Death Valley

Death Valley can be found just 140 miles from Las Vegas. Over the border into California is the magnificent yet haunting Death Valley, the lowest point in the western Hemisphere and famous for being the hottest place in all of California.

If travelling to Death Valley from Las Vegas, you can expect to take around 4 hours to reach hear by car. And for those travelling from the other side, Los Angeles, you will reach Death Valley in around 8 hours. This can be some journey to embark on, but well worth it.

Not surprisingly, Death Valley receives millions of visitors each year, all of which drawn by the unique vastness and breathtaking landscape. This factor has made the tourist trade soar, and thanks to this, visitors can enjoy the vast expanses of contorted salt formations, then retreat back to their luxurious ranches in time for supper.

One of the most visited sightseeing attractions in Death Valley is the awesome Artist’s Palette. This eroded hillside covers an intensely colourful hill with a montage of rustic reds, greens, black and gold in the sun. This is a superb sight to see at either sunset or sunrise, when the sun gently brings out the colours and sets the scene for this truly wonderful attraction.

Another major attraction to Death Valley is of course the ghost towns left here after the Gold Rush. These haunting remnants of a time long since past are fabulous to explore and make for ideal day excursions. The old borax mining sites are another great historical attraction which give a fascinating insight into the way in which work was carried out during the mining years.

Death Valley National Park extends some one hundred miles from north to south and is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world. The park is the best place for visitors to begin as you will have the opportunity to explore parts of the landscape in a safe secure environment. There are several hiking trails throughout the park which are suitable for people of all levels of experience and take you through some remarkable lands.

Accommodation in Death Valley is not as remote as you would think. There are some lovely hotels and ranches to take your pick from which act as great bases for exploring the Death Valley region.
Adjacent to the Death Valley National Park Visitors centre you can find Furnace Creek Ranch. During the 1800’s this was at one time a working ranch, although in recent years it acts as an idyllic accommodation. On site there is a Borax Mining Museum which even has antique coaches on display. The western style themed ranch is a superb place to relax and unwind after a hard day exploring the harsh landscape of Death Valley and will make you feel a million miles from the open desert.

Death Valley is a truly remarkable piece of California which is well worth a look. Nature lovers will revel in the recreational pursuits which present themselves and those keen to learn more about the history to the area, will love the museums dedicated to the western days.