We made this trip over three days in December; even then, Death Valley National Park was warm during the day and cold at night. Therefore, I would warn against going there in summer, where it could be unbearably hot.

Day 1

We entered from the west side and started our trip with Darwin Falls. The falls are not massive, but given that the desert surrounds them, it is a site worth visiting. We only did the first falls, and those will four-wheel drive can drive 2 miles to the second falls.

A waterfall cascading over rocks in a natural setting, surrounded by lush greenery

From there, we headed to Mosaic Canyons and hiked there.

A narrow rocky canyon with layered rock formations, displaying striations and smooth surfaces. The path suggests a natural hiking trail through Mosaic Canyon's distinctive geology.

We camped at the Furnace Creek campground. Away from the light pollution, the night was starry and serene.

A tent is set up in the serene, starry night at Furnace Creek campground, with minimal light pollution highlighting the night sky.

Day 2

On the second day, we started early morning and headed to Corkscrew Peak . It’s a strenuous 9.5 miles, but views from the top make it worth it. And since it’s mostly gravel, the chance of losing the trail is pretty high. Never lose tracks of grottos (man-made stone piles of stones on top of each other).

A rocky path lined with man-made stone piles, known as grottos, indicating hiking trail markers in a natural setting.
Hiking trip, finishing with a visit to Corkscrew Peak by midday.

We were done with Corkscrew Peak by the middle of the day and post-lunch. We first headed to Dante’s View , followed by the Badwater Basin , which, for a long while, was the lowest point on the planet.

A landscape photograph taken at sunrise at Zabriskie Point, capturing the desert terrain with a backdrop of colorful sky

Day 3

We started the day with sunrise at Zabriskie Point , highly recommended.

A landscape photo of Zabriskie Point, Death Valley National Park, features rugged rock formations under a clear sky. The area is a popular hiking and casual rock climbing destination.

Nature Bridge road is nearby, and if you are into casual rock climbing, then carry gloves. The hike otherwise is relatively uneventful.

Hiking
A rocky, uneven terrain stretches across a desert landscape under a clear blue sky, indicating a barren, rugged environment. The location is identified as Devil's Golf Course.

Next, we headed to the Devil’s Golf Course , which wasn’t that good, and I would recommend skipping it if you are running short on time.

A scenic photograph of a desert landscape with mountains under a clear blue sky, taken in the evening light, capturing the natural beauty and tranquility of the location.

Afterward, we drove through the artist’s drive, and it was a bit late in the evening. If you are in Death Valley, you might as well do it, but nothing outstanding about it.

A vast desert landscape under a clear sky in Death Valley

Overall, it’s a highly recommended experience for nature lovers.

Note:

  1. Do carry a lot of water, sometimes you would be hours away from water, and even in December, getting a heat stroke is not impossible in Death Valley.
  2. There were few things which we couldn’t do, Harmony Borax Works , Borax Museum , and The racetrack due to the lack of four-wheel drive and being short on time.