There’s something magical and mysterious about the idea of spending time in a place called Death Valley.
Death Valley is one of the United States’ treasured National Parks and it can be both desolate and beautiful.
There are plenty of places to go hiking, and the Death Valley National Park website has heaps of suggested itineraries.
With enticing and intriguing names like Gower Gulch Loop, desolation canyon, Badwater Saltflat and Dante’s Ridge, you’ll be overwhelmed with choice of which hikes to do.
The marked routes take you through colourful badlands, old borax mines, and canyon trailsColorful badlands, canyon narrows, old borax mines. On some of them, you’ll have to scramble down dry falls. There are handouts for all the trails in the Visitor Centre, so there’s little chance of getting lost if you stick to the paths.
The harsh terrain and extreme variations in temperature in Death Valley mean that you should make adequate preparations before heading off on a hike there.
Before heading out, make sure you have enough water and food, as well as protection from the sun (sunscreen and a hat).
Use a layering system for your clothing, as temperatures can change remarkably quickly in Death Valley. A good base layer of thermals will give you core body warmth, and don’t forget to make sure you wear a base layer on your legs too. Add a middle layer of insulation – clothing made out of microfleece can be very efficient mid layer garments. Finally make sure you have a waterproof shell layer on top to keep you dry, and to protect you from wind chill. Outdoor brands like Craghoppers sell hiking jackets that are designed for different walking environments, and offer different levels of protection against the elements.
Don’t head out on your own without telling someone which route you plan on taking and how long you anticipate being on your hike.