I woke up very early to be here for sunrise. I thought I would be all alone, but there were around 100 people there as well, but all were very nice and we had good conversations while waiting for the sun to greet the day. Death Valley at sunrise takes on a magical feeling, well worth getting up early to see.

We arrived about 30 minutes before sunrise and stayed well after sunrise to watch all the color as it filled in over the surreal landscape. Amazing experiences here, including some unexpected ones. Not only did we see the sunrise but the full moon was setting at almost the same time. And if all that wasn't enough, a random act of kindness was also experienced as a very nice man was handing out sunflowers to women during the sunrise. I will never forget how special that morning was at Zabriskie Point.

Zabriskie Point is one of the absolute must-see spots in Death Valley. The view is stunning—like standing on another planet. The badlands stretch out in layered shades of gold, brown, and red, with the Panamint Mountains in the distance. It’s especially magical at sunrise or sunset when the light hits the hills just right and everything glows. The walk up from the parking lot is short but a little steep, so bring water and sunscreen, especially in the summer—it gets brutally hot. Even though it’s a quick stop, the view is unforgettable and totally worth it. If you’re driving through Death Valley, don’t skip this. It’s one of those iconic views that really captures the surreal beauty of the park.

Zabriskie Point is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking spots in Death Valley! The views are absolutely stunning — a true masterpiece of nature. It’s a must-visit place for anyone traveling near Las Vegas. However, I’d recommend avoiding summer visits, as the temperatures can get extremely high and make travel uncomfortable. Be sure to stay hydrated and plan your trip accordingly. Truly an amazing experience and one of the most unique landscapes you’ll ever see on Earth!

A beautiful spot, great views. No tickets or national park permit was required, but could be due to the time of the year.

This is one of the best places for sunrise view in the park. Make sure to get there early, see from blue hour to sunrise and golden hour, can last 2-3 hours. If you have time, you can also hike the trails which will bring you closer to the scienary hills and landscape. See the beautiful pictures I took there.

The landscape was truly impressive, with its dramatic ridges and rich desert textures stretching as far as the eye can see. Even though it was a very cloudy day and the colors weren’t as vibrant as they would be under sunlight, the view was still striking in its own way. The muted tones gave the scenery a soft, almost surreal atmosphere. On a clear day, I can imagine this place looking even more colorful and breathtaking. Despite the weather, it was definitely worth the stop.

Badwater Basin is one of the most iconic and surreal places in Death Valley—and the lowest point in North America! Standing 282 feet below sea level on that vast salt flat feels like stepping onto another planet. The white salt crust stretches endlessly in every direction, and the patterns on the ground are wild up close. It’s an easy walk from the parking lot to the basin, but the farther you go, the more dramatic and quiet it gets. Just be very careful in the summer—the heat is no joke. Bring plenty of water, wear a hat, and try to go early in the morning or near sunset when it’s cooler

If you’re in Death Valley, how can you not visit the lowest point in North America? It’s just surreal and beautiful in its own way.

It was early September and the whole valley was still very dry and hot 🥵 not to mention this lowest point in the continental of United States! We got up at 5:00am and drove here to view the beautiful sunrise! Booked the Ranch at Death Valley which is very convenient to visit the attractions in the park 🙂

Badwater Basin was one of the most unique places we visited during our USA trip. The landscape felt otherworldly—the vast salt flats and surrounding mountains create an amazing view that’s hard to describe. Walking on the cracked, hot ground was such an interesting experience. It was quite windy when we went, so we couldn’t stay as long as we wanted, but it was absolutely worth the visit. A must-see if you’re in Death Valley!

Salt deposits cover the area looking like snow in the desert. The still water at the end of the short trail makes for awesome reflections. Time it with sunset for an amazing view.

Pretty amazing to visit the hottest place on earth! What looks like snow is vast swaths of salt, crunching beneath your feet and reflecting back the scorching sun! There’s a cool sign that points out your below sea level which is just incredible to imagine! Try not to venture too far away from the “boardwalk” path as it can disturb the natural ecosystem but definitely walk out far enough to witness the cool geometric patterns that grace the “sea” floor.

Hottest place on the planet. Nice to walk down to the salt and feel the heat.

Might be the hottest place in the valley, but the view is so worth it. At sunset without the harshness of the sun it’s the best time to wander away from the car for a few minutes in the dunes.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are such a fun and beautiful stop in Death Valley! The dunes are easy to get to—just off the main road near Stovepipe Wells—and you can start exploring right from the parking lot. The farther you walk, the more untouched and peaceful it feels. The views are stunning, especially at sunrise or sunset when the light creates shadows and ripples across the sand. It seriously looks like something out of a movie. Just be ready for the heat and bring lots of water—it’s a workout walking in sand!

