Death Valley National Park 2025

Just returned from a brief visit to Death Valley just as the New England winter decided to ramp up. This view from the Mesquite Dunes was from when I first arrived, greeted by some unsettled weather during the 1st few days that brought some nice clouds. Then some clear days. I ended up covering 76 miles of off trail hiking in the dunes, canyons, playa, and badlands for lots of variety and new views that I wasn't able to do on my prior visit. This was my first real test of my new hip after replacement 6 months post op. While the elevation gain during those miles was negligible, sand dune travel has a way of making you feel like you have done a lot more. The second image below came from exploring one of the many salt marshes that exist in the park, as the playa evolves after wet conditions. New images can be found in the Death Valley Gallery as they are processed. Enjoy!