Our family just got back from an adventure in Death Valley. I was pretty excited to visit a new National Park as a family–one none of us had ever been to before! If you’ve never been either you might be surprised that there is actually a lot to do in Death Valley National Park with kids. In fact, with over 3 million acres it can seem pretty overwhelming. Here are a few of our tips for exploring this amazing park with your family.
why visit Death Valley?
I admit–I never had much desire to visit Death Valley National Park until the past year or so. Not being a huge fan of the dessert it didn’t seem very appealing until I learned more about the park. Death Valley became a National Monument in 1933 but its history goes back long before then to the Timbisha Shoshone Indians who have lived here for centuries. There were also over a dozen resources that were mined here from gold to borax and many between. It’s also home to many fascinating ruins and natural rock formations. Death Valley became a National Park in 1994 and became the largest National Park in the lower 48 states. 35,292 acres were added in 2019 further securing its spot as the largest.
Fun Fact: Of the top 10 National Parks in the US, only three from the lower 48 are among the largest. Those are (in order): Death Valley, Yellowstone, and Everglades. All the other top spots are parks in Alaska.
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when is the best time to visit?
For many parks I say there’s no “bad time” to visit. However, this park is the exception and I would personally recommend planning your trip November through April. Especially if you are visiting Death Valley National Park with kids and you want everyone to have a good experience. The average temperature on one of the days we visited was 90°, but we lucked out with a high of 79° and it was wonderful! Spring is also a good time to visit because it’s when you can see the endangered Death Valley Pupfish on the Salt Creek Interpretive Trail. After ideal wet winters springtime also welcomes abundant wildflowers to the vast desert landscape. We weren’t able to see them because there has to be a good amount of consistent rain throughout the winter, but I’ll be keeping a close eye in future years and waiting for perfect conditions to experience it!
Death Valley National Park with kids
There is such a range of hikes at Death Valley that span the 3 million acres. There are also miles and miles of paved and dirt roads you can take. You can find plenty to interest everyone in your group and I wish we’d had a little more time (and a 4 wheel drive vehicle) but here are some of our recommendations of what’s easy to do with kids, not matter what level of hikers they are. Some of the hikes are especially suited for sunrise or sunset.
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take an easy hike
- Harmony Borax Works Interpretive Trail, .4 mile dirt trail
- Salt Creek Interpretive Trail, .5 mile boardwalk trail
- Ubehebe Crater Loop, 1.5 miles dirt trail. You can also view the crater from the parking lot.
- Zabriskie Point, short but uphill paved path from the parking area
- natural Bridge, 1 mile dirt trail
- Badwater Basin, out and back across the salt flats from parking area as long as you want. 5 miles if going all the way across and back.
Important Tip: Always have plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat or sunglasses. Always have a map because you can’t rely on GPS. Check your gas gauge often (and gas is very expensive in the park). Dehydration can happen quickly and shade in Death Valley is practically nonexistent.
view a sunrise or sunset
Death Valley National Park has been designated as a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park, which is the highest rating of darkness that can be achieved. The night sky here is spectacular and hiking in the early morning hours or at dusk can help you beat the heat. Plus, the sunrises and sunsets here are pretty remarkable too. Some spots you can simply drive to, some involve a short walk, others will require an involved hike. Always plan what’s best for your group and skill level!
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Ideal sunrise and sunset locations:
- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
- Zabriskie Point
- Badwater Basin
- Dantes View
- Father Crowley Vista Point- Rainbow Canyon
Fun Fact: Death Valley is home to the lowest point in North America–Badwater Basin at -282 feet below sea level. Yet, it’s only 85 miles from Mount Whitney which is the highest point in the lower 48 states at 14,505 feet. Death Valley itself also features an elevation change from -282 feet to 11,043 feet.
become a Junior Ranger
My kids love participating in Junior Ranger Programs at our National Parks and I definitely recommend it if you’re visiting Death Valley National Park with kids. With all the driving you’ll do while exploring Death Valley it’s the perfect activity for your kids to do in the car while driving from place to place. The Junior Ranger packets can be turned in at one of the Ranger Stations, or mailed from home after the trip.
Have you ever been to Death Valley National Park?
Follow along on our family’s adventures over on Instagram with #YoungFamilyJaunts!