It's gorgeous. A LOT of people, dogs off leash, young people doing extensive selfie photo-shoots, tour busses stopping. So if you want to commune with the desert, bring hiking boots, hat, and lots of water! Even with the busy nature of the place, got gorgeous pics, saw rattlesnake and other critters prints, and overall enjoyed the area for about 30 mins. It was 93 F in early November. I would recommend it.

Some beautiful sand dunes, I observed them from the road, I parked on the side, but beware the side of the road is very soft, and it’s easy to stay stuck. Make sure you still have at least one tire on the road when you stop there.

Have to stop here when young to Death Valley. You can take a short hike on the dunes. During the day it’s gets crazy hot but that’s part of the experience. We went back later in the day and then it’s a bit nicer.

A must visit destination in death valley. A short hike to the tallest sand dunes. It's challenging because of the Sun but it is so beautiful. Very picturesque

Such as cool spot! You can just run for days on the sand dunes lots of cool sites to see even walking through. Definitely stop here!

One of the most incredible sunsets you will ever see, We stopped by to see the sun going down and it was awesome, I highly enjoyed seeing the sun reflecting through the mountains

Dante’s View offers an absolutely breathtaking panorama of Death Valley, even on a cloudy day. From this high vantage point, you can see the vast salt flats stretching across the valley floor and the rugged mountain ranges rising in the distance. The landscape has an incredible sense of scale, and the contrasts of color and texture are striking. Unfortunately, it was quite cloudy during my visit, so the scene wasn’t as vivid as it could be. On a clear day, with full sunlight bringing out the bright whites of the basin and the rich tones of the surrounding mountains, this overlook would be truly stunning. Even so, it was a memorable and impressive stop.

Breathtaking views of the mountains surrounding badwater basin! The sunsets were beautiful as well! It can get really windy with a windchill factor so get some layers or a windbreaker. The road to get here is paved, so it was an easy trip if you're coming from Zabriskie Point. Parking is plentiful. Restrooms are available.

One of the best parts of Death Valley. Definitely our favorite. The drive is neat as it’s a steep long winding road. The parking area at about 5,500’ above sea level has an amazing view of the valley below. It will leave you speechless. There are also a few trails that allow you an even better view of the valley. If you go to Death Valley do not pass up on this one. Make sure your car isn’t a beater and is in good condition. There was evidence of a car that caught fire in the parking lot..

PARKS ON THE AIR! The YL and I took a drive out to Death Valley NP (US-0021) today. We set up at Dante’s View a couple thousand feet above Badwater Basun. Fun fact, it’s also the overlook that was used in Star Wars when Luke and Obi-Wan were looking out over Mos Eisly. Thanks to the 20 something hunters that got this bucket list park activated.

Dante's View is the best overlook in Death Valley National Park, offering breathtaking views that will leave you in awe. It stands at about 5,476 feet above sea level, directly overlooking Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, which is below sea level! On the opposite side of the valley, you can see Telescope Peak, the highest point in the park. If you enjoy photography, be sure to visit at sunrise or sunset for extraordinary opportunities to capture stunning images. Many photographers I’ve spoken with believe the best time to take exceptional photos at Dante's View is in the morning when the sun rises in the east. However, if you're interested in stargazing, visiting Dante's View at night with a telescope can also be a rewarding experience. Visitors often overlook Dante's View since it's a bit isolated from other attractions in the park. If you are staying at Furnace Creek, it’s about a 45-minute drive to reach the overlook. Coming from the east side, it takes approximately 35 minutes from the Amargosa Opera House. The road is accessible to all vehicles, except for the last section, which is closed to larger vehicles like RVs. The parking lot at the top is quite spacious, and during my six visits, I have never seen it full. There is a one-mile trail along the ridge that is suitable for all skill levels. If hiking isn't your thing, you can simply stroll along the designated sidewalk by the parking lot, where you’ll find plenty of excellent viewpoints of the valley and the surrounding mountains. In addition to its stunning vistas, Dante's View provides a cooler respite from the intense heat experienced in the valley below. Due to its higher elevation, temperatures can be significantly lower, making it a more comfortable spot for those looking to escape the desert sun. For geology enthusiasts, the views from Dante's View offer an excellent perspective of Death Valley's geological features. You can observe the distinct layers of rock formations and the vast salt flats of Badwater Basin, which reveal the valley's ancient history. Wildlife lovers might also enjoy a visit to Dante's View. While Death Valley's harsh environment limits the variety of wildlife, resilient species such as lizards, birds, and even the occasional bighorn sheep may still navigate the rocky terrain. Whether you’re a photographer, hiker, geology buff, or simply someone looking for an incredible viewpoint, Dante's View in Death Valley National Park has something to offer everyone. Be sure to include it in your itinerary when visiting this unique and awe-inspiring park.

