Golden Canyon
This hike heads up a box canyon, just past Furnace Creek, and is centrally located in Death Valley National Park. It has a steady incline all the way. It is a wide, scenic, and highly popular trail. It branches off so you can hike on to Zabriskie Point, or you may head further up the canyon, until the trail dead ends at a rock formation called Red Cathedral.
I had driven into Death Valley early in the morning. After a stop at Mesquite Dunes, I went on to check out the Borax Works, before deciding on hiking through Golden Canyon. It was around 10:30 am, and it was starting to get warm. The high today was going to be 72 degrees, which is very mild for the hottest place in California.
This would be a 2-3 hour hike, and I expected it would get warm, simply due to the nature of walking in a canyon. The sunshine reflects off the walls, making canyons feel much warmer than the ambient temperature in the forecast.
I chose this hike, and trailhead, in part since I was driving a minivan. Most of the hikes in Death Valley National Park involve driving on some sort of unpaved road. I found a spot in the small parking area, since someone had just left.
Eat More Carbs
I decided to bring just a liter of water, a dried fruit bar, a protein bar, and a tangerine. I like to eat lots of carbs when I hike, because they give me energy. Fruit has natural electrolytes, and staying hydrated is very important, especially in the desert.
The trail started in a narrow shaded canyon. The trail would soon become very wide, after a ¼ mile, and one short scramble. I was there at the peak of the winter season, when Death Valley National Park gets the most visitors.
If I was looking to get away from the crowds, this trail would not be it. There were hundreds of people everywhere. In the Mesquite Dunes on the other hand, I felt like I had the place very much to myself.
I could see some towering red rocks in the distance.
So I proceeded up the trail. The total gain is 574 feet along the trail.
I would come to find that getting up closer to the red rocks is difficult, and possibly dangerous.
There was no trail to reach the Red Rocks, and some hikers had decided to find their own way up.
I did not think it was worth risking falling to get any closer. I had hiked 2.9 miles to the end of the trail. It felt much warmer than 72 degrees, so I decided to head back. There was much more to see here. I was anxious to get to the most famous spot in the park, the lowest point in the United States, which is Badwater Basin.
Most people, like myself, got to the end of the trail, and turned back, rather than start climbing, scrambling further over loose rock.
It was past noon, when I arrived back at my car. Heading back down the trail had been a breeze.
I drove south to Badwater Basin, passing by Artist Palette, a scenic drive. I decided to visit there afterward.
There is a large parking area at Badwater. I walked down to the salt flats to admire the crumbly salt flats, and pools of brackish water. This basin was like nothing I had seen before. I stood by the famous sign, imagining what it must have been like here long ago.
What could have seemed like an oasis, really is a pool of “bad water,” not fit for consuming.
There is a completely flat wide trail, where you can hike over the salt flats. Having already hiked over 10 miles I decided to see Artist Palette, and have a late lunch. I was going to cook my lunch on my backpacker stove, after I found a nice picnic area.
I recommend a wide brimmed hat, if you visit the desert, to protect your skin, and sunglasses of course. In spite of all this, I got a sunburn.
Artist palette, is an area of painted cliffs, that is perfect for those who are not much into hiking, but still want to see some of the beauty of the national park.
The road is one way, and full of twists, and turns. I would bob and weave my way through some beautiful desert scenery.
A scenic drive with the A/C on felt great around 1pm in the afternoon, and I stopped several times along the way.
It was now close to 2pm, when I pulled off the road, at what looked like a nice picnic area, just past Zabriskie Point.
I decided to make some backpacker chili, open my lawn chair, and take a break in the shade, next to my car.
I boiled the water, filled the pouch of Patagonia Black Bean Stew, and let it soak for about 15 minutes. The longer you let your backpacker meal soak, the better it is. I was actually trying this meal out, to see if it was something I wanted to bring on a future backpacking trip. I had a few in mind, including the Trans Catalina Trail.
I also made a cup of tea, and grabbed a book I was reading, about a family who hikes the Appalachian trail together. It’s an interesting book, if you’re interested in unusual adventure stories, in the great outdoors.
Take The Long Way Home
I had a long drive back to Orange County. I could only do a short getaway this time. But for a one day excursion, I felt I had really seen a nice slice of what Death Valley National Park has to offer. I could easily spend weeks exploring here in the desert.
I would exit the park heading south down Highway 120 passing the Funeral Mountains on my left. I passed by many people boondocking in RV’s along this stretch of road. Eventually I made a right at Death Valley Junction, proceeding south on Route 127.
After a long drive through the middle of nowhere, I found my way back to I-40, and heard home to Orange County. It took just over 4 hours to get home from Death Valley.
Solo Car Camping
I learned a lot on this solo car camping trip, spending just a day and a half, driving here, and then exploring Death Valley, before heading back. I found it was possible to drive from Orange County one afternoon, camp overnight, explore the park, and head home the next afternoon.
So if I just had two days, I could still have a fun adventure in the outdoors, far out in the desert. I discovered I don’t sleep well, if it’s in the 30’s, as it was where I camped near Ridgecrest. I would have been better off leaving earlier, and sleeping in the campground at Furnace Creek where the temperatures would have been in the low 50’s which would have been perfect.
A Return Trip to Death Valley
Next time I would love to camp at Wildrose, at a higher elevation, and to visit some of the other interesting destinations in the park. I hope this was helpful for your future visit to Death Valley someday. Contrary to its name, it felt very much alive.
You can purchase a National Parks Pass here, at the Furnace Creek Visitors Center, which is good for parking at all the trailheads in the park.
A Desert Road Trip
Road trips in the desert feel like what freedom is all about. Wide open spaces, where adventure awaits. Where you’re not bogged down by too many rules. Where there is no risk, there is often no reward. Going forth freely, without interference, is why I love exploring, and why I love the USA. I love the ability to make my own rules, and own mistakes. Whenever you decide to explore, be sure to leave no trace, and keep it wild!
About me
I’m Serafina! I’m a writer and California girl who loves to go exploring. Hope you will get outside today, breathe some fresh air, and be happy!
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Disclaimer: The work on this blog is my opinion and my opinion alone and I am not responsible for the outcome if someone were to apply these thoughts to their own life. All text and photography copyright 2021 by Serafina, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers’ usage of the ideas and opinions presented in the blog, are at their own risk. Be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, surfing, walking, cooking, and other activities, which may take place indoors or outdoors. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from reading the blog, or partaking in any activity mentioned in the blog. Read the blog, and use its ideas, if you so desire, at your own risk.
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