Death Valley Sunset and Stargazing Tour: Dante's View, Badwater and Zabriskie
Difficulty
easy
Duration
12 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels; involves short, mostly easy walks and standing at viewpoints.
Overview
Spend a day crossing Death Valley’s extremes — from Dante’s View ridge to Badwater’s salt flats — and finish under one of the darkest skies in the U.S. This full-day, small-group tour combines geology, sunset panoramas and guided stargazing for photographers and first-time park visitors.
Death Valley Sunset and Stargazing Tour: Dante's View, Badwater and Zabriskie
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You step out of the van and the air is a different animal — cool up on the ridge at Dante’s View, thin and clean enough to sharpen the horizon. The valley spreads below like a map written in salt and shadow: Badwater Basin’s white flats sitting 282 feet below sea level, the Panamint Range rising like a wall, and the last sun catching colors at Artist’s Palette. The guide points, you breathe, and the day rearranges itself into a handful of scenes worth remembering.
Adventure Photos
Adventure Tips
Carry extra water
Even though bottled water is provided, bring a 1–2L refillable bottle for the day; desert heat can dehydrate quickly.
Layer for temperature swings
Temperatures drop fast after sunset — pack a warm layer even if daytime temps are hot.
Watch your footing at Badwater
Salt crusts can be slick or sharp — wear closed-toe shoes and avoid walking on thin crusts away from the trail.
Check moon phase
A full moon drowns out stars; plan around the lunar calendar if stargazing matters to you.
Local Insights
Wildlife
- Desert bighorn sheep
- Kit fox
History
The Timbisha Shoshone have lived in and traversed Death Valley for centuries; the valley later saw borax mining and early rail camps that shaped regional settlement patterns.
Conservation
Death Valley’s dark skies and fragile soils are vulnerable; stay on roads and marked trails, pack out trash, and follow Leave No Trace principles to protect night-sky viewing and desert crusts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Recommended Gear
2 liters of water (reusable bottle)
Hydration is critical in the desert; refill where possible and carry extra.
summer specific
Sun protection (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses)
Direct sun and reflective salt flats increase UV exposure.
summer specific
Warm jacket or fleece
Nighttime temperatures can be sharply colder, especially at higher elevations.
fall specific
Sturdy closed-toe shoes
Good traction and protection for salt flats, short climbs and gravel paths.