Posted by Ronald Murphy on February 11, 2014 at 11:21 AM
Hello all-
I'll be spending a little more than a week at Death Valley in late April. Please share some advice on where to go and what time of day to be there. All suggestions are welcome!
Thanks,
Ron Murphy
Posted by Jared Warren on February 11, 2014 at 12:18 PM
Ron,
I'm planning my first DV visit for later this month, so I don't have location advice for you. However, I've been reading the ebook by Ron Coscorrosa and Sarah Marino and have found it to be very informative for planning my own trip. Since you'll be there more than a week I suspect the ebook would be well worth the investment. Here's a link:
Be sure to have good tires, with at least one good spare.
Posted by Wesley Picotte on February 11, 2014 at 1:37 PM
Lance's list of places is pretty good. Be aware that getting to Racetrack takes high-clearance at minimum, and a lot of time. It's a very long road on which you travel 5-15mph.
Badwater Basin is a great to check out, especially after rain. This is when the salt pan begins to rebuild into geometric patterns. I made this image there in my last trip: http://www.wesleypicotte.com/landscape-photographs/cat/goodbye-always-comes
Also, Mesquite Flat Dunes. EAsy access from 190. If you really want to see something cool, take the Scotty's Castle Road north for maybe a mile from where it leaves 190 to a turnoff on your left -- a short 1/2 mile spur with a parking area at the end. From there, you access the dunes from the northeast. I did this for a couple days in a row when I was in DV in November. Absolutely incredible, especially if you work your way towards the back of the main dunes.
Be forewarned -- you'll need a few hours at least. Bring food and water and be prepared for a long dry day. If you're there for sunset, you'll need to wayfind back to your car, or use a GPS. I did wayfinding, and took notes, because I made a few turns. It was a new moon while I was there so it was challenging getting out, but even if you miss the parking area, you can't miss 190. Also, it's a fragile environment, so if you go, be mindful and tread lightly.
You may not be able to get up Wildrose Rd, which leaves 190 from the Emigrant Campground, but if you can, well worth it. Lots of great wandering up there, and in spots you can see the lowest and highest spots in the lower 48 from where you stand.
Mosaic Canyon is an awesome dayhike.
Lastly, if you want solitude and / or to get off the beaten track, check out the Eureka Dunes. I have not been there myself, but have seen some nice images and, like I said, you'll beat the crowds. Be prepared for these, especially at places like Zabriskie -- I'll be you'll see a couple dozen tripods there at sunrise. If you go, depending upon where you're located, you might be better off taking 168 in from Big Pine. Just depends on your vehicle and patience for slow / bumpy unpaved roads.
Have an awesome trip!
Posted by Greg Vaughn on February 11, 2014 at 1:40 PM
Posted by John Mumaw on February 11, 2014 at 3:20 PM
Another hearty endorsement of Sarah & Ron's 'Desert Paradise' ebook!
Posted by Genny K. on February 11, 2014 at 5:26 PM
A week in Death Valley? Wow! We had one day.
Yes, read all the books, but the first day you are there, just drive around. The weather will determine what is best to do. Zabriske Point will be crowded, no doubt. A photo workshop group was there when we went.
Make a list of the places that look interesting before you go, and look at how long it would take for each. Anything on the dunes will take quite a bit of time, if you do it right. I only had time to photograph them from near the road, and that's one thing I would want to do better if I ever go back. For good photos you will need to get away from people's tracks.
Look at which places need sunrise or sunset visits, and which ones you can do during the day.
You will have a blast; it is an incredible place.
Posted by Doug Beezley on February 12, 2014 at 9:57 AM
Instead of spending a full week in Death Valley, consider rounding out your trip by including Yosemite and Mono Lake Tufa State Natural Reserve. Mono Lake is about 250 miles north and well worth the trip. Mono Lake produces excellent sunrises and sunsets.
Doug Beezley
Snellville, GA
Posted by David Chauvin on February 12, 2014 at 11:23 AM
With all due respect Doug, it's hard to scratch the surface of DV in a week.
Good tires, good spare. Even on the graded gravel roads flats are common but a repair is reasonable at Furnace Creek. Gas was noticeably cheaper at Stovepipe last winter (2013).
