Death Valley Notes

Before I wrap up my Death Valley Tales, let me dedicate a few lines to a summary.

Highlights and surprises

My biggest surprise was the amount of color I found in Death Valley. Every family in the color wheel was represented. Who knew that it wasn’t black and white?

I was also surprised by the drive through Titus Canyon. It was a reminder of what travel must have been like at the beginning of automobile tourism and even back to prospecting days, which really weren’t all that long ago. It’s not all that often this city girl gets to drive that far on a dirt road.

The Artists Drive was amazing! All those colors splashed across the landscape.

The swimming pool at Furnace Creek Ranch Resort and RV Park was a delight. A little bit of affordable luxury for a hot and dusty place. It is available to all visitors to the park, and only costs $5 to use if you are not a guest of the Resort.

Disappointments

It seems to be a bit whiney to say I was disappointed with the weather, but the wind kept me from fully exploring the park.

 

I did a bit of research on the wind, and found that when I visited, in April, was during the windier part of the year. When I return, I will try to schedule my visit for December or January, which has the lowest average windspeed, I found this information at traveltips.usatoday.com/weather-climate-death-valley-california-59318.html.

I ate a couple of meals in the restaurants at Furnace Creek Ranch Resort and RV Park. The best things I can say about them are that the food sustained life and didn’t make me sick. On the other hand, the kindest thing I can say is that the meals were uninspired. Oh, and the food is expensive. If you want a table indoors with someone else preparing the food, then the price is worth it. A better alternative would be to bring your food into the park with you.

Campgrounds

The site I had at Furnace Creek Ranch Resort and RV Park was nice, but the sites were so small that I had difficulty getting backed in. Two of my neighbors helped out by moving their vehicles. The plantings and the close quarters may have helped reduce the effects of the wind.

The fee to stay in a full hook up site $38, although they do have a campground without hook ups for $18. With both of these options, you get to use the swimming pool, shower facility, coin operated laundry and sports courts.

After my first night, I stayed at Texas Spring campground, which is across the road from Furnace Creek Ranch. The listed price is $14, but the machine that sells the camping permits only charged $12. There is a lot of room there, along with picnic tables and fire rings. The sites don’t have hook ups, but water and flush toilets are available at the campground.

The only National Park campground that accepts reservations is Furnace Creek, but there are plenty of campgrounds that are first come, first served. Don’t let the lack of a reservation stand in the way of planning a visit.

Next time

There is so much that I missed on this trip that I know I will be back.

On my next visit, I will try to schedule  my trip for January or February. The winds should be lighter and the temperatures should still be comfortable for outdoor activities. January’s average high is 67º and the low is 40º. February’s average high is 73º and the low is 46º.

Next time, I want to hike Mosaic Canyon and Darwin Falls. I want to spend more time at the dunes. I want to walk to Salt Creek and see the pupfish. Natural Bridge Canyon also sounds like a great hike. I’d like to see the Wildrose Charcol Kilns.

If I feel like a 27 mile drive one way over rough roads, I’d like to see The Racetrack, where rocks seem to mysteriously move across a dry lakebed, leaving tracks behind them.

I might even want to do the Titus Canyon drive again!

Advice

If you plan to take the Titus Canyon drive, continue up the road to Beatty, Nevada and fill your gas tank. Gas is a lot cheaper there.

Take plenty of food. You won’t starve there. You can buy food and eat in restaurants, but you will probably be more satisfied with the selection you bring with you.

Don’t worry if you can’t make reservations, unless you want to site at Furnace Creek Ranch Resort and RV Park. There will a place for you.