Villages, Ruins & Good Food: Death Valley March 2008

We've been to Death Valley many times, but this was the best. Perfect weather for 5 straight days. Mid-80s during the day, down to 55 at night, almost no wind. Three great days of hiking and touring:

1. Up Cottonwood Canyon from our camp, to the right turn to Marble Canyon. Good long hike up the canyon to the Fourth Narrows. A full day of hiking. The road is a somewhat tricky 4WD, though passable in almost any SUV.

2. Up Gower Gulch and then down Golden Canyon. A great half day of hiking with splendid views. For extra credit, you can go up to Zabriskie Point and mix with the cars. We did not.

3. Titus Canyon, with a great hike to the top of a knob near Red Pass. This hike is not mentioned in the otherwise excellent Hiking Death Valley by Michel Diconnet. It is shown on the National Geographic hiking map of Death Valley National Park. Then on to Ubehebe Crater, where we took the grand tour of all three craters and walked the circumference of the main crater.

The company: Andy, his two classmates Kyle and Kevin, and Dr. Bob

In Marble Canyon

The view from below Zabriskie Point on the Golden Canyon Trail

The Devil's Golf Course with snow-covered Telescope Peak in the background

Camp in Cottonwood Canyon

View north from Little Ubehebe Crater

Looking across the little crater

Marble Canyon