Badwater Flats – Death Valley National Park
Walk across Death Valley on Badwater Salt Flats.
| Total Distance: 6.4 mile shuttle or 11.6 miles out & back | Elevation Gain: 420ft. (-253ft. to -282ft.) |
| Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous | 10+ Mile Difficulty: Moderately Strenuous |
| View Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 5.0 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: No | Horses: No |
| Best Seasons: November-April; impassable in wet weather | Special Permits: None |
| Water Availability: None | Overnight Options: None unless you continue to the roads off of the West Side Road, where dispersed camping is allowed after a mile. |
| Trailhead Amenities: Primitive Restroom | Crowd Factor: Solitude after Badwater Basin |
| Trailhead Access: 0.6 | |
Uses:     | Trail Surface:    |
Features:  | Hazards:      |
Mile-by-Mile: Badwater Flats
0.0 Badwater Basin Trailhead (-270ft.). Walk either right or left to the stairs to descend down to the boardwalk that goes out to the salt flats. Follow the trail out across the salt flats to where the trail more or less ends in the vast whiteness/brown of the flats. After the trail ends, strike out as straight as possible across the salt flats toward the opposite side. The tread is not easy walking; ridges in the salt flats must be stepped over almost constantly (don’t wreck the beauty of the salt flats by stepping on the ridges). The ridges often contain small salt arches, salt bubbles, or other interesting features. Depending on current conditions, some parts of the salt flats will be pure white. Others will be brown. This is normal. If an area is wet, do not step there – your footprints might last a very, very long time before being washed away. (36.229783°, -116.767435°)
5.8 Vegetation (-269ft.). Once you hit vegetation, you know you have walked across Death Valley. Congratulations! You can either retrace your steps to Badwater Basin or continue to Shortys Well on the West Side Road. (36.227403°, -116.870171°)
6.4 Shortys Well Parking Area (-253ft.). Pick up your shuttle vehicle or retrace your steps to Badwater Basin. (36.226617°, -116.880546°)
History & More
Badwater Basin is about 2 feet higher than the actual lowest point in North America. You might or might not cross a place that’s the famous -282ft. below sea level. But it’s close enough, right?
At times, the area between the salt ridges may fill up with water. While this can make for dramatic photos, don’t try to walk on the soft mud. Not only might you get stuck, but your footprints will last a long time, even for years.
It’s said that Badwater Flats received its name from Badwater Basin. A miner tried to drink the water from the pool near the boardwalk, but the water was so salty that he couldn’t drink it.
Badwater Flats cover nearly 200 square miles on the floor of Death Valley.
The ridges of salt are created as water seeps up through the salt flats and evaporates.
The 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. Don’t trip and fall down – that salt is sharp!
Shortys Well is named for a gold prospecter who came to Death Valley in 1887. “Shorty” Alexander Zachariah Borden never struck it rich on a claim, but his well near the West Side Road brought him fame that continues to this day.
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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