# Visiting Death Valley > Last updated: Mar 22, 2025 Death Valley National Park is full of natural wonders waiting to be explored. As a general rule, we always recommend just visiting the park and following your curiosity. There's so much to do, and sometimes we just sit there and take in the views. You won't "miss" the grandeur of Death Valley - just being there is enough to give you a sense of the place. Enjoy the vast landscape views, diverse rocks and soils, and changing lighting conditions that make the desert special. ## Where to camp - [**Panamint Springs Resort campground**](https://maps.app.goo.gl/GwXSgkNN871JoeCg7) - this is where we usually stay, affordable and "rustic" with a gas station and restaurant. Mostly, we love the beautiful views of the Panamint Range from the campsites. Reservations are possible, but we usually just roll in and see what happens. It is rare we aren't able to get a spot, but does happen occasionally. - [**Texas Springs campground in Furnace Creek**](https://maps.app.goo.gl/3Yy5CuxcjizbwXja8) - Panamint Springs is about 2000ft elevation and can be a little cooler than Death Valley. When we are looking for warmer conditions, we sometimes stay here. The campground is a little tight, but it is close proximity to lots of sight seeing and first-come first-serve (unlike the other park campgrounds which require reservations). - [**Free camping on BLM land in the Panamint Valley**](https://maps.app.goo.gl/rkMr8FVWsaVTMKNE9) - if you take the Trona Road towards Trona from Panamint Springs, you will find yourself in BLM land. There are a lot of random dirt roads and places to pull over and camp out there. Distributed camping can be quiet and secluded. Just beware that during the shoulder seasons (spring and fall), dust storms can occur in the valley. We have had to break down camp to escape a huge cloud of dust on a few occasions. ## Things to do/Places to visit > These recommendations are in no particular order! - **Wander around exploring the desert off trail anywhere**. The desert is the perfect place to just wander around and explore. There are a lot of dirt roads and hiking trails in the park, but we often just walk around anywhere that piques our interest. - **Take in the views from anywhere in the park.** Find a spot, set up your chair, and watch the light change. - **Badwater Basin** - the lowest place in the continental US (-282 ft). We visit Badwater almost every time we are in the park because the light and vibe is different every time. In rare wet winters, the basin will fill with water! I recommend walking out further than you think. If conditions allow (it can get really hot down there), walk out farther than any other people so you only see the desert in front of you. Without people for scale, the view becomes a vast, all-encompassing expanse. Worth the walk. Also, look for the polygonal features forming in the salt flats! - **Dante's view** - A great view of Badwater Basin, Telescope Peak, and the valley in general. - **Artist drive** - One of the most colorful areas of the park, worth stopping by on your way back from Badwater. - **Wildrose road** - a scenic drive through a higher elevation area of the park, we spend a lot of time wandering around up there - **Charcoal Kilns and Telescope Peak lookout/hike** - a totally different ecosystem! The trail to hike Telescope Peak is great because the views are apparent almost immediately, but you can also continue on for miles along the ridgeline and eventually to the summit. Go visit the Bristlecone pines! - **Titus canyon** - One of our favorite places of the park, but the road has been washed out for a few years. Check if it is open and if so, drive from the Nevada entrance (25 mile dirt road, with amazing views and lots of explore). The slot canyon at the end is fun to hike into from the end of the road, but it's not the same as approaching from the east side. - **Watch the sunset over the Panamint Range** from the porch of the restaurant at Panamint Springs Resort - **Visit the Racetrack** - if you are feeling up for a long, bumpy, dirt road, the racetrack is incredibly unique and worth the trip. If you want to extend your off roading adventure to a few days, check out the Saline Valley! ## Soils to see - Check out my guide to [[Death Valley soil features]] ## Places to look for birds - Stovepipe Wells waste water treatment ponds for ducks and waterfowl you wouldn't expect to find in the desert - Look for the Chukar around Mesquite flat campground - Pull over at any random pullout along Wildrose Road to for the Black-throated sparrows and (if you're lucky) Common poorwills - Wander around Furnace Creek resort and golf course for a mix of desert birds and common non-native species - Enjoy the ravens all around the park ## Random other suggestions - You can pay a small fee to get access to the pool at Furnace Creek if you aren't staying there