Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park, with its sand dunes, salt flats, and mysterious moving rocks, contains some of the country's most extreme environmental extremes. Death Valley has some of the lowest elevations in the country, with summer temperatures regularly reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The Badwater Basin region of the park, which is filled with polygon salt formations, provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore 280 feet below sea level.

Spring is the busiest season for visitors to Death Valley National Park, with the best chance of seeing a wildflower super bloom from late March to early April. Other dynamic desert environments can be found throughout the park, such as exploding salt crystals at the Devils Golf Course and mountain-sized sand dunes at Mesquite Flats. The Furnace Creek area of the park, which serves as a base camp for many visitors, has amenities such as a visitor center and a variety of lodging options, including seasonal campgrounds.