Death Valley in November feels like stepping into another world. It’s the perfect season to hike, explore, and actually enjoy being outside without the intense summer heat. We stayed at The Oasis at Death Valley, a dreamy hotel base right inside the park that made adventuring easy and relaxing. This park is opened 24 hours and often referred to as "The Park After Dark". Known for their unreal stargazing, making it a true gem from day to night.
A refreshing dip at The Oasis after a long day of dusty hiking
Spotting a coyote in the wild!
Our Three Day Itinerary 𖦹 Our Three Day Itinerary 𖦹 Our Three Day Itinerary 𖦹
Day 1 Trona Pinnacles, Father Crowley & Zabriskie Point
We kicked off the trip at the Trona Pinnacles, a surreal landscape of rock formations that immediately made us feel like we’d stepped onto another planet. From there, we drove into Death Valley, stopping at Father Crowley Vista Point just outside the park to take in the sweeping views. The drive through the park itself is unreal, straight out of a movie; vast, empty, and completely mesmerizing.
We checked into The Oasis, which lives up to it's name! Nestled in the middle of the desert, the palm trees, lush gardens, and pools felt like a secret paradise after a long day on the road. It’s the kind of place where you can relax and forget for a moment that you’re surrounded by miles of sand and rock.
We headed to Zabriskie Point for sunset to end the day. Watching the golden badlands glow in shades of pink, yellow, and orange was the perfect first glimpse of the park’s otherworldly beauty.
Day 2 Golden Canyon, Badwater Basin & Artist’s Palette
We started the day early with a sunrise breakfast at The Oasis before heading out to the Golden Canyon – Gower Gulch Loop. This 6-mile trail twists and turns through dusty canyons and sculpted badlands, with viewpoints around every corner that make you stop and just take it all in. The narrow paths and towering canyon walls feel like a hidden world carved by time. We kept joking, “we feel like we’re on a Star Wars set,” and it turns out, parts of it actually were!
After the hike, we drove to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the United States. Walking across the endless white salt flats is surreal and completely unforgettable. From there, we cruised along Artist’s Palette, which was such a treat to see some color after most of the park’s muted landscapes.
We ended the night back at The Oasis with stargazing. They really do call it "the park after dark" for a reason!
We started early at Dante’s View, taking in morning views of the entire valley. It was windy and chilly, but the perfect way to kick off the day. Next, we hiked Mosaic Canyon, winding through narrow rock passageways and some light rock scrambling.
After the hike, we drove across the park for a late lunch at Badwater Saloon and explored the small gift shops.
We ended the day at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes for sunset. Climbing the dunes was a workout, but completely worth it for the view as the desert glowed. People were even bringing sleds to slide down the sand, and it was fun to watch everyone enjoy this landscapes natural magic!
✷ Things to Note ✷
Limited stores and restaurants: They really mean it when your in the middle of nowhere with nothing for miles and miles and miles! Luckily there are gas stations and some restaurants in the park! But it is limited so pack snacks and lots of water
Pack layers: The desert temperature varied throughout the day and we found ourselves changing in and out of sweatshirts!
Prepare for dust: Dust gets everywhere, I mean everywhere in this park. Our clothes, car, shoes, and the rest of everything we owned got covered on some hikes!
Night Sky Enthusiast! Bring your favorite camp chair so you can sit out and see the stars! We did't bring them (or our tripod) and were super bummed!
No Service, No Problem! Have your playlist, maps and alltrails hikes downloaded because once you leave the Oasis, theres no service!
Spend more nights stargazing and soaking in the desert sky
Bring a sled for the sand dunes!
Explore our travel blog filled with weekend plans, sunset spots & the roadtrips that inspire our goods ☁︎ Explore our travel blog filled with weekend plans, sunset spots & the roadtrips that inspire our goods ☁︎ Explore our travel blog filled with weekend plans, sunset spots & the roadtrips that inspire our goods ☁︎ Explore our travel blog filled with weekend plans, sunset spots & the roadtrips that inspire our goods ☁︎ Explore our travel blog filled with weekend plans, sunset spots & the roadtrips that inspire our goods ☁︎ Explore our travel blog filled with weekend plans, sunset spots & the roadtrips that inspire our goods ☁︎
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