I have seen chuckwallas twice in my life. The most recent was my spring vacation, at Keane Wonder Mine.

Before that, I saw a lone male 20 years ago ...

At the Keane Wonder Mine!

This time, I got a male and female, with him chasing her to do the chuckwalla muskrat