Badwater Basin: a practical visitor guide to North America’s lowest point

At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America — and one of Death Valley‘s most surreal landscapes. Walk out onto vast salt flats that stretch for nearly 200 square miles, where the ground beneath your feet forms bizarre hexagonal patterns like a giant honeycomb, and where the heat shimmer creates otherworldly mirages in every direction. Look up at the cliffs behind the car park and you’ll spot a sign marking sea level — a full 282 feet above where you’re standing. The scale and strangeness of this place tend to mess with your perception. It’s also worth noting that Badwater Basin occasionally floods after rare desert rainstorms, creating a temporary shallow lake that can last for months. When this happens (as it did spectacularly in 2023-2024), you can walk on water-covered salt flats with perfect mountain reflections — an experience photographers describe as magical.

The name “Badwater” supposedly comes from an early surveyor whose mule refused to drink from the spring-fed pool near the boardwalk. The water isn’t toxic — just extremely salty.

Getting to Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin is located on Badwater Road, approximately 17 miles (30 minutes) south of Furnace Creek Visitor Centre in Death Valley National Park, California. From Highway 190 at Furnace Creek, head south on Badwater Road and follow it directly to the Badwater Basin car park — it’s impossible to miss.

If you’re coming from Las Vegas (the nearest major city), Badwater Basin is roughly a 2½-hour drive. From Los Angeles, expect 5 hours depending on traffic and your route.

The road to Badwater Basin is paved and well-maintained, suitable for all vehicles including RVs and buses.

Parking at Badwater Basin

The Badwater Basin car park is large and paved with ample space for cars, RVs, motorhomes, and tour buses. Despite its size, the car park fills up during peak visiting times — typically mid-morning through early afternoon during peak season (October-March).

Top tip: Visit early morning (before 9.00am) or late afternoon (after 4.00pm) for easier parking and better light. Midday sees the heaviest crowds and the harshest, least flattering light for photography.

The car park includes vault toilets (the chemical type with holes in the ground — basic but functional).

Admission fees for Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin is included with your Death Valley National Park entrance fee: $30 per vehicle (valid for 7 days), $25 per motorcycle, or $15 per person for walkers and cyclists. An annual Death Valley pass costs $55, whilst an America the Beautiful Pass ($80 annual) covers all US national parks.

There are no additional fees for visiting Badwater Basin specifically — it’s all covered by your park entrance pass.

Death Valley National Park is open 24 hours daily, year-round. You can visit Badwater Basin at any time, though daytime visits are obviously safer and more practical.

Exploring Badwater Basin

From the car park, an ADA-accessible ramp leads down to a wooden boardwalk that extends onto the salt flats. The boardwalk is about 100 metres long and provides an easy viewing platform. Most visitors walk to the end of the boardwalk, take photos, and return — this takes about 15-20 minutes.

However, you can walk much further out onto the salt flats themselves. There’s no designated trail beyond the boardwalk, but countless footpaths have been worn by previous visitors. The National Park Service advises following existing paths rather than creating new ones to minimise environmental impact.

Walking distance: Many visitors walk about 1 mile (1.6 km) out onto the flats, which takes roughly 40 minutes round-trip. You can walk as far as you like — the salt flats are enormous — but remember you’ll need to walk back in the heat.

What you’ll see: Bizarre salt polygons forming geometric patterns across the basin floor. These hexagonal shapes form through repeated freeze-thaw and evaporation cycles pushing the salt crust upward. The further you walk from the boardwalk, the more pristine the formations become. In the distance, you’ll see Telescope Peak (11,049 feet) — the highest point in Death Valley — creating a vertical relief of over 2 miles.

When Badwater Basin floods

After rare heavy rainfall, Badwater Basin can flood, creating a temporary shallow lake. This happened spectacularly after Hurricane Hilary in August 2023, with the lake persisting for months through multiple atmospheric river events. When flooded, the basin offers stunning mirror-like reflections of the Panamint and Black Mountains — photographers absolutely love it.

If you’re visiting when the basin is flooded, expect muddy conditions as you approach the water. Wear shoes you don’t mind ruining — your feet will get wet, muddy, and crusty with salt. The flooded areas are usually only 1-2 inches deep.

Accessibility at Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin is partially accessible. The car park has three designated accessible parking spaces with striped access aisles. The ramp and boardwalk are ADA-accessible, allowing wheelchair users to experience the salt flats.