Posted by Ronald Murphy on February 12, 2014 at 1:22 PM
I'd like to thank everyone for the time and effort answering my question! I hope to return with a photo or two worth sharing. We'll see.
Ron
Posted by Ed Williams on February 22, 2014 at 8:17 AM
Funniest thing I ever saw happened on the Beatty cutoff road between Furnace Creek and Hells Gate. One of the scruffiest, OK, it was the scruffiest, coyote I have ever seen came jogging from the East toward the road as we were driving. So we stopped in the road to allow it to cross in front of us. Another car came along from the opposite direction and stopped about the same distance from where the coyote decided to cross as we did. Then the coyote went directly to the center stripe on the road, squatted down and took a dump. It was too late by the time we realized what was going on to get the camera out, but we had the best laugh I had had in years. . . .
Discussion
10 repliesI'll be spending a little more than a week at Death Valley in late April. Please share some advice on where to go and what time of day to be there. All suggestions are welcome!
Thanks,
Ron Murphy
I'm planning my first DV visit for later this month, so I don't have location advice for you. However, I've been reading the ebook by Ron Coscorrosa and Sarah Marino and have found it to be very informative for planning my own trip. Since you'll be there more than a week I suspect the ebook would be well worth the investment. Here's a link:
http://naturephotoguides.com
Good luck and good light for your trip!
Jared
Here's my blog post about the trip, with a link to the shots:http://www.lancewarleyphotography.com/#!/p/2014-trip-reports
Be sure to have good tires, with at least one good spare.
Badwater Basin is a great to check out, especially after rain. This is when the salt pan begins to rebuild into geometric patterns. I made this image there in my last trip: http://www.wesleypicotte.com/landscape-photographs/cat/goodbye-always-comes
Also, Mesquite Flat Dunes. EAsy access from 190. If you really want to see something cool, take the Scotty's Castle Road north for maybe a mile from where it leaves 190 to a turnoff on your left -- a short 1/2 mile spur with a parking area at the end. From there, you access the dunes from the northeast. I did this for a couple days in a row when I was in DV in November. Absolutely incredible, especially if you work your way towards the back of the main dunes.
Be forewarned -- you'll need a few hours at least. Bring food and water and be prepared for a long dry day. If you're there for sunset, you'll need to wayfind back to your car, or use a GPS. I did wayfinding, and took notes, because I made a few turns. It was a new moon while I was there so it was challenging getting out, but even if you miss the parking area, you can't miss 190. Also, it's a fragile environment, so if you go, be mindful and tread lightly.
You may not be able to get up Wildrose Rd, which leaves 190 from the Emigrant Campground, but if you can, well worth it. Lots of great wandering up there, and in spots you can see the lowest and highest spots in the lower 48 from where you stand.
Mosaic Canyon is an awesome dayhike.
Lastly, if you want solitude and / or to get off the beaten track, check out the Eureka Dunes. I have not been there myself, but have seen some nice images and, like I said, you'll beat the crowds. Be prepared for these, especially at places like Zabriskie -- I'll be you'll see a couple dozen tripods there at sunrise. If you go, depending upon where you're located, you might be better off taking 168 in from Big Pine. Just depends on your vehicle and patience for slow / bumpy unpaved roads.
Have an awesome trip!
http://photographamerica.com/
Yes, read all the books, but the first day you are there, just drive around. The weather will determine what is best to do. Zabriske Point will be crowded, no doubt. A photo workshop group was there when we went.
Make a list of the places that look interesting before you go, and look at how long it would take for each. Anything on the dunes will take quite a bit of time, if you do it right. I only had time to photograph them from near the road, and that's one thing I would want to do better if I ever go back. For good photos you will need to get away from people's tracks.
Look at which places need sunrise or sunset visits, and which ones you can do during the day.
You will have a blast; it is an incredible place.
Doug Beezley
Snellville, GA
Good tires, good spare. Even on the graded gravel roads flats are common but a repair is reasonable at Furnace Creek. Gas was noticeably cheaper at Stovepipe last winter (2013).
Ron