12 Dark Secrets Of Death Valley National Park

Artist's Drive And Palette

Image Source: Reddit

This very beautiful and luxurious sight is one of Death Valley National Parks best kept secrets! If you are visiting Death Valley then you absolutely must take the time to drive around the glorious mountain formations and the many different colours of rock and various patterns that have been imprinted on the rocks due to chemical weathering and hydrothermal alteration.Original content at Quizzable.com

Badwater Salt Flats Basin

Image Source: Reddit 

The Badwater Salt Flats Basin is a truly great sight to behold with its grey cracked floor due to the vast amount of salt lying within the ground creating beautiful natural patterns. The Badwater Salt Flats Basin is known to be the lowest point in North America. This beautiful piece of scenery is at is best during sunrise or sunset as the light and is one the national parks best kept secrets.

The Devil's Golf Course

Image Source: Reddit

Do you ever fancy shooting a few holes whilst out in the desert on vacation? Well a secret being kept from you is that you can at Death Valley National Parks' Devil's Golf Course is the place for you! This nickname arisen from a line in the National Park Service guide 1934 "Only the devil could play golf" because of its texture and many different cracks and divots along the large salt pan floor.

Golden Canyon

Image Source: Reddit

Another one of Death Valley National Parks' best kept secrets is another truly mind-blowing piece of scenery! The Golden Canyon is a magnificent three mile hike that you can embark on when you visit the park. This walk is an absolute must because of its many different rock formations and mountains that provide for some great places to explore your adventurous side.

Mesquite Falls Sand Dune

Image Source: Reddit

The Death Valley National Park is truly one of America's greatest sights has to be the truly unique and stunning sight of the Mesquite Flats Sand Dune. The formation of these canyons are due to the different geographical factors surrounding the area. The rough and varying edges of the canyons were formed due to the strong winds that flow through it and erosion over time.

Zabriskie Point

Image Source: Reddit

Coming in as one of the most popular spots in Death Valley National Park, Zabriskie Point is an area many tourists come to for an enjoyable hike but they may not want you to know the dark secret behind how it was formed. The formation of the ground was due to the existence of Lake Manly. The rocks are sedimentary rocks formed from the ash and gravel of the Black Mountain Volcano.

Harmony Borax Works

Image Source: Reddit

Another of Death Valley National Parks best locations to visit is the Harmony Borax Works. This is a big part of the history of Death Valley and is now considered an outdoor museum. The dark secret of the Harmony Borax Works is that in the 1800's it was a very popular mining site where many would work in the burning hot sun with little breaks. The remains of the mining site are still standing to this day.

Large Presence Of Ghost Towns

Image Source: Reddit

Death Valley National Park is a truly wonderful place to visit but there are many things that you would not expect to see when you read about its beauty and wonderful hiking spots. One of its darkest secrets is its numerous different ghost towns that exist in it jurisdiction. You may find it interesting to go and explore the abandoned jail houses and bank building that are now used for filming.

You Can Go Stargazing

Image Source: Reddit

When you think of Death Valley National Park you typically think of the wonderful naturally formed canyons and salt basins as well as its wonderful walking trails but one of the biggest secrets of Death Valley is that its beauty is in the sky. Due to the lack of light pollution in the vast valley its a perfect place to take your telescope and lookout under the extraordinary beauty of the night sky.

The Perfect Place For A Picnic Is Zabriskie Point

Image Source: Reddit

This epic park located around the borders of California and Nevada is a highly popular location for both tourists and locals alike to go and spend a nice day exploring the beautiful sights of nature that it beholds. But a hidden secret is the perfect place to settle down and refuel with a nice relaxing picnic. Well the perfect place for this is the gorgeous Zabriskie Point where there are plenty of places to lay down your picnic blanket and tuck in!

The Terrible Incidents Due To The Heat

Image Source: Reddit

The Death Valley National Park is brilliant place to strap on your hiking boots and explore so many different staggering pieces of scenery and a place millions of people visit every year. But a Dark Secret the Park would not want you to know is that during the summer there are casualties due to the heat and people wondering off of the trails, falling victims to the sun. So make sure to prepare appropriately when you visit the park

The Best Times To Visit The Park

Image Source: Reddit

Due to the health risks that come with the extreme temperatures of Death Valley it ca be difficult to work out when is best to visit and due to the park wanting to remain popular all year round this is not information they want to give out. The secret to visiting in the best temperatures is to go during the spring or the fall as this is when the temperatures at at the most bearable and the landscape starts to bloom.

Ensure You Have A Map

Image Source: Reddit

Although, there are many different trials and popular paths to explore when you visit Death Valley National Park and is host to many tourists every year. But a dark secret that the park is keeping from you is that these paths are extremely difficult to navigate and are not well signed. So if you are to visit this beautiful place then make sure you have a map to keep you on the right track.

Where To Stay When Visiting Death Valley?

Image Source: Reddit

Due to the vast amount of people who come to visit the Death Valley National Park each year it can become very difficult to find a place to stay or to camp out. But one of the dark secrets of the park is that there are some small towns surrounding the park and many do not like tourists coming to their town despite the money they may bring in to the small business that reside there.

The Park Is Not made For Certain Vehicles

Image Source: Reddit

There are many different ways to try and explore the park including hiking, cycling and driving giving you opportunity to enjoy the truly magnificent natural sights in whichever you will find most enjoyable! But a secret they keep from you in advertising is that not all trails are accessible in all of these ways and you will have to choose an appropriate mode of transport to tackle the treacherous landscape that lies within.

