Death Valley Scenic Byway

A straight highway in Death Valley seems to stretch forever.

This view shows the Argus Mountain Range and Panamint Valley from Father Crowley Point.

This view looks at the Panamint Valley. It can be seen to the east of milepost 48.6.

California's Death Valley Scenic Byway receives their designation plaque at the Designation 2002 event at Union Station in Washington DC.

The view from Zabriskie Point is worth stopping for.

Travelers make their way up to Zabriskie Point.

The interpretive sign describes the history of Zabriskie Point.

A look at the entrance to Death Valley's Borax Museum.

Exhibits line the walls within the Borax Museum.

Exhibits line the walls within the Borax Museum.

A group stands before the Death Valley Museum and Visitor Center.

This is a shot of the front wall of Death Valley Museum and visitor center.

The Gold Arrastra stands outside the Borax Museum.

This view shows Rainbow Canyon and the Argus Mountain Range as seen to the west at milepost 45.00.

Colorful and crystal-clear views of the entire valley are captured from Dante's View.

The curves and hills of the Black Mountains can be captured from a high peak above known as Dante's View.

Follow this windy road through the Black Mountains to reach Dante's View.

Far across a mineral-strewn valley from Dante's View, one can see Telescope Peak, the highest point in the Panamint Mountains.

The erratic, wavy patterns of the Furnace Creek Badlands are visable from this point high above.

Small pools of water are located in Badwater, at an astounding 279 feet below sea level!

A small spring in the middle of the salt flats does little to provide relief on a scorching Death Valley day- the water isn't drinkable.

An astounding view of the Panamint Mountains can be witnessed from Badwater.

One of the most fascinating aspects of Death Valley are the geometric patterns and feeling of desolation you will find on the Salt Flats.

Composed of 1,000 foot thick chlorides and sediments, the Salt Flats are eerily desolate.

Dante's View in the Black Mountains is considered the most magnificent view of Death Valley.

Badwater, 282 feet below sea-level, can be seen in its entirety from Dante's View.

An old Borax prospect from the 1800s is still open today near Furnace Creek.

The parched earth and distant hills of Furnace Creek Wash make up some of the most fascinating landscapes of Death Valley.

The Furnace Creek Badlands illustrate the geologic wonders of Death Valley nicely.

The peaks and points of the Furnace Creek Badlands are captured beautifully from this vantage point.

Scattered formations and rocks dot the Furnace Creek Badlands.

Wind-smoothed rocky terrain and bright blue sky create a spectacular backdrop for an unforgettable drive.

The Furnace Creek Cut leads the eye into the distant mountains.

The entrance to the Furnace Creek Ranch invites visitors to the Furnace Creek area.

Dark, rough terrain makes up the landscape of Lower Furnace Creek Wash.

An aerial view of the Furnace Creek Badlands captures the shapes and patterns of the valley.

Fantastic views of Death Valley are seen from this vantage point high above Furnace Creek.

One of the apparent mysteries of Death Valley is that of the sliding rocks on Racetrack Playa. How the rocks slide across the completely level, dry surface is the subject of countless hypotheses.

Chemically altered limestone and hematite provide eerily beautiful landscapes in the Black Mountains.

Artist's Drive is shaded in colors created by lime deposits and chemicals in the soil. Here, greens and blues tint the Black Mountains.

A hiker winds through the canyon narrows.

The wind changes the surface of the sand dunes each day.

Layers and layers of rock lead to the distant Red Cathedral, shown on the right.

Manly Beacon was named after two men named Manly and Rogers who hiked 500 miles to Los Angeles and back to get help for stranded emigrants in Death Valley.

Visitors to Death Valley take in the impressive views from Aguereberry Point.

View the rugged geology of Gower Gulch from many vantage points above the Badlands.

Late afternoon creeps over the pastel-colored Badlands of Death Valley.

Colorful rock formations shaped by wind and weather create a subdued landscape in the Badlands in Death Valley.

Badlands Wash is composed of layers and patterns of weather-beaten rock.

Late afternoon casts sunrays over the muted yellows and oranges of Gower Gulch.

Named after a legendary gold seeker William Manly, who helped his party survive being lost in Death Valley, Manly Beacon is located at Golden Canyon.

A lovely view of Manly Beacon can be seen from the Badlands.

An old charcoal kiln from the silver mining era of Death Valley still stands despite harsh weather and wind.

Snow dusts a line of charcoal kilns in Death Valley. During silver and Borax mining in the 1800s, these kilns were used to turn pinon pine to coal to run the smelters at the Modoc Mine.

Astoundingly lush and green compared to other Death Valley landscapes, the 30 foot Darwin Falls in the Panamint region is one stop travelers must take.

A mere half-hour hike from the road, Darwin Falls is a surprise to travelers who have seen the rest of the dry Death Valley landscape.

Darwin Falls cascades over craggy rocks year-round.

An ancient lakeshore is located near Mormon Point in Badwater.

Visitors may be surprised to find water in Death Valley, but don't drink it! The taste lives up to its name in Badwater!

The sun begins to light up Golden Canyon, bringing out the rich tones of the rock.

Best when viewed in the afternoon, Golden Canyon's namesake is realized when its golden hues are brought out by sunshine.

The gold-hued Manly Beacon contrasts brilliantly with the blue sky at Golden Canyon.

400-foot high Red Cathedral in Golden Canyon is stained red from iron-oxide and contrasts fantastically with the yellow-hued Golden Canyon below and blue skies above.