Beyond the boardwalk, the natural salt and sand surface requires all-terrain wheels or motorised equipment for wheelchairs. Standard wheelchairs will struggle on the uneven, soft surface.

Best time to visit Badwater Basin

Early morning (sunrise to 9.00am): The best time for photography with soft light and long shadows highlighting the salt polygons. Temperatures are most bearable. Fewer crowds.

Late afternoon (4.00pm to sunset): Beautiful golden light, cooler temperatures than midday, and the basin glows in warm tones. Popular with photographers.

Midday: Absolutely brutal. The harsh overhead sun washes out details, and temperatures in summer regularly exceed 49°C (120°F). Badwater Basin holds the record for highest reliably recorded air temperature on Earth at 54.4°C (130°F) in July 1913. If visiting midday in summer, limit your time and carry plenty of water.

Night: Spectacular for stargazing. The salt flats under a star-filled sky are otherworldly. Bring a powerful torch and watch your footing.

Best seasons for Badwater Basin

Autumn (October-November): Peak season with ideal temperatures (20-25°C/70s-80°F) and excellent light. Expect more visitors.

Winter (December-February): Mild temperatures make walking pleasant. Clear winter air and occasional mountain snow create stunning contrasts. This is when rare flooding is most likely if storms occur.

Spring (March-April): Warming up but still comfortable. Occasional wildflower blooms if winter rainfall was adequate.

Summer (May-September): Dangerously hot. If visiting in summer, go only at sunrise or very late evening. Do not hike onto the salt flats after 10.00am. Heat-related rescues are common here — rangers aren’t joking when they say it’s dangerous.

What to bring for your Badwater Basin visit

• Water — at least 2 litres per person, even in winter. In summer, bring 4+ litres if hiking onto the flats.
• Sun protection — wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and high-SPF sunscreen. UV exposure is intense.
• Sturdy shoes — trainers work fine for the boardwalk, but hiking boots are better for venturing onto the flats. If the basin is flooded, wear sandals or shoes you don’t mind ruining.
• Layers — desert evenings can be surprisingly cool.
• Camera — though photographs never quite capture the scale.

There are no shops, no water fountains, and no bins. Bring everything you need and pack out all rubbish.

Important safety rules for Badwater Basin

• No dogs allowed on the trail or salt flats. Dogs can only be along roads, in campgrounds, and developed areas, and must be on a lead no longer than 6 feet. Do not leave dogs in cars — temperatures become lethal within minutes.
• Do not hike after 10.00am in summer — heat exhaustion and dehydration are genuine dangers.
• Carry sufficient water — the National Park Service cannot emphasise this enough.
• Stay aware of your location — if hiking far onto the salt flats, use GPS tracking (like Strava) to navigate back, as the landscape can all look the same.
• Follow existing paths on the salt flats to minimise environmental damage.

Where to stay near Badwater Basin

Furnace Creek (17 miles/30 minutes north) is the main hub in Death Valley with The Oasis at Death Valley resort offering hotel rooms, plus Furnace Creek Campground.

Beatty, Nevada (about 55 miles/1 hour north) offers cheaper accommodation with motels and services.

Pahrump, Nevada (about 60 miles east) has more accommodation options, though it’s further from Death Valley attractions.

Combining Badwater Basin with other Death Valley attractions

Artists Palette (15 miles north) features vivid multicoloured badlands — visit in late afternoon for the best light.

Devil’s Golf Course (10 miles north) showcases bizarre crystalline salt formations rising from the desert floor.

Dante’s View (30 miles north) offers panoramic views of the entire valley from 5,475 feet elevation — you can see Badwater Basin far below.

Zabriskie Point (about 35 miles north via Furnace Creek) provides stunning badlands views, particularly at sunrise.

Golden Canyon (25 miles north) offers excellent hiking through colourful canyon walls.

More California travel

Other California travel articles on Planet Whitley include:

• A visit to Death Valley – the hottest place on earth.
• How to visit the USS Battleship Iowa at the Port of Los Angeles.
• Inside Hearst Castle – the most expensive home ever built.
• The Grove of the Titans – seeing giant redwoods in Jebediah Smith Redwoods State Park.
• The best times to spot Roosevelt Elk at Elk Meadow in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.