Death Valley National Park has more than 3.3 million acres of spectacular desert scenery, interesting and rare desert wildlife, complex geology, undisturbed wilderness, and sites of historical and cultural interest. Bounded on the west by 3,600 m. Telescope Peak and on the east by Dante's View, Badwater is the lowest point (-94 m.) in the western hemisphere.
Death Valley is generally sunny, dry, and clear throughout the year. The winters are mild with occasional winter storms, but summers are extremely hot and dry. Summer high temperatures commonly run above 40 degrees.
The basic road tour of scenic sights in the Furnace Creek area takes one full day. The tour of Scotty's Castle requires a half day.

• Mojave Desert: The 1.4 million acre Mojave National Preserve is the geological, ecological, cultural, historical, recreational, and scenic heart of the Mojave Desert.
• Amargosa Opera House: Each week during the winter season, Marta Becket dances two different programs of original Ballet-Mimes. Call (760) 852-4441 for program dates and times.
• Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: The 12,736 acre spring-fed wetland and alkaline desert provides habitat for at least 26 types of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Four endemic fishes are currently listed as endangered.
• Manzanar National Historic Site: Manzanar Relocation Center was one of ten camps at which Japanese-American citizens and Japanese aliens were interned during World War II.
• Rhyolite Ghost Town: Rhyolite was the largest town in the Death Valley area during the mining boom of the early 1900's. Included among the ruins are a house built completely of bottles, a train depot, jail, two story schoolhouse, and the ruins of a three story bank building.
• Scotty's Castle: Born Walter Scott in 1872, Scotty started his career as a cowboy on a Nevada ranch and as a cowboy with the Wild West show, before striking it rich with gold prospecting. He never really found any gold, but convinced magnate Albert Johnson to build a huge mansion which became a popular hotel during the Depression. Park Rangers in period clothing present 1939 living history tours of the Castle every day from 9 am to 5 pm. Tours last 50 minutes, and are usually given at least every hour.
• Wildflowers

• Length: 1.5 km, one-way.
  
• Starting Point: Golden Canyon parking area, 3 kms south of Hwy 190 on the Badwater Road.
  
• Description: Easy, self-guided trail through colorful canyon. Red Cathedral located 1 km up canyon from last numbered trail marker. Trail guides are available for 50 cents on site or at park visitor centers.

2) Gower Gulch Loop

• Length: 7 kms round-trip.
• Starting Point: Golden Canyon parking area, 3 kms south of Hwy 190 on the Badwater Road.
• Description: Colorful badlands, canyon narrows, old borax mines. Hike up Golden Canyon to last numbered trail marker, then take path over badlands to Gower Gulch. Hike up to Zabriskie Point or down gulch to finish loop. Two easy dryfalls must be scrambled down in Gower Gulch. Ask for the Gower Gulch handout in Visitor Center.
• Moderate hike.

3) Desolation Canyon

• Length: 1.5 km, one-way.
  
• Starting Point: End of left fork Desolation Canyon Road, (not marked, look closely for it) 6 kms south of Hwy. 190 on Badwater road.
  
• Description: Narrow canyon through colorful badlands. From road's end, drop into main wash heading south. Hike up canyon, keeping to right at the forks.

4) Natural Bridge Canyon

• Length: 1.5 km, round-trip.
  
• Starting Point: Natural Bridge parking area, 2 kms off the Badwater Road on graded dirt road, 20 kms south of Hwy 190.
  
• Description: Moderate uphill walk through narrow canyon. Large natural bridge at 0.3 mi. Trail ends at dry waterfall.

5) Badwater Salt Flat

• Length: 1 km to edge, 8 kms across.
• Starting Point: Badwater parking area, 25 kms south of Hwy 190 on the Badwater Road.
• Description: Level walk across lowest place in the Western Hemisphere. Crust of salt crystals may be covered with temporary lake after rain storms. Watch out for muddy areas.

6) Harmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail

• Length: 400 meters, round-trip; for a longer hike, walk the 1.5 km bicycle path along Hwy 190 from Furnace Creek.
• Starting Point: Harmony Borax Works parking area, 1.5 km north of Furnace Creek on Hwy 190.
• Description: Easy paved trail loops around ruins of 1880's borax processing plant. Interpretive signs along trail tell the story of what you are seeing.

7) Salt Creek Interpretive Trail

• Length: 1 km round-trip.
• Starting Point: Salt Creek parking area, 1.5 km off Hwy. 190, 20 kms north of Furnace Creek.
• Description: Easy, self guided trail on a boardwalk over small stream. Good for viewing rare pupfish and other wildlife. Best in late winter/early spring. Trail guides available on site or at park visitor centers for 50 cents.

8) Sand Dunes

• Length: 3 kms, one-way.
• Starting Point: Sand Dunes parking area, 4 kms east of Stovepipe Wells, Hwy 190.
• Description: Graceful desert dunes, numerous animal tracks. Walk cross-country to 120 ft. high dunes. Best in morning or afternoon for dramatic light. Also good for full moon hikes.

