Death Valley National Park in California is a truly incredible place – unlike almost anywhere else on Earth. It’s a land of extremes. As well as being the hottest and driest place in North America, it’s also home to the lowest point in North America – 282ft below sea level.
But Death Valley is so much more than the hot, dry desert it first seems to be. Spring rains can turn the parched land into a patchwork of wildflowers – and if conditions are just right, you may be lucky enough to see a super bloom as we did in 2016.
Or perhaps you’ve heard of the Sailing Stones – rocks that seemingly move of their own accord across Death Valley’s Racetrack Playa. Although scientists have now shown the effect is caused by wind and ice, it’s still a magical place to visit.
If you do visit, be sure to come prepared. Death Valley is huge, spanning over 3.3 million acres! In fact, the rough, washboard road to Racetrack Playa takes several hours to drive. We chose to come back along a trail through the towering peaks – only to be met with several inches of fresh snow. Who would have thought that the first and only time we have used snow chains on our truck would have been in Death Valley!