These vast salt flats, called Cottonball Marsh, make up the view from the Harmony Borax Mines.

Once the life blood of the Death Valley region, Borax mining was highly dependent on the Harmony Borax Works, which was made up of several industrial buildings.

The ruins of Harmony Borax tell the story of the Borax mining industry which makes up so much of the history of Death Valley.

Located at the abandoned works is some of the old equipment used to mine Borax. Look for interpretive signs at the site to learn more about the uses for some of the curious equipment.

One of the most important parts of the mining process was hauling Borax to the railhead at Mojave for transport. A team of 20 mules had to pull this enormous wagon to get the product onto the train.

The mouth of Mosaic Canyon entices hikers to visit Tucki Mountain.

Years of weather have smoothed the layers of sediment rock in Mosaic Canyon.

Layers of rock sediments in various hues make the "walls" of the narrows.

Layers of earth and sediments comprise the stripey walls of Mosaic Canyon.

Stratum of sediments and minerals make up the fascinating geology of Mosaic Canyon.

Mosaic Canyon gained its name from these fascinating mosaics of rock fragments that cemented themselves to canyon walls during a rainstorm flood.

Hikers will reach upper Mosaic Canyon by way of trails comprised of smooth marble and breccia walls and formations carved out of layers of sediment and minerals.

This natural bridge in Natural Bridge Canyon is only one of many geological wonders in Death Valley.

A visitor wonders at the puzzle of a sliding rock that makes a curved trail on Racetrack Playa.

Manly Beacon, towering over the Furnace Creek Badlands, served as a natural compass for lost miners.

Composed of cemented gravel and weathered to exist in its current state, Red Cathedral is one of the most fascinating sites in Death Valley.

Red Cathedral is caught in afternoon light, bringing out the rich crimsons and coppers of the rock.

The wind makes striking wave patterns in the golden sand dunes of Death Valley.

A visitor walks through the golden sand dunes at Death Valley.

Tracks of insects, lizards and birds are left on the surface of the white sand dunes.

Desert foliage breaks up the vast sand fields of Death Valley.

The surface of the sand dunes are constantly changing due to wind and weather.

When the surface of the dunes get wet, the rapid drying causes the earth to become marked in unusual geometric patterns.

The grounds of Scotty's Castle are depicted from a window in the Power House.

Built by a flamboyant mine promoter in the early 1900s, Scotty's Castle is open for "living history" tours offered by the Park Service.

The "J" on the gate stands for Albert Johnson, a wealthy insurance man who funded one of Scotty's goldmines. The "S" stands for Walter Scott, better known as "Death Valley Scotty."

Visitors wander inside the castle museum and learn about the legend of Scotty's Castle .

An exhibit at the Scotty's Castle museum showcases the history of the man behind the castle and artifacts from the castle collection.

Interpretive displays inside the museum discuss the significance of Scotty's Castle to the history of Death Valley.

Shallow pools of water exist for only days in Death Valley. Most water evaporates as quickly as it comes.

Carbonates, sulfates, and chlorides compose the surface of the Salt Flats. Strange formations and bumps are sculpted by wind and rain.

Learning about the creation of the interesting features of the valley is one of the most exciting parts of the Death Valley experience.

A trip to Rhyolite's famous bottle house is well-worth the side trip from Death Valley.

Stucco slabs composed of bottlecaps form the walls of the Bottle House in Rhyolite, NV.

This turn-of-the-century mining town has been abandoned for years, but still provides an intriguing glimpse into the lives of miners who populated this town.

The quirkiest attraction in Rhyolite, the Bottle House will be sure to catch your attention.

Just east of Death Valley is Rhyolite, NV, one of the largest ghost mining towns in the country.

Once the center of mining and commerce, Rhyolite now tells the story of the emergence-- and conclusion-- of the mining boom of Death Valley.

A 500-foot deep hole created by bulging magma underneath the surface of the earth now gives this section of Death Valley an otherwordly appearance.

An aerial shot of the Ubehebe Crator looks like a view of another planet entirely.

This stone, dirt and wood dugout in Leadfield is evidence of past lead mining in Death Valley.

Fascinating geology lines this trail in Titus Canyon.

Ancient petroglyphs on the walls of Klare Spring in Death Valley's Titus Canyon are still well preserved for visitors to see.

A view of Red Canyon switchbacks from Titus Canyon shows off more of the fascinating shape and color of Death Valley's geography.

Three of the highest peaks in the Panamint Mountains can be seen from across the valley at Dante's View.

This junction sign was started by one visitor who hung a teakettle and a note to other travelers.

Telescope Peak, one of the highest points in the Panamint Range, can be seen from Dante's View.

The unusual colors and patterns of Thimble Peak are illustrated in this view from White Pass.

The walls of Titus Canyon are composed of layers of condensed sediments.

The view from Red Pass shows the layers of mountains, hills, and formations you will see from a day-hike through Titus Canyon.

The shallow roots of the Beavertail Cactus have allowed it to flourish in the dry Death Valley earth.

One of the most common forms of cacti in the Death Valley region is the Cholla Cactus, most notable for its green flowers.

Fields of yellow flowers extend to the distant mountains.

A brilliant orange Mariposa blossom contrasts nicely with its drab surroundings.

Purple Mojave Asters are common in even the driest areas of Death Valley.

The brilliant red of the Indian Paintbrush stands out against the surrounding rock.

One of the many views you can see from Zabriskie Point is this perspective of Manly Beacon.

A fantastic desert sunset illuminates the sky above Death Valley.