Find Your Oasis

Visit Death Valley National Park and Stay at the Ranch

Oasis at Death Valley

Don’t let the name fool you. Death Valley has a completely new lodging experience that’s all about being alive! Here are five amazing ways to find your oasis in the Lower 48’s largest national park.

1) One Resort, Two Unique Stays

The new Oasis at Death Valley offers two distinct accommodations: the elegant mission-style four-diamond Inn at Death Valley, and The Ranch at Death Valley—an adventure-focused charmer with a true American West ethos.

Ideally located next to the park’s visitor center, The Ranch has a classic town square with a new restaurant, ice cream and coffee bar, general store, and the iconic Last Kind Words Saloon (which feels straight out of a Western movie).

Sample Itinerary: Float in a muscle-relaxing 87-degree spring-fed pool, explore the park’s hiking trails, and be back for a sunset dinner at The Inn Dining Room, overlooking the mountains.

After dark, relax around fire pits while staring up at the stars. Book your stay at The Oasis at Death Valley by calling (800) 236-7916.

2) Your Lowest Round—Guaranteed

Got game? The Furnace Creek Golf Course at Death Valley sure does! At 214 feet below sea level, it’s the lowest-elevation golf course in the world. It’s also one of the most scenic, with palm and tamarisk trees framing fairways and mountain views all along its 18-hole, par 70 course. (Use promo code GOLF for a good deal on the Ultimate Golf Package.) Fore sure!

Golf Death Valley

3) Shutterbug Love

The sunrise light at Zabriskie Point will make even the average photographer look like a pro. Join other photo-happy revelers and watch the sun make its entrance, slowly washing over the golden badlands at Death Valley’s signature viewpoint. Afterwards, head to the northern end of the valley to check out Ubehebe Crater, a 770-foot-deep volcanic wonder in a moonscape environment. Hike down into it, walk a mile around it, or hike 1 mile to Little Hebe Crater (recommended).

Zabriskie Point

4) Just Dune It!

Enjoy one of the world’s premier picnic spots—the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes—just 2 miles east of Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley National Park. Park on the side of Highway 190 and start walking north. The tallest dune is about a mile away, with plenty of others rolling in the foreground. Pick a dune, climb its spine, and enjoy a picnic while waiting for the show: a sunset that colors the mountains in changing shades of rose and violet. Don’t leave too soon: This is a choice spot for stargazing or watching your moonshadow.

5) Canyon Hike

Take an afternoon hike through Golden Canyon, a giant slot canyon glowing with orange, yellow, and red shades of sandstone. After a mile, take the offshoot trail toward Gower Gulch (a map is available at the visitor center). Skirt below the Manly Beacon sandstone formation, where the texture resembles swirls of giant marble ice cream. The trail runs through the quiet and narrow Gower Gulch, which is filled with old borax—Death Valley’s signature export from the 20 Mule Teams of yore.

Golden Canyon hike Death Valley

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Sponsored

    Reno Mountain High

    Take your vacation to new heights with some of the season’s most original events, and plenty of outdoors to explore. Fall for it all in Reno Tahoe.

    View
  2. Walk on the Wise Side

    A wise man once said, “Walk it off.” And San Francisco has just the place for a colorful walk via a 2.7-mile loop along Philosopher’s Way Trail in the 318-acre John McLaren Park (S

    View
  3. Hiker on the SCA trail in Marin Headlands with view of the Golden Gate Bridge

    Headlands Over Heels

    People come from all over the world to get a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. Get a dramatic and novel view of the bridge without all the people on this moderate 6-mile hike in the Marin Headlands.

    View
  4. Greater by the Dozen

    This hike is anything but a dime a dozen. The all-new "Golden Gate Dozen Trail" links 12 National Park sites on a spectacular 13-mile journey across San Francisco's coastline.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Can We Get a Whoop Whoop!

    City, mountain, and ocean views all in one hike? Whoop whoop! It’s no surprise the the Kenter Fire Road and Whoop-de-Doos Trail (a combo of fire road and singletrack) is a favorite among local mountain bikers and hikers alike.

    View
  2. The Big Chill

    In LA, finding a place to chill can be the ultimate flex. So flex, in Franklin Canyon! This unexpected oasis has plenty of shade, cool lake breezes, and ample picnicking spots. Enjoy it on an easy-going 1-mile stroll along its reservoir and duck pond.

    View
  3. Holcomb We Haven't Camped Here?

    Holcomb Valley Campground in the San Bernardino National Forest has 19 pine-shaded sites, all of them first-come, first-served.

    View
  4. Waterfall Hunter

    If you ask a local in Reno about one of the best hiking trails in town, odds are high they’ll point you to Hunter Creek Falls. It’s a year-round favorite, but it absolutely shines in spring, when desert peach wildflowers make a splash—and so does the marquee waterfall.

    View