ROSE FAMILY JOURNAL

Whether you live in Las Vegas or you’re using Las Vegas as the launch pad for your trip (great idea!), there is a load of destinations within a four hour driving radius to have a wonderful two or three day excursion. As a duo of 9-5ers, we have made the most of our weekends and explored many of these areas. I am excited to share a few of my favorites. 

Curious about more weekend road trip ideas? Check out the Rose Family picks for a good weekend trip to:
St. George, Utah
Joshua Tree, California
Great Basin National Park, Nevada

Without further ado, let’s dive in! 

Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is the closest national park to Las Vegas. With so much to do in the park, the two hour or so drive seems effortless. If you are an Alltrails user or a Google Maps user, it is a good idea to download these maps for offline use. Internet and cell phone access is not reliable throughout the park. 

Whenever you do need a break from the heat, it would be a great idea to check out the 20 minute film they play every half hour in the (air-conditioned) visitors center!

Hikes
When we were planning our first trip to Death Valley National Park, I was blown away by home many different hikes there actually are. Equally impressive is the variety of nature you can experience while you are there. These picks seem like a lot — but they are very short — and we did all of them over a weekend. In my opinion, this gives you the most bang-for-your-buck, because they are all (mostly short) trails so close together. I would rather be hiking than driving forever in twenty directions to go on a few different hikes.

Zabriskie Point
(Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/california/death-valley-national-park)
If you are heading into the park in the evening, and you arrive before dark, this is a great, super short hike to go watch the sunset. If you are arriving in the morning or do not make it before sunset, this one is a great spot any time of day as well. 

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
(Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mesquite-flat-sand-dunes-trail)This one is great to check out first thing in the morning. The sunrise is beautiful, but it also means that the sand is cool! As if that is not reason enough to visit in the early morning hours, another bonus is that the sand dunes look very artsy when there is sun hitting one side and shadows on the other.

Mosaic Canyon
(Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/mosaic-canyon-trail)
Moving right along the main road, the Mosaic Canyon trail is one of my top picks for getting out to move your legs. The mosaics in the canyon walls found in the first half mile are fascinating, and the entire hike is through a canyon that widens and narrows throughout different spots. 

Salt Creek Interpretive Trail
(Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/death-valley-national-park-salt-creek-interpretive-trail)
This is one we did not have on our radar before we visited. It turned out to be a quick, interesting trail. You’ll be able to see pup fish inside the salt creek right from the trail, which are unique to Death Valley. There is no shade on this one, so keep that in mind on how you’re feeling temperature-wise before starting! 

Harmony Borax Works
(Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/harmony-borax-works)
Another quick trail right along the same road within the park. Take a look around the old Borax
Camp, and learn more about the history of this area.

Badwater Basin Salt Flats
(Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/badwater-basin-salt-flats-trail)

If you have never been to Death Valley or if you have never visited Badwater Basin Salt Flats, you should make an effort to get out there. This is the lowest point in the park and North America at 282 feet below sea level. 

Natural Bridge Trail
(Alltrails: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/california/death-valley-natural-bridge-road)
The drive up to the Natural Bridge Trail is quite bumpy, but it looks like any standard car can make it with a certain amount of gusto. The trail is beautiful the entire way, but the natural bridge is such a different view than any other part of the park. 

Where to Sleep
When you are able to get a reservation at Furnace Creek Campground (book through recreation.gov), this is a wonderful option for car camping, and sets you up for a great launching point for the hikes listed in this guide.

If you are not interested in camping, booking a room at Stovepipe Wells works out. It is a bit more expensive than what you might expect from looking at the room. However, you are getting all of the amenities of a hotel — shower, electricity, and an option for internet in common areas — in the expansive desert! 

No recommendations on restaurants here, because I’d recommend packing your own food and snacks to Death Valley in order to get the most out of the nature!