Back from Death Valley

Thank you to everyone who gave advice on travel to Death Valley. It was a great trip. We were originally supposed to go in March, but had to change to April.

We left Thursday afternoon after work and drove from the Bay Area to Bakersfield - 270 miles on I-5. We continued on to Death Valley (58 to 14 to 395 to 190), stopping at Red Rock Canyon along the way. The drive was so scenic. We didn%26#39;t see fields of wildflowers in the park, but we saw so many beautiful varieties. We would simply stop the car on the shoulder and get out and walk around. You wouldn%26#39;t know so many were there until you looked. Beautiful! Orange, yellow, purple, white ... ahhh

Spent 2 nights at Stovepipe Wells -- an excellent choice. We stopped in at Furnace Creek, and it was pricier and more crowded. Gas was $4.83 per gallon. Yikes! Over the course of 3 days, we visited Badwater, Artist Palette, Zabriskie Point, Salt Creek (where the pupfish were quite active), Devil%26#39;s Cornfield and watched the sunset atop a sand dune. We also did hikes in Natural Bridge, Golden Canyon, Mosaic Canyon, Titus, and Darwin Falls. The temperatures ranged in the mid-90%26#39;s to low 100%26#39;s. We weren%26#39;t able to do everything we wanted ... next time!

(We only found a white-stained rock and assumed it was Darwin Falls ... hmmm)

On Sunday afternoon we drove 250 miles to Mono Lake (amazing), and the next day drove home through Tahoe. All in all a great roadtrip -- 1250 miles.

Back from Death Valley

$4.83 a gallon for gas, wow. I am visiting DV in mid June, hope it is not $5.83 per gal then.

I am also staying at Stovepipe Wells, glad you liked it. It will be my first stay there. Thanks for the TR! CP

Back from Death Valley

Thanks for the report! We%26#39;re glad you enjoyed Death Valley.

Yes, gas is always expensive at Furnace Creek. Panamint Springs is usually even higher. Stove Pipe Wells tends to have the lowest pricest, but it still is no bargain.

It was good that you were able to spend several days there. Many people try to do it all in a day, and it%26#39;s much better to take your time and really experience the park rather than just ';see'; it. Stove Pipe Wells is a good base to see most of the natural wonders, and the ambience is much more relaxing then Furnace Creek.

I should think DArwin Falls would be flowing in April. Did you go far enough? Here are some pictures of what you should see there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_Falls

toddshikingguide.com/Hikes/鈥V11.htm

Gas will always be 50 cents + more in that area. I am glad it did not took away of you enjoying it. Thanks for the trip report. We always love to hear how your trip went

Thanks for photos of Darwin Falls. Looks like we may have stopped at the wrong parking area! It sure didn%26#39;t look anything like that. We hiked in as far as we could, crossing muddy ';streams'; until we were climbing rocks and trying to continue on a non-existent trail. Guess I%26#39;ll have to go back and try it again!

My favorite hike was Mosaic Canyon. It was really beautiful. One more day in Death Valley would have been even better.

Oh yeah -- gas was 50 cents cheaper at Stovepipe Wells -- so get it there. Also, the chocolate ice cream cake at Furnace Creek Inn was yummy.

Thanks for your tripreport. It%26#39;s always fun the read about one of our favorite places on earth!

BTW. They just raised gasprices here in Holland(what%26#39;s new??) to Euro 1.60 per liter. That%26#39;s more than $ 8,50 per gallon. Yikes..

Tet

Thanks for your tripreport. It%26#39;s always fun the read about one of our favorite places on earth!

BTW. They just raised gasprices here in Holland(what%26#39;s new??) to Euro 1.60 per liter. That%26#39;s more than $ 8,50 per gallon. Yikes..

Tet

There was an article in the L.A.Times just the other day comparing gasprices out in the states to the rest of the world. Even with $4/gallon, we still have some of the best deals out there/ Hard to believe, but oh so true...

Alex writes: ';Even with $4/gallon, we still have some of the best deals out there/ Hard to believe, but oh so true...';

Wake up California! Time to stop voting down the mass transit and light rail initiatives. If the will of the people was behind real solutions, instead of B.S. ';federal gas-tax holidays';, this would not be an issue now.

Pinders, it sounds like you had a great trip. I am so screamingly jealous.

^ Very true, especially out here in L.A., building the ';subway to the sea'; but having no money to do so ;-( It%26#39;s a shame really

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