9) Mosaic Canyon

• Length: 3 kms, one-way.
• Starting Point: Mosaic Canyon parking area, 3 kms from Stovepipe Wells Village on graded dirt road.
• Description: Popular, easy walk up narrow, polished marble-walled canyon. Some slickrock scrambling necessary. "Mosaics" of fragments of rocks cemented together can be seen in canyon walls. Bighorn sheep sighted occasionally.

10) Titus Canyon Narrows

• Length: 2 kms, one-way.
• Starting Point: Titus Canyon Mouth parking area, 5 kms off Scotty's Castle road on graded dirt road.

11) Dante's Ridge

• Length: 1 km to first summit, 7 kms one-way to Mt. Perry.
• Starting Point: Dantes View parking area.
• Description: Follow the ridge north of Dantes View for spectacular vistas and a cool place to escape summer heat.

12) Keane Wonder Mine Trail

• Length: 1.5 km, one-way.
• Starting Point: Keane Wonder Mill parking area, 3 kms off Beatty Cutoff road on graded dirt road.
• Description: Very steep, narrow trail from mill ruins to mine 1500 ft. above. Sweeping views of Death Valley.

13) Keane Wonder Springs

• Length: 1.5 km, one-way.
• Starting Point: Keane Wonder Mill parking area, 3 kms off Beatty Cutoff road on graded dirt road.
• Description: Follow pipeline north along mountain base to sulfur springs and travertine mounds. Beyond springs are remains of an old stampmill and cabin.

14) Little Hebe Crater Trail

• Length: 1 km, one-way.
• Starting Point: Ubehebe Crater parking area, 13 kms west of Scottys Castle.
• Description: Volcanic craters and elaborate erosion. Hike along west rim of Ubehebe Crater to Little Hebe and several older craters. Continue around Ubehebes rim for loop hike.

15) Darwin Falls Trail

• Length: 1.5 km, one-way
• Starting Point: Darwin Falls parking area, 3 kms off Hwy 190 on graded dirt road, 1.5 km west of Panamint Springs Resort.
• Description: This small waterfall flows year round in a deep, rugged gorge. Thick vegetation and muddy stream crossings can be challenging.

16) DeathValley Buttes

• Length: 2.5 km, one-way.
• Starting Point: Hells Gate parking area, 34 kms NE of Furnace Creek.
• Description: Short but strenuous scramble to the two prominent hills at the foot of the Grapevine Mountains. From Hells Gate, walk SW 1 km toward the buttes. Scramble south up the ridge to the first of the buttes. You made it! Now you can decide whether you want to attempt #2. Its more difficult. If so, descend carefully down the ridge 300 ft., then climb the narrow ridge to butte #2. Extreme care should be used when climbing the buttes. Ridges are narrow and exposed with steep drop-offs. Windy days make this effect quite dramatic. The views are among the best in Death Valley.

17) Fall Canyon

• Length: 6 kms, one-way.
• Starting Point: Titus Canyon Mouth parking area, 5 kms off Scottys Castle road on graded dirt road.
• Description: Deep and spectacular canyon north of Titus Canyon. Walk 1 km north along base of mountains to large wash, then 2.5 mi. up canyon to a 35 ft. dryfall. Using caution, you can climb around the falls on the south side. This will give you access to some of the most beautiful narrows in Death Valley. You can follow the canyon up another 7 or 8 kms.

18) Red Wall Canyon

• Length: 5 kms, one-way.
• Starting Point: Scottys Castle Road, 6 kms north of Titus Canyon road exit.
• Description: Colorful (red) narrow mountain canyon. From road, hike 3 kms up alluvial fan to mouth of canyon (watch for meeting of red and black rock to locate canyon). Rock climbing skills are needed to continue beyond a dry waterfall 1.5 km up the canyon.

19) Little Bridge Canyon

• Length: 5 kms, one-way.
• Starting Point: 5 kms east of Stovepipe Wells Village, Hwy 190. Park along side of road, (first major canyon east of Grotto Canyon).
• Description: Ascend alluvial fan 3 kms south of road to canyon mouth. The canyon is very wide at first before narrowing. A small arch appears on the right 1 km into the canyon and a 20 ft high natural bridge spans the east side of the canyon 1 km further on. White quartzite canyon walls and interesting side canyons to explore. Canyon narrows further up from bridge.

20) Wildrose Peak Trail:

• Length: 6 kms, one-way.
• Starting Point: Charcoal Kilns parking area, upper Wildrose Canyon Road.
• Description: A good high peak to climb (9,064 ft.). Trail begins at north end of kilns with an elevation gain of 2,200 ft. Spectacular views beyond 3 kms point. Steep grade for last km.

21) Telescope Peak Trail:

• Length: 11 kms, one-way.
• Starting Point: Mahogany Flat Campground, upper Wildrose Canyon Road. Rough, steep road after Charcoal Kilns (it may take you up to one hour to do the unpaved part).
• Description: the trail to the highest peak in the park (3,600 m) is long but not strenous. The elevation gain is about 1,000 meters. The view at the top (all the way to Mt Whitney) is definitely worth it. If you hike at sunrise, you don't need to carry too much water. 2004 time: 3 hours up.