Death Valley isn’t a place with a huge hiking network since the heat rules out most of the park for much of the year, but the trails that do exist are unlike anything else. These two cover the range from a canyon loop to a walk with no trail at all.
Good to know: entry is $30 per vehicle for a 7-day pass, or free with an America the Beautiful annual pass ($80) (nps.gov). The park is fully cashless now, so bring a card. Check the park’s alerts page before you go, since road closures from flooding happen regularly, and avoid visiting in summer when temperatures can hit 120°F.
Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop
7.2 km loop · 200 m elevation gain · Moderate
Starting about 4 km east of the Furnace Creek visitor center, this loop climbs through Golden Canyon before dropping into Gower Gulch on the way back. Do it clockwise and you’ll get the elevation gain out of the way early. Trail posts mark the route, but keep an eye out for the Gower Gulch Loop fork, that’s where the best views are. If you have time, add the short detour to Zabriskie Point to see the canyon from above. Good shoes, a hat, and sunscreen go a long way here.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
About 3 km round trip to the tallest dune · Moderate
About 36 km northwest of the visitor center, off Highway 190 near Stovepipe Wells, these are the most accessible dunes in the park and there’s no marked trail, you just pick a direction and walk. Climbing to the tallest dune and back takes roughly an hour and a half through soft, deep sand that works your legs more than the distance suggests. Sunrise and sunset are the best times, both for the light and to avoid the worst of the heat.
#FieldNotesBySeb
