Self-guided Audio Driving Tour In Death Valley National Park

The scenic detour along Artist's Drive, off Badwater Road, is a roller coaster-like experience - a narrow one-way road that zigs and zags between mounds of multicolored rock. Every which way you turn you'll see a full palette of colors, ranging from coppery green to terra-cotta yellow to brick red and even pink. The pigments on display are derived from deposits of different mineral deposits. The Artist's Palette is the most concentrated area along the drive and makes for sublime photos.

Here's your opportunity to stand at the lowest point in North America, 282 feet below sea level. The location is a large salt flat and it's characterized by a small natural pool of undrinkable water beside the road. Sometimes, after those rare rain events, the basin can have more standing water on it - but that will quickly evaporate away returning to dry, patterned salt flats.

Almost immediately upon arriving inside the national park from Death Valley Junction we have a magnificent 13-mile side trip option to Dante's View, which sits at an elevation just over 5,000 feet. Not only are the views amazing, but it's a place to truly absorb the changing elevations of the region. From Dante's we can peer down to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the USA, and turn our heads to the Panamint Mountain which peaks at over 11,000 feet. On a perfect day we can spot Mount Whitney, the highest point in the Lower 48, topping out at 14,505 feet. That's great value from one viewpoint!

Another of Death Valley's sublime landscapes. Devils Golf Course is a vast section of giant salt crystals that are constantly expanding and shrinking as the temperature changes. If you listen closely, you might be able to hear the crystals popping.

This overlook provides perhaps the best vista across Death Valley on the western side of the park. It's a not-to-be-missed view to take in if first arriving, or about to say farewell to the park. But, not only do we get a superb panorama of Death Valley, we'll also be able to glimpse Rainbow Canyon to the north. Striking red oxidixed volcanic rockfields are prominent in this area. Father Crowley was a Catholic priest from Ireland who was known as the Padre of the Desert, and he served the communities of the surrounding Inyo County in the first half of the twentieth century.

Nothing says desert quite like sand dunes that support zero foliage and change shapes in the wind. Yes, of course Death Valley has to have sand dunes! A fantastic landscape of dunes can be experienced at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Be very wary of venturing too far without ample water on a hot day, and also that the sand can be scolding hot.

Ubehebe Crater is a fairly substantial side trip off the main road, into the remote northern corner of the park. Expect to drive for a good hour or more on an unpaved road to get there. In fact, we'll get you in the right path, but we won't have commentary all the way. Ubehebe is the largest of a dozen craters that had explosives origins back when ground water met with hot magma. Driving even further requires a strong will and an appropriate 4x4 vehicle to reach Racetrack Playa, a salt flat famous for its ability to move 600 pound boulders along its surface. Also in this general section of the park is Scotty's Castle, which is actually a remote ranch. Check what the current pre-booking requirement and road status is before attempting to visit.