Death Valley National Park

Our one day visit to Death Valley National Park, assures that we will return to spend more time here. It is a large area with much to see.

Dante's View was our first destination. With an elevation of 5,475 feet, it gives a magnificent view of the valley below. There was a dusting of snow here the night before our visit, as was evident wherever there was shadows from plants and rocks. If you look really closely, you can see a black line in the valley, which is the road we will be on later today.

Looking to the south from Dante's View.

These are scenes as we drive through Twenty Mule Team Canyon. If the name rings a bell, yes there is an abundance of borax here.

The road drops further into the canyon.

5,757 feet below Dante's View

They placed a sign on the cliff above us marking sea level. We have printed a line to help you spot it.

Here we are 282 feet below sea level with a wonderful view of Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet.

Must have been some recent rain, as there was water in the Badwater Basin. As you can see, most of the area is covered with salt, as far as the eye can see.

Here you can see the salt crust that remains when the water evaporates.

Our next excursion was on Artists Drive. The colors were amazing.

Artists Palette

These next three photos are representative of the variety of rock layers found here.

Joshua Tree National Park, 2 trails

We had the pleasure of spending another day with our son Christopher and share with him a day in Joshua Tree National Park. We decided on two short trails today, the Barker Dam and Hidden Valley trails.

A bee hovering over a snow white flower.

More spring flowers in bloom. Most desert wildflowers are yellow, but there are many varieties.

This hummingbird enjoys the flowers too.

Interesting rocks provide some shade.

Erosion can create some abstract art.

Lizard enjoying the warm sun.

A smaller lizard scampering along the rocks.

There was actually water behind the Barker Dam.

Cactus flowers near our path in the Hidden Valley.

Joshua Tree branches reaching for the skies.

Joshua trees are very unique and each has it's own beauty, kind of like people.

The moon rising between the rock formations.

Joshua Tree National Park, Mastodon Peak Hike

Joshua Tree National Park is much more than just about the trees. (Actually, they are not really trees, but members of the yucca family.) It is also known for it's interesting rock formations. This day we went on the Mastodon Peak Hike. Hiking anywhere in the spring, with the flowers in bloom, adds so much to the experience.

Here we are almost to the top, where we stopped to eat our backpack lunch. There is no finer restaurant than this.

Mastodon Peak up close and personal. Only a few rocks to climb up to the top.

Chocolate chip cookies, yumm!

Actually, they are just some large rocks along our walk.

Most of the animals who dwell in the desert are night creatures, but we do see many lizards scampering about during the day.

Could not resist taking some more flower pictures. Here are a few we will share with you.

Desert asters

Close up of Apricot Globe Mallow.

A very small fish hook cactus catches our eye.

Hedge hog cactus bloom

Purple prickly pear cactus in bloom

Painted Canyon / Ladder Canyon Hike

From the south entrance to Joshua Tree, we drove down Box Canyon Road to the dirt Painted Canyon Road. At the end of the road, we hiked the trail through an amazing slot canyon. Some areas were pretty narrow and there were numerous ladders, some wood with worn rungs and some new aluminum ones.

Larry at the bottom of the painted canyon.

A cool place to hide between some boulders. Any snakes in there?

The entrance to the slot canyon which nature has tried to conceal with rock slides. We climbed up and over the huge rocks anyway.

Looking down the ladder we just climbed.

A look ahead in the canyon.

Looking up the canyon walls.

Looking straight up at the narrow ribbon on sunlight.

Looking down at where we just were. You can almost hear water rushing between the rock walls.

A side canyon looks inviting, but we stay on our path.

We finally reached the top. We take a few minutes to enjoy the view, before clamoring back down.

A look over our shoulder at the painted canyon, as we head back home.