SWAP. Step 2: The Paperwork Marathon Getting your paperwork together takes longer than you think. Waiting on a bank statement or police check can stall your entire plan for weeks. Start gathering this stuff now: Your Canadian passport A couple of passport photos Official bank statements proving you have enough money A police clearance certificate Proof of your international health insurance Step 3: Navigate the Visa Application This is where you submit everything to the host country's immigration authority. Each one has a different online system. Pay attention to every detail. A simple typo can mean a long delay or a denial. The process will involve: Completing a lengthy digital application form. Uploading scans of every single supporting document. Paying the non-refundable application fee. Submitting and then patiently waiting for a decision. Step 4: Pre-Departure Prep Don't wait until the last minute. A little prep now makes your first week abroad so much smoother. Your shortlist should look like this: Book your flight and first week or two at a hostel. Figure out how to get a local SIM card and bank account. Go to any pre-departure meetings offered. Find other travelers in online groups. Pack for the weather and the work you'll actually be doing. The Two Biggest Hurdles (And How to Clear Them) Let's be honest: your two most immediate concerns are making money and finding a home. The good news is that these are completely manageable challenges if you know how to approach them. How to Land a Job Overseas Don't just rely on online applications. The best opportunities often aren't advertised. Get out there and be proactive. Try these tactics: Hit the pavement with printed resumes for cafes and hotels. Sign up with a local temp agency. Check the most popular job site for that country. Ask other travelers where they're working. See if any hostels need help in exchange for a bed. How to Find a Place to Live Never, ever sign a long-term lease for a place you haven't seen in person. Your smartest move is to book a temporary base for your first one to two weeks. Use that time to visit apartments and meet potential roommates face-to-face. Your main housing options will be: Hostels (budget-friendly and social for the short term). Flat-shares (more space but usually requires a contract). Sublets from other travelers (often flexible and furnished). Serviced apartments (pricey, but with no hidden surprises). Why DIY When You Can Have a Guide? Since 1975, SWAP has been in the business of turning Canadian travel dreams into reality. Their entire value is in knowing the bureaucratic ins and outs that most people only discover through frustrating mistakes. They handle the complexities that can make the process so daunting. So, what do you actually get? SWAP provides verified application checklists, runs essential pre-departure briefings, and has in-country partners you can actually call for help. This means if you're confused about getting a tax number or understanding your work rights, you have a direct line to someone who knows. For any Canadian looking to apply for top-rated work abroad programs Canada, using SWAP is the strategic choice. Your Next Move is Simple Your adventure starts with a single, informed decision. For those ready to take that step, the tools to apply for top-rated work abroad programs in Canada are ready and waiting. Don't just wonder about it; make a plan and make it happen!

Using Flightscanner To Find Cheap Flights In 2023? All That You Need To Know!

