Day Itinerary
10 Activities
Day 2
296 mi
Furnace Creek, Nevada to Mammoth Lakes, California
Today's another early riser; there are simply too many adventures to be had — and a fair bit of ground to cover, plus CCS charge points. Grab a coffee or light bite at the hotel to go, if you need a little something to jump start the day. After visits to a few of intriguing Death Valley points of interest along the route, it's time for to break for breakfast at one of the only restaurants within 100 miles (not counting Furnace Creek). That may be an exaggeration, but only barely.
After charging up at a the nearest available location west of the national park, there's lunch in the Eastern Sierras town of Lone Pine, famously the gateway to hike the summit of Mt. Whitney, a 14,505-foot peak in the Sierra Nevadas that's also the tallest mountain in the Lower 48. A short scenic hike is in store for the afternoon, with more views of Whitney and the desert expanse beyond, plus a few stops along the way to Mammoth Lakes — tonight's overnight. From Death Valley to the Sierra Nevadas in a day; now that's a road trip day done right.
After charging up at a the nearest available location west of the national park, there's lunch in the Eastern Sierras town of Lone Pine, famously the gateway to hike the summit of Mt. Whitney, a 14,505-foot peak in the Sierra Nevadas that's also the tallest mountain in the Lower 48. A short scenic hike is in store for the afternoon, with more views of Whitney and the desert expanse beyond, plus a few stops along the way to Mammoth Lakes — tonight's overnight. From Death Valley to the Sierra Nevadas in a day; now that's a road trip day done right.
3.2 mi
10 min
07:1530 min
At this stop, an easy, 0.4-mile loop trail encircles the site of one of the earliest business enterprises in Death Valley. Harmony Borax Works was hugely instrumental in any sort of early development of civilization here — from roads in and out of the valley (the same ones as today, only now they're paved), to basic necessities for living in Death Valley year round.
At its height, the plant employed 40 workers, which processed 3 tons of borax a day, that had to be "shipped" out of the valley via a team of up to 20 mules pulling double wagons like the one at the site. The business shuttered after just five years (check out the link above for the full story), but there's no doubt Harmony Borax Works helped put Death Valley on the map.
At its height, the plant employed 40 workers, which processed 3 tons of borax a day, that had to be "shipped" out of the valley via a team of up to 20 mules pulling double wagons like the one at the site. The business shuttered after just five years (check out the link above for the full story), but there's no doubt Harmony Borax Works helped put Death Valley on the map.
13.2 mi
20 min
08:1530 min
Depending on what time you're visiting, Salt Creek may actually be flowing with water — right here in the middle of Death Valley. The creek is active November through May; in the spring rainy season (February through April), there's actual fish in the creek, the Salt Creek Pupfish.
A 0.5-mile easy boardwalk trail loops around the location and features interpretive signs about pupfish lifecycles and behavior, as well as their adaptations for living in Death Valley. If you're visiting during the dry season, the trail still affords a nice walk in the desert, but you also have the option to keep going for more time at the sand dunes, up next.
A 0.5-mile easy boardwalk trail loops around the location and features interpretive signs about pupfish lifecycles and behavior, as well as their adaptations for living in Death Valley. If you're visiting during the dry season, the trail still affords a nice walk in the desert, but you also have the option to keep going for more time at the sand dunes, up next.
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