This is one of our favorite parks so far – not at all what you would expect! Despite its name – (given by a group of ’49ers who got lost on their way to the coast during the gold rush) – it is a very interesting & diverse place. It IS the hottest and driest place in North America, and it is actually the largest park in the lower 48 states with over 95% wilderness.

More on the park

We started at the Visitors Center at Furnace Creek.

Then hiked the trail through the Golden Canyon –

On to the Badwater Basin – the lowest elevation in the US at 282 ft below sea level.

The many colors of the rocks in the Artists Palette and around the park were amazing.