Death Valley in 3 days

The lowest, hottest, driest place in North America, and strangely the most photogenic. Best time to visit: November to March. Average daily budget: $140-260.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Furnace Creek, The park's hub with the visitor center, the ranch, the inn and the only reliable services.

Morning: Zabriskie Point at sunrise. The badlands ignite gold and pink for about fifteen minutes; get there before dawn.

Afternoon: Explore Furnace Creek, The park's hub with the visitor center, the ranch, the inn and the only reliable services.

Evening: Badwater Basin. Walk out onto the salt polygons at the lowest point in North America, 282 feet below sea level.

Eat: The date shake at the ranch in Furnace Creek, a desert institution

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Stovepipe Wells, Western village near the Mesquite Flat dunes, more rustic and cheaper.

Morning: Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes at golden hour. Easy access dunes where the shadows turn the sand into sculpture.

Afternoon: Explore Stovepipe Wells, Western village near the Mesquite Flat dunes, more rustic and cheaper.

Evening: Artist's Drive and Palette. A one-way loop through hills mineral-stained pink, green and purple.

Eat: Dinner on the inn's terrace at sunset over the salt flats

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Beatty, Nevada, Gateway town 40 minutes from the east entrance with budget motels and the famous candy store.

Morning: Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral. The park's most popular hike, a 3-mile round trip through sculpted narrows.

Afternoon: Explore Beatty, Nevada, Gateway town 40 minutes from the east entrance with budget motels and the famous candy store.

Evening: Natural Bridge Canyon, an easy walk to a stone arch with far fewer people. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Stocked cooler lunches; restaurant options inside the park are few and pricey

Hidden gems

Natural Bridge Canyon, an easy walk to a stone arch with far fewer people
The Keane Wonder Mine ruins, a steep climb to an abandoned gold tramway
Eureka Dunes in the remote north, California's tallest and nearly always empty
Star photography anywhere after moonset; the park is a Gold Tier dark sky reserve

Getting around

A car is the only option, and distances are huge: Furnace Creek to Badwater is 18 miles, to the dunes 25, to Scotty's Castle area nearly 60. Fill up whenever you see fuel; prices inside the park are eye-watering. Las Vegas is 2 hours from Furnace Creek, Los Angeles about 4.5. Some backcountry roads need high clearance or 4x4.

Safety

This is one of the most dangerous parks for the unprepared. In warm months hike only at dawn, carry a gallon of water per person per day, and never leave a broken-down car. Summer temps top 120°F (49°C). Tell someone your itinerary, watch for flash floods in canyons when storms are anywhere nearby, and don't rely on cell service.

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