Badwater Basin – Death Valley National Park
Stand in the lowest place in North America and explore the edge of a salt flat.
| Total Distance: 0.25+ miles out & back with spurs | Elevation Gain: 27ft. (-270ft. to -280ft.) |
| Difficulty: Easy | 0-5 Mile Difficulty: Easy |
| View Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars |
| Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] | Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0] |
| Pets: In the parking lot only (no dogs on the boardwalks) | Horses: No |
| Best Seasons: October-May. Mornings December-April have the best views of Telescope Peak. | Special Permits: None |
| Water Availability: None | Overnight Options: None |
| Trailhead Amenities: Primitive Restroom | Crowd Factor: Crowded |
| Trailhead Access: 0.6 | Trail Surface: |
Uses:    | Trail Surface:   |
Features:   | Hazards:      |
Mile-by-Mile: Badwater Basin
0.0 Badwater Basin Trailhead (-270ft.). Walk either right or left to the stairs to descend down the boardwalk that goes out to the salt flats. Use care on the steps, as they are sandy. (36.229783°, -116.767435°)
0.1 Badwater Sign (-280ft.). Take your turn for a photo and read the signs nearby. Then turn to follow the boardwalk out onto the salt flats. (36.2299417°, -116.7677167°)
0.13 End of Boardwalk (-279ft.). You can continue out along the path into the salt flats as far as you want. (36.2299556°, -116.7681139°)
History & More
Badwater Basin is about 2 feet higher than the actual lowest point in North America. But it’s close enough, right?
Badwater Basin frequently has water or puddles near the boardwalk. The puddles contain quite a bit of organic life – including a species of snail only found here – despite the harsh conditions.
It’s said that “Badwater Basin” received its name when a miner tried to drink the water from the pool near the boardwalk. The water was so salty that he couldn’t drink it.
The Badwater Salt Flats are mostly made up of sodium chloride (which is just table salt), though there is also calcite, gypsum, and borax on the flats.
It’s a family tradition that we all gather around the Badwater Basin sign for a picture any time we visit. That’s included a visit when it was 120F, and we felt like we were going to fry alive, as well as more chilly winter trips.
Badwater Flats cover nearly 200 square miles on the floor of Death Valley.
Download Trail Map
Driving Directions
From the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, head south on CA-190E (a right turn if you’re coming out of the visitor center access road). After 1.3 miles, turn right onto the Badwater Road, following signs for Badwater. Drive 16.5 miles to the parking area for Badwater Basin, on right.
From Death Valley Junction, take CA-190 West 28.9 miles to the Badwater Road; turn left toward Badwater. After 16.5 miles, turn right into the Badwater Basin parking area.
From the south, drive north on the Badwater Road. Badwater Basin is on the left about 30 miles north of Ashford Junction, where the Harry Wade Road joints the Jubilee Pass Road to become the Badwater Road.
Leave No Trace Principles are enforced
Drones and model aircrafts are prohibited
Camping is permitted only in designated sites or in areas open to dispersed backcountry camping
Click here for all park rules and regulations
12 Month Pass: $55/Death Valley Annual Pass (valid at Death Valley National Park). $80/America the Beautiful Annual Pass (valid at all national park and federal fee areas). $20/Annual Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/4th Grade Pass (Valid Sept. 1-August 31 of the child’s 4th Grade school year). Free/Military Pass (valid for all active military personel and their dependents with a CAC Card or DD Form 1173).
Lifetime Pass: $80/Lifetime Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/Access Pass (available to all US citizens with perminent disabilities). Free/Access for Veterans and Gold Star Families Pass (valid for all military and veterans with a CAC card, Veteran HJealth Identification Card, Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on state-issued drivers license or identification card.)
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