California – Zabriskie Point, Death Valley
One of the most visited areas of Death Valley National Park, Zabriskie Point is an overlook of light, sand-color badlands. Zabriskie Point is near the southeastern entrance to the park, so great to stop by when entering or leaving Death Valley. Popular and easy-to-access, this overlook can get busy, but is a gorgeous overlook of the area and into Death Valley.
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Zabriskie Point, Death Valley
Arriving
With many signs along the road, it is not difficult to find Zabriskie Point. There is a parking lot with non-flushing toilets. From the parking lot, you climb a large hill to a vista overlook of the badlands. We arrived to Zabriskie Point at about 10 am, coming from the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Because it was mid-December, there were not the overwhelming crowds I read about. 😀
The View from Zabriskie Point
At the top of the hill, which is a nice little climb, you will see views of the badlands in 180+ degree views. The badlands were once a lake bed and have eroded to form wrinkled hills in a light sandy color. When looking toward Death Valley, on the right, you can see the tops of the Red Cathedral. Just the day before, when we did the Golden Canyon Hike, we were at the Red Cathedral attempting to figure out which way Zabriskie Point was. It turns out, it was just around the corner. You can walk around Zabriskie Point or even join up with the Golden Valley Hike from the overlook. Since we were on our way out of the park, we kept our visit brief.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 3 (out of 4) stars, would do it again if I were in the area.
- Intensity: Flats and a cute sweater.
- Location: Southeastern entrance of Death Valley National Park.
- Restrooms: Non-flushing toilets in the parking lot.
Highlights:
- Beautiful views of the weathered hills.
- You can recreate U2’s album cover Joshua Tree.
Lowlights:
- One of the most visited areas in the park.
Other Fun Facts About Zabriskie Point
The highest point of the badlands is called Manly Beacon, not because it stands up strong. Instead, the name is from a guide who lead some ill-fated 49ers out of Death Valley. Also, U2 album cover for Joshua Tree is shot at Zabriskie Point. It has also shown up in a couple different movies in the 60’s and 70’s as well as being a crucial location in a couple novels. It does sound mysterious, right?
What’s your favorite place in Death Valley National Park? Let us know in the comments!
Happy Travels,
Hanna
Pack THis for Death Valley
