Death Valley

From the lush surroundings of Mammoth Lakes and Yosemite, we headed for the desert wilderness of Death Valley. A three hour drive between the Sierra Nevada mountains stunningly and suddenly disappeared into a flat scrub land and blistering 50° heat.

The road into the park was winding through the various basins of the desert and we descended from 8000ft in the morning to under sea level by the time we made it to our hotel in Stovepipe Walls, in the middle of the park.

Just a mile or so down the road was the first sight to visit - the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Venturing out of the car (against NPS advice!) for the first time, the hot, dry heat was unbelievable...this is the hottest, lowest and driest place in the lower 48 states.

A few miles down the road, we stopped at Furnace Creek Visitors Centre to learn about the park, which despite the heat, is home to a surprising variety of wildlife and plants.Read more