On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I set out with a different goal in mind while visiting the famous Sin City. I rented a car, plugged my I-pod into the radio receiver and drove west on Highway 160 past the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area and over the Mountain Springs Summit to Pahrump Valley. Once in Pahrump Valley, the desert sprawled out as far as I could see. There was nothing but road, cacti and hazy gray mountains towering in the distance ahead of me. I cruised through the town of Pahrump and turned on Bell Vista Road headed towards Death Valley. I passed by a market/gas station with a posted red stop sign that said, “Last Stop before Death Valley – Snacks, Gas, Water, Soda…” I hesitated for a second to check the gas gauge on the trusty Dodge Avenger I was driving. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting myself into. According to Google Map on my phone, it was another sixty miles or so to the national park. The cautious side of me kept running the same play by play in my head – getting stuck in the desert in 90 degree weather without cell phone service and with limited supplies, alone – not exactly an ideal situation but the daredevil side of me said “Drive on!” What was the worst that could happen right? So I fearlessly forged ahead through the Mojave Desert, through Death Valley Junction (Population Est. 4) and turned left onto Highway 190, one of the highways leading into the valley. As I finally came into the park, yellowish rolling canyons lined the highway (known as Twenty Mule Team Canyon). I then pulled off at Zabriskie Point. There was a haze settled over the mountains in the distance, but it was clear that the valley was strikingly vast and stark.
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| One-Way Entrance to 20 Mule Team Canyon |
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| Zabrinski Point, Death Valley National Park |
After catching a quick glimpse of the valley, I headed towards the Furnace Creek area to pay the park fee. On my way to the vistor’s center, I passed by two desert oases – the Furnace Creek Inn and the Furnace Creek Ranch. Both establishments looked like interesting places to spend a night in the desolate desert. Feeling relieved that I had made it to civilization (or kind of) once again minus cell phone service, I stopped in for a quick bite to eat at the Furnace Creek Ranch and stocked up on snacks for the journey back. After collecting maps at the vistor’s center, I headed back down the road and turned right on Badwater Basin Road. A trip to Death Valley would not be complete without visiting the lowest elevation level in North America, Badwater Basin. I had decided to do a loop and head back out of the valley through Shoshone, CA via Highway 178, so I sped ahead towards the basin while taking time to drive along the narrow and contoured road of the Artists Drive and to stop for a few shots of the valley.
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| Artists Drive |
I reached Badwater Basin just as the temperature was peaking for the day. It was HOT, and I was ready to get back into the air conditioned car as soon as I stepped outside. Nevertheless, I walked down onto the boardwalk and looked out along the extremely flat and crunchy surface of the valley, a truly unique sight. The sun was bearing down, but I slithered out along the pure white salt surface to get a better look at the surrounding alien-like ground.
- Great Low-Key Hotel (slightly off the Strip) – Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel Marriott
- Good Priced Rental Car – Dollar Rent A Car
- Cheap Flight – Allegiant Air (although keep an open mind if you choose to fly with this airline)
- Healthy Food Option – Whole Foods (right off of Las Vegas Blvd) – If you’re like me, traveling can be brutal on the stomach. I always try to find ways to stick to eating well while still indulging in the local food.
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