Pt III: Death Valley to Mammoth

Friday May 31 · Death Valley

Today we make the 2 hour drive west to Death Valley National Park with Drew’s sister and her boyfriend. The drive across the border from Nevada to California is a sight for sore eyes and I loved it! We stopped at the entrance sign to take photos. By the end of May, temperatures here are already soaring into the 100’s, so we spend a little time at each vista before jumping back in our car to cool off.

Our next stop in Death Valley is Zabriskie Point. The best time of day to take photos here is at sunrise, when the light brings out all the nuances in the colored rocks, but we arrive around mid morning. The sun is strong and it’s already extremely hot out. A short hiking trail winds through the canyon for those brave enough to withstand the temperatures, but not us today.

We climb back into our air conditioned car and head to our third stop in the park: Badwater Basin. Badwater Basin is well known as being the lowest spot in the North America, 282ft (82m) below sea level. It is the site of an ancient inland lake which dried up thousands of years ago, leaving behind the salt flats we see today. Groundwater rises up and evaporates, creating interesting geometric patterns in the salt. The best views of the polygonal shapes left in the salt are a relatively easy 1.5-2 mile walk out and back. To the west lies the Panamint Mountain Range and Telescope Peak, which rises dramatically over 2 miles in elevation above the flats. We attempted to walk out to the salt polygons but by 10:30am it was already 109°F and we turn back to avoid heat exhaustion.

Continuing on our tour of the park, we decide to loop back north via Artist Drive. This 9 mile drive takes us past hidden canyons and peaks, all of which culminate in the views at Artist’s Palette where the oxidation of the metals in the canyon transform the dusty landscape with hues of purple, blue and green.

After briefly exploring the canyon at Artist’s Palette, we venture out to the sand dunes at Mesquite Flats, some of which rise 100ft high. These dunes are the highlight of the park for me.

To escape the heat, we set up camp for the night up at Mahogany Flat Campground, 8,200 ft up in the Panamint Mountains overlooking Badwater Basin, where elevation gain is the only way to seek out cooler temperatures at night. The darkened sky is clear and we are graced with stunning views of the Milky Way.

Saturday June 1 · Alabama Hills

Our next stop on the road trip, Alabama Hills is the gateway to the Eastern Sierra Nevada mountains, and the set for many famous Hollywood movies.

Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the lower 48, towers over the hills. One of the famous arches in the park, Mobius Arch, frames Mount Whitney perfectly when you look through the arch facing west. The iconic photo op in Alabama Hills is located on Movie Rd. There’s also a great barbeque place in Lone Pine where we eat lunch.

Lone Pine Campground is a peaceful little spot tucked up at the foot of the Sierras, and the perfect place to camp near Alabama Hills. A bubbling creek flows by the campsites and wildflowers cover the hills.

Sunday June 2 · Mammoth Lakes

About an hour’s drive north of Alabama Hills lies the geologically active Mammoth Lakes area. We head to the hot springs to enjoy scenic alpine views and relax in the naturally heated waters. Nearby Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort is still open for the last few days of the winter ski season so we wander up there to check it out and crack open some beverages at Mammoth Brewing Company in town.

Monday June 3 · Back to Vegas

Our last day before heading home, we discover a ghost town situated on the outskirts of Death Valley. Rhyolite, a deserted Gold-Rush era mining town, was established in 1905 and fell into ruin only 12 years later. Today, it is a Hollywood movie set and historic site with art installations, located in modern-day Beatty, NV.

As we wander past the empty husks of the old bank, train station, and smaller buildings that remain, we spy an old mine entrance on a hill in the distance. Large desert lizards slither across our path and hide in the shadows beneath the abandoned structures. A hundred years ago, this town was an epicenter for mining activity. Now, it stands deserted and abandoned.

We make one last stop at Mount Charleston to admire the views and eat a late lunch at historic Mount Charleston Lodge before wrapping up our High Desert Road Trip.