Stunning place.. it’s got to be on anyone’s itinerary in Death Valley

We really enjoyed hiking the rim of the crater. It was pretty challenging in a lot of spots and rough hiking through the loose gravel but the views were absolutely worth it. It’s a little out of the ways from the main park but definitely worth the drive. When you pull into the parking area you get your first glimpse inside the crater which was breathtaking. We were asked to do a national park survey while we were here too.

An underrated gem of the Death Valley. No people at sunrise - just you, silence, and a huge crater. Super peaceful especially if you stop mid hike - wonderful beautiful silence. And an occasional rabbit sprinting away from you. No bathrooms (but also no people?) I visited at sunrise end of August and it was high 80s.

WHY VISIT? 1. When hiking from this trailhead, there are lots of options to completely customize the hike. The hike can be short or long. The difficulty can be easy or difficult, any many levels in between. 2. The main trail around the rim makes a complete loop. 3. The views are stunning and, if hiking the main loop, the constant 360-degree view will slowly evolve, making the trail much more interesting. 4. If not hiking, the overlook at the trailhead offers an amazing view of the crater. In addition, the view of Death Valley from the back of the parking lot is pretty amazing itself. 5. The main trail around the crafter has several out and back spurs to enhance the hike. 6. One of the main spurs from the rim trail climbs all the way down to the crater floor. It is wonderfully surreal. 7. For those with moderate mobility issues, there are no surprises on this trail. Nearly all trails are within view from most vistas. It is easy to start the rim trail and simply go as far as possible. One can easily assess the difficulty ahead or behind. TIP: From the parking lot, hiking toward the left is an easier portion of the trail. Hiking toward the right is more difficult. But again, it’s all within view making it easy to decide. WHY SKIP? The trailhead is off the beaten path and it further away from what I would say is the main cluster of trails within the park. Getting here is a longer drive. I wouldn’t recommend including this point of interest if only visiting the national park for one day. Getting here might eat up some valuable time and there are plenty of other sites to see that are closer together. (I do highly recommend if visiting the park for at least two days.)

Fascinating volcanic crater. It’s a bit of a drive, about an hour, from the main sister hotels in Death Valley - The Inn (beautiful place, especially the pool), and the Oasis, but worth it.

I liked this spot quite a lot. It’s removed from the bulk of the park and not usually busy. It’s also on the way if you want to take the north way out. It was so different and this crater is ultimately hilarious. The views are excellent, but oh ho, you get to drop to the bottom of the crater. Do it, it’s terrible. The way down is so fun it slightly makes it worth it. You just slide and even if you trip, you would just keep sliding. So, the key to maximizing the potential of this spot is to 1. Run down the steepest path. it’s so fun. 2. slowly make your way back up the path to the right (from the craters perspective). that path is the most level way into the crater.

A bit of a drive but oh so worth it for the hike and sites. We had a beautiful hike around the crater and enjoyed the surrounding vistas and wildflowers. We did not venture to the bottom however many did and it looked steep but very doable. Definitely worth a visit and the drive out is interesting.

We visited the crater on Fri 18th Oct @ 14:00 and there were only two other cars there. It was very windy but still hot, 81F - 91F (27C-33C). If you walk around the crater, depending on which route you take, it is around 2.3 miles (3.7km) and varies in altitude from 2,470ft - 2,840ft (752m - 866m). The path is made up of small gravel which makes the walk more difficult than normal. It can make for unsteady footing so be very careful near the edge. At a steady pace, stopping numerous times to take photos and video, takes around 1h 15m. It is an awesome site and is much bigger than it first appears. The road to the site has been fully surfaced so you can gain access to the site in any kind of vehicle so you do not need an off road 4WD to get there. The varying colours and contours of the crater make for awesome viewing and when there is no wind the silence really is deafening. I’ve wanted to visit the crater and I am so glad that I eventually managed to do so.