Death Valley Scenic Byway
Death Valley Hiking Tour
| Departure: | Furnace Creek Visitor Center, California |
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| Destination: | Mosaic Canyon, California |
| Time to allow: | 1 day |
One of the best ways to discover Death Valley National Park is by getting out of the car and taking a hike. Hikes range from beginner to advanced, so there is something for everyone! Admire the unique beauty of Death Valley up close!
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Start: Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Suggested Time at This Site: 30 minutes Please stop by the Visitor Center in Furnace Creek for more specifics about these hikes, and the park rangers in the office will help you choose appropriate hikes to suit your abilities.
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Stop 2: Bad Water Basin
Directions from previous place: Travel south on Badwater road. The parking area is just off the side of the road near the hiking area.
Distance from Previous Site: 17 miles / 27.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 30 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 30 minutes 17 miles south of the Byway out on Badwater Road at the southern end of Death Valley, a unique hike near the lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere is surprisingly easy. The Badwater Basin can be seen from the parking area off of Badwater Road (south of the byway). This open area has an interpretive sign, and most likely many people. This is a popular area, but the walk out to the saltpan is worth your time. Surprisingly, there is a spring-fed pool near the parking area. Please protect the fragile plants and animals by staying out of the pools. This hike is especially nice on a moonlit night when the weather is cooler.
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Stop 3: Furnace Creek
Directions from previous place: Travel north on Badwater Road, passing the Visitor Center you stopped at earlier. Take 190 north about 1.5 miles to the Harmony Borax Works.
Distance from Previous Site: 18.5 miles / 29.6 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 32 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour Driving near Furnace Creek, it is easy to notice the ruins of the Harmony Borax Works. There is plenty of parking and a 0.3 mile paved trail that tours the ruins of the old plant. Below the plant is one of the original 20-mule team wagons that were used here well over 100 years ago. Interpretive panels explain the history of the Borax works.
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End: Mosaic Canyon
Directions from previous place: From the Borax Works, travel north on Route 190 about 17 miles. Turn left (east) as 190 goes around a corner. Do not go straight at the junction. Continue east on 190 about 10 miles to Mosiac Canyon.
Distance from Previous Site: 27 miles / 43.2 km Travel Time from Previous Site: 40 minutes Suggested Time at This Site: 1 hour 30 minutes Near Stovepipe Wells, Mosaic Canyon offers another easy-to-access hike just off the byway. Just west of the motel at Stovepipe Wells there is a sign pointing to a graded dirt road. Take this road in about 2.5 miles to the parking area. The full hike into the canyon is about 2 miles and is quite strenuous. However, exploring the first narrows part of the canyon is quite easy and is only 1/2 mile long, and is very worth it. This hike explores a tight canyon of marble walls filled with colorful mosaics. After the first narrows, the canyon opens into a scenic view.