BY Barsha Apr 19, 2023

Tour and Travel blog is about traveling to new destinations and having new experiences. However, this blog is also about the platforms that can help you plan a memorable trip with your close ones. Or even alone, for that matter. This is precisely why we came back to what matters the most. Using different tools and platforms to book a trip! While Google Flights was our last topic of discussion, today, we will talk about Fightscanner. It is a third-party website where you can find your flights, car rentals, and hotels. Yes, you might not be able to book a flight or even a hotel via this platform directly. However, you can at least find out what are the best options available for you. If budget is of importance to you, then you should definitely consider using a platform like Flightscaner. Stay tuned to find out more. Using Flightscanner To Find Cheap Flights In 2023? All That You Need To Know! So what is Flightscanner? Simply put, it’s a third-party website where you can find all the best available flights, car rentals, and hotels available for any location within a stipulated time period. For instance, you are traveling from Delhi to Goa. Once you enter the locations and the dates, the site will show you all the flights available between those dates. From Indigo to Air India, you will be able to see a whopping majority of options - and then it’s on you to choose. Once you choose the airline, you will be redirected to another website - you can then book your tickets. So, while the site doesn’t allow you to directly book flight tickets, it does help you in more than one area. After all, visiting multiple sites for commuting, hotels, and flights is a pain in the a** - and it was about time a website like Flightscanner came into existence. But before you can start using the platform, scroll down and find out all that you need to know about the same. Read More: Myenvoyair Review – Registration, Login And Benefits In 2023 Booking Flights On Flightscanner: It's a no-brainer at this point that you cannot directly book flights through the official website of Flightscanner. But obviously, when you are planning a much-waited vacation at your work desk, one website with all solutions will appeal to you so much more than specific niche websites dealing with flights and accommodations individually. So without wasting any time, let’s discuss how you can find the best flights with the help of Flightscanner - scroll down to find out now! Visit https://flightscanner.com/ Once you are on the homepage of Flightscanner, you will see a big white box on the top of the screen. You will see that the white box has four blank spots - where you are traveling from, where you are traveling to, date of departure, and date of return. Fill in these blanks and then click on the ‘Search’ button just beside the blanks. All the available options for your chosen location and dates will appear on the screen. Now, you will have to choose the best option for you - you will see a button called ‘Book Now Kiwi.com’ on the side of each flight option. Just click on the button that best suits you. You will be redirected to another website, Kiwi.com - here, you will have to complete the payment procedure and book your flights. How To The procedure is easy. And that’s not all. When all the available flight options are displayed to you, you will find a few filters to make the search an even easier process for you. These filters are as follows: Number of stops, Duration, Price, and Airlines. Apart from these filters, you can also select whether you want to travel in Economy or Business, the number of adults and children(if any) who will travel with you, and ultimately, whether it’s a roundtrip or a one-way trip. Read More: Aainflight Review- Login, Services And Travel Experiences Booking Hotels/Car Rentals On Flightscanner: This is perhaps the best part about planning your vacation with the help of Flightscanner - you will not just be able to book flights, but you can also book car rentals and hotels with the help of this website. This is where the site becomes really appealing - because it’s a one-stop destination where you can check out flights, car rentals, and even your accommodation. So, how do you go about it? How do you book car rentals and accommodations on Flightscanner? Stay tuned to find out more. Visit https://flightscanner.com/ You will notice three options in the top-left corner of the screen - Flights, Hotels, and Car Rentals. You have to click on ‘Hotels’ or ‘Car Rentals’ to go to the page for booking car rentals or accommodation. The procedure is more or less similar - you just have to enter your traveling dates and location - plus, you will find a few filters that will help you out when it comes to picking preferred accommodation or car rentals. And It’s A Wrap! And that’s a wrap on the Flightscanner review - what are your thoughts on using the platform? Of course, there are multiple sites like Flightscanner. But we would advise you to use this one, considering we found this site matches our requirements perfectly. The site was user-friendly, catered to our needs and was ideal for planning a vacation. And if you have already used this site, feel free to share your experiences in the comments below. Read Also: 7 Major Factors To Consider When Choosing An Airline For Travel Smart Tips & Tricks To Find Cheap Airline Tickets To Your Next Destination Using Google Flights To Find Cheap Flights In 2023? All That You Need To Know!

Grutas De Tolantongo – Location, Price And Ambience | Ultimate Guide

BY Nabamita Jan 5, 2023

If you are planning an upcoming vacation to Mexico, then you must visit Tolantoongo, which is a box canyon, which is in the state of Hidalgo, Mexico. The canyon is 1.5 hours of northwest, Pachuca, and about 198 km which is about four hours from Mexico City. So if you wanna know more about this exceptional natural escape with beautiful hot water springs and natural pools and rivers with caves. To know more details about the Grutas de Tolantongo, then keep on scrolling down. How Will You Reach The Las Grutas De Tolantongo? With diverse natural resources, Mexico is a haven for visitors and travelers. The Las Grutas de Tolantongo is a natural system of grottoes and caves. The beautiful water flows from the Grottos to the river of Tolantongo, which flows through the hot springs, which act like swimming pools like natural pools. If you don’t know what a grotto is, then it is a type of cave that is naturally made underground and flows through for thousands of years. Rainwater could easily seep down piercing calcareous rocks, which dissolved them. Then the result that formed was a mesmerizing aquatic heaven with rivers, waterfalls, and even hot springs, that became Tolantongo. How To Reach Las Grutas De Tolantongo? Now that you know where this aquatic heaven is, you should be able to reach the place easily, as there are many options you can avail to reach the place. Here are the options you can select from. 1. Renting A Car Service One of the most popular choices of transportation from Mexico City to la Grutas de Tolantongo. Although a car service can be expensive, it is still one of the expensive options. So if you have a hefty budget, then you can easily avail of a car service. Well if you love a long stretch of road, then you will love the surrounding atmosphere while traveling. 2. Take The Bus One of the cheapest forms of transportation is the bus service. The bus is public transportation that any tourist can avail of. The easiest way for you to get a bus service is through Mexico Terminal TAPO. From the ADO bus service, you can reach Pachuca. The journey is a 2 hours journey by bus, although the buses run every 3 hours, then plan your timing accordingly. You would have to take a bus again till Ixmiquilpan, the bus is about 2 hours journey which runs about five times a day. Then from Ixmiquipan, it is about a 14 minutes walk, from where you can get a bus to Tolantongo. The bus journey is very jarring and tiring and it might take you 6 hours to complete the whole journey. And it will cost you about $12 to about $22. Since this method is so tiring and long, it is not recommended for tourists, as it would take them a whole day. 3. Join A Tour Group Another possible transportation you can get to Las Grutas de Tolantongo is by organizing to join a tour group. If you are staying in Mexico City, for a few days, then the easiest way of traveling to Grutas de Tolantonga is with a tour group. What Are The Things To Do In Las Grutas De Tolantongo? Upon reaching Grutas de tolantongo, there are a lot of places you can do there, and a few of these things that you can do. The area is divided between two areas, which are La Gruta Zone and El Paraiso Escondido. 1. Tolantongo Hot Springs (El Paraiso Zone) The hot springs of Tolantongo in the El Paraiso Zone are known as a stunning sight to see. There is a variety of hot springs, present here are mostly infinite pools, built on the side of grottos, cliffs, and swimming pools. The temperature is somewhere around 96F and 100F. The hot springs were very relaxing and very popular, which have people flock there for this relaxing activity, so having a swimsuit with yourself is a must if you wanna go to the hot springs. Read More: Top 10 Hot Springs Near Denver You Can Visit In Winter 2. Tolantongo Cave & Tunnel (La Gruta) There are beautiful dark and wet caves and tunnels that you can visit and explore by yourself. Since the walls of the caves and tunnels are wet, you should carry water shoes, to avoid slipping. You can also go swimming in the pools in the caves, where you will find beautiful waterfalls. 3. Tolantongo River (La Gruta) All of you who want to stay overnight at Tolantongo would mostly camp out near the Tolantongo river. The blue and warm Tolantongo river is a beautiful place to camp. There is more open space for people to gather and enjoy themselves. Read More: 7 Best Places For Free Camping Near Me In Las Vegas 4. Suspension Bridge (El Paraiso) One of the famous places of Tolantongo is the swing bridge which allows visitors a beautiful and luscious green environment. The suspension bridge is an attractive tourist destination when you are visiting Grutas de Tolantongo. You should remember to wear comfortable shoes since you will be walking for a while. 5. Zipline (El Paraiso) If you are an adrenaline junky and love adventure sports, then you are going to love Ziplining through the greenery of Tolantongo. Although it is not free, the price for ziplining is not as much, only about $10. Wrapping Up! Now that you know that Grutas de Tolantongo is a beautiful place state in Mexico. Then if you are visiting there you will find a comfortable grutas de tolantongo hotel. Or if you are staying there only for a night, then camping is the best option. So if you think this article helped you in knowing more about grutas de tolantongo, then give your own article a like and comment down below. Read Also: Explore These 5 Excellent Yacht Charter Destinations! 7 Creative Truck Cap Camping Ideas To Use In Jungle Adventures Top 10 Scenic Snowflake Cities In The U.S. To Travel To This Winter