Death Valley — Badwater Basin & Artist'sDrive.
Distance
100 km
Duration
1 day
Climb
300 m
Rating
4.7 / 5
743 reviews
Death Valley — Badwater Basin & Artist's Drive.
A 100 km loop through the lowest and most alien landscape in North America. Zabriskie Point's golden badlands, Artist's Drive's multicoloured volcanic hills, Badwater Basin at -86 m, and Devil's Golf Course — all in one day.
Quick facts
SurfacePaved
Distance100 km
Days1
Total climb300 m
DifficultyEasy
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The route.
Furnace Creek Visitor CenterStart · Fuel at Furnace Creek Ranch — the only reliable gas in Death Valley. Elevation: -56 m. Start early; temperatures above 45°C are common by midday in summer.
Zabriskie PointPhoto Spot · Golden badlands of eroded mudstone carved by ancient Lake Manly — ochre ridges and knife-edge spires. Best light before 9am.
Artist's Drive — EntranceScenic Point · Turn onto the one-way loop through the Artist's Hills. The road narrows and becomes a slot canyon of coloured volcanic rock.
Artist's PalettePhoto Spot · The multicoloured volcanic hills — ochre, green, purple, and pink — colour from manganese, iron oxide, and mica. The most photographed spot in Death Valley.
Badwater BasinScenic Point · The lowest point in North America at -86 m. Walk out onto the infinite salt flat polygon field. The "Sea Level" sign on the cliff 87 m above you is visible from the boardwalk.
Devil's Golf CourseScenic Point · A vast plain of jagged halite salt crystal formations — knife-sharp ridges of crystallised sodium chloride stretching to the horizon. Named for being too rough for any sport but golf by the Devil.
Furnace Creek RanchEnd · Return to the start. Watch the sunset from the ranch porch — the Panamint Range turns crimson and purple as the light drops behind the valley wall.
From riders.
743 verified rides logged on this route.
4.7/ 5
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
743 verified rides
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