Go For A Beautiful Days Camping

Image Source: Reddit

Death Valley National Park is know for a varying amount of attractions alongside its gorgeous natural canyons and mountains with plenty of different trails to keep you occupied. But one of the darkest secrets of Death Valley is that there is only one official campsite! If you are planning a nice weekend to explore the park then you will need to act quickly as bookings are hard to come by!

Explore The Unusual Terrain

Image Source: Reddit

Death Valley National Park is known for its vast amounts of different terrain, canyons and salt basins but there is a dark secret behind how these surfaces were formed. Much of the landscape within Death Valley National Park is thought to be almost moonlike like and this is because of the jagged formations of the rocks and craters caused by hundreds of years of salt erosion amongst the rocks.

Try To Spot Some Of The Wildlife

Image Source: Reddit 

As a national park the area is protected by the US government and that extends to only the terrain but to the animals living within it as well. One of the darkest secrets kept from the public is the different kinds of wildlife that live within Death Valley as this may put off tourists from visiting the park. Although the park is very safe there are some animals such as foxes, cougars that may lurk around from time to time.

Check Out The Results Of A Volcanic Eruption

Image Source: Reddit

It is well known the many different beautiful sights that exist within the glorious Death Valley National Park and the many areas that you can explore. But one of the best sights to see is the Ubehebe Crater. The dark secret around this crater is that it was formed due to a volcanic eruption many years ago but don't worry that volcano is now dormant and makes this crater a safe and beautiful thing to visit.

Fearful Freezing Weather Conditions

Image Source: Reddit

It is no secret that you would expect the Death Valley National Park to be hot which causes the dry and dusty landscape that it has become known for but that still has not stopped people from visiting. However a dark secret about the National Park is that during the winter temperatures drop below freezing at night and causes a lot of issues for unprepared travellers or campers.

Visit Iconic Star Wars Locations

Image Source: Reddit

As a kid did you ever lay in bed at night wondering what it could be like to be a part of the brilliant Star Wars universe? Well what if you got this opportunity? Within the beauty that is the Death Valley National Park lie the secrets of planet Tatooine. Yes, if you want to know what it felt like to be a young Anakin or Luke Skywalker then head over to Death Valley National Park to explore the settings in which these scenes were filmed.

Be Very Cautious Of The Smaller Wildlife

Image Source: Reddit

It is hard to think of Death Valley as nothing but a beautiful place to visit when you look at the different sights and search the gorgeous terrain on the internet. However, a dark secret that the park is keeping from you is that due to the different insects and small creatures living in the park it may be aptly named. Be careful not to disturb any black widow spiders, scorpions or even rattlesnakes of your journey as an encounter may be fatal.

Ensure That You Have Supplies

Image Source: Reddit

Visiting Death Valley National Park is magnificent experience that you should definitely explore if you are given the chance but it is essential that you research it first and are aware of its dark secrets. One of these dark secrets is that if you try to tackle this terrain without the appropriate supplies of food and equipment then it may become fatal as the journey is very tiring and requires a lot of energy to get through.

Do Not Depend On Your Phone

Image Source: Reddit

Typically when you are away somewhere unknown or exploring the wonders of the outdoors you use your phone to guide you and keep you on the right track. But one of the most important dark secrets that Death Valley National Park keeps from you is that there is no cell service in the park therefore ensure that you are not solely relying on your phone to get you to where you want to go!

Be Prepared For The Change In The Altitude

Image Source: Reddit

One of the biggest and darkest secrets surrounding Death Valley National Park is the vast changes in altitude throughout the park. This can make exploring the park very dangerous as when you are going from a low altitude to a high altitude it can cause a serious shock to your respiratory system causing a shortness of breath as well as nausea making your trip rather unenjoyable.

Make Sure You Are Prepared For All Temperatures

Image Source: Reddit

Death Valley National Park is definitely a place that all hikers and adventurous must go to explore in their life times due its brilliant landscape and beautiful scenery. But a secret they will not tell you when you embark on your journey is that you should pack clothing for all different temperatures as the park is known for its ever changing temperatures going from boiling to freezing in no time.

It Is A Designated Dark Sky Park

Image Source: Reddit 

Death Valley National Park is one of the largest areas of the United States that is unencumbered by vast amounts of light pollution. Therefore it holds a literal dark secret. Death Valley National Park is an International Dark Sky Park which makes it one of the best places to visit during a new moon as the lack of man made and natural light makes for a truly staggering view of our wonderful solar system.

Explore The Many Different Canyons

Image Source: Reddit

There are so many great things to do when you visit the Death Valley national park that many people know to visit. But a great secret is to go off and explore the of other canyons around the park and explore the beautiful mosaic canyon. It is a 4 mile walk and you can see the wonderful different colours of the rocks and follow some bright and beautiful formations for your journey!

Make Sure That You Remain Hydrated

Image Source: Reddit

Typically visitors of the Death Valley National Park will look to spend an entire day there exploring some of the outstanding pieces of natural scenery that America has to offer and therefore hikers must be very prepared to tackle the heat and terrain. One way to do this is to ensure you take plenty of water and remain hydrated as a dark secret of the park is that many people have to be saved by park rangers due to them being dehydrated.

Do Not Drive On The Rough Terrain

Image Source: Reddit

Millions of people love to explore the wonderful natural landscapes of Death Valley National Park every year. Death Valley is a large park and therefore many choose to drive to explore all of its beauties but it is crucial that they choose the right vehicle and stay away from certain landscapes as one of the dark secrets of the park is that its terrain causes thousands of dollars worth of damage every single year.