One late August 2023 day, Death Valley National Park had a rainfall of 2.2 inches of water. This was almost a year’s worth in one day. It left a lake where we usually see a salt-baked flat, 300 feet below sea level, at an area called Badwater Basin. 

Our climate is changing and the tropical storm having brought that rain may just be the beginning of more climatic events. Death Valley National Park had so much storm damage the park closed for a couple of months. We sometimes forget how powerful rushing water can be! However, here the landscape changed with roads destroyed and necessitating the park closure.

We’re visiting now to see how it all looks since the park re-opened mid-October. (The previous year the flooding at the park left 1,000 people stranded in the park.)

In 1933, this area about the size of Connecticut, was designated a national monument. In 1994, the 3.4 million acres of land was designated Death Valley National Park. Native American peoples once lived here, now very few remain. The elders of the Timbisha Shoshone tribe lived a distance from any park road and the once thriving borax mining industry is now only in historical exhibits.

Our hikes:

A new hike for us was Mosaic Canyon. After a distance in, you’ll see an old railing … see photo below:

The canyon floor filled in through the years so the rest of the railing and steps are under sand and rock! The beginning of the couple mile trail was gravelly and uphill. We continued along our hike with some slippery rocks to climb over. At a couple of spots towards the end of the trail, the sides of the canyon narrowed and rocks we had to climb were so smooth they provided no traction for me to grip and step with ease! Fortunately a young man was able to give me a helping hand at one point and I wished for longer legs.

Badwater Basin had always been seen by me with salt and more salt! Due to the August flooding, water created a lake here at this lowest point in the park. Here is a photo:

We hiked at a natural bridge area and looked back on the basin with the water in it too.

An area of Death Valley National Park I never miss, Mesquite Sand Dunes.

If you are planning to visit Death Valley National Park, know the temperature and prepare with sunscreen, sunglasses and water. Few places are available for food, so bring snacks and other food. Gas up your vehicle before arriving at the park since gas here is expensive and you are driving many miles from one part of the park to another. Don’t forget to check out the night sky. Few places will get better than here!