Death Valley Trip

I am planning a four day (including travel) trip from Pasadena, CA to Death Valley to do some shooting. Any suggestions re best time of year (I know - not summer), places to stay, and must see sights to visit? Thanks in advance.

death valley

Stovepipe wells has always been my favorite place to stay - modest lodging at reasonable prices - no phone or tv in room is especially appealling as well. Try Furnace creek if you want a more upscale experience. Places not to miss are of course the sand dunes(literally across the highway from stovepipe wells). Also Dante's view, Zabriske Point, and Rhyolite are my favorite places. Golden Canyon is also a great spot.
Tim Jones
Climbabout.

Death Valley time of year

Concerning time of year - I always prefer early spring - late March-early April - I was fortunate to be there that time of year in 2005 and witnessed on of the most spectacular wildflower displays they had ever had.
Tim Jones

I like it just about anytime during the year. Yes, it tends to get hot and one should prepare for it, but I have been there when it was 126F and 65F; I loved them both.

I would recommend a guide book, but there are many of us here that have been there and have made some fantastic images there.

My favorite still is Zabriskie Point.

Do you plan on shooting color, or black and white, or both?

I like summer the best, it is only a few degrees warmer than Phoenix, but even in the summer you would be suprised at the number of tourists. You have a long morning and late afternoon to shoot. During the Summer the car makers test drive their new models. Off the top of my head I can't think of the town on the Nevada side that I stay in, just a couple of motels, casinos and the like but not real expensive and just outside the Park.

Beatty?

Robert Hall said:

Beatty?

Click to expand...

Yes Beatty, I have not been their in 2 or 3 years, I think I will make a trip this summer, late July and hope for the Monsoon.

Robert Hall said:

I like it just about anytime during the year. Yes, it tends to get hot and one should prepare for it, but I have been there when it was 126F and 65F; I loved them both.

I would recommend a guide book, but there are many of us here that have been there and have made some fantastic images there.

My favorite still is Zabriskie Point.

Do you plan on shooting color, or black and white, or both?

Click to expand...

Black and white 4x5 tripod stuff.

All of DV is scenic and photogenic, but the places I've enjoyed include:

Badwater - the salt flats, lowest paved road in North America. Good reflections if the salt flats are wet.

Artist Drive - The Artist Palette is gaw-jus!

Devils Golf Course - Salt and mineral lumps in the ground.

Ubehebe Crater - A must-see.

Zabriskie Point and/or Dante's View - Very good views overlooking the valley from the east.

Rhyolite, NV. Ruins of a real "ghost town", NOT a cheesy re-creation with staged gunfights and such. There are other former-town and former-industry ruins all around there if you look around.

I would consider the Race Track, but the road is really bad (really bad coming from a guy who has driven 4WD his whole life). Mateo said one should have 2 spares when traveling the road. It's 26 miles long and could take 2 and 1/2 hours to drive. It gives a new meaning to the word washboard. Of course if you make it, you get to see some really cool rocks.

I just printed my Devils Golf Course. I shot them in 4x10 and enlarged them with an unsharp mask to 10x24 and WOW, they look really good.

One thing I was going to mention as well, check out the daily report on the National Park web site. There was another flood in September that washed out other roads. Check the web site and give them a call to make sure everything you want to shoot is open regardless of when you go.

Happy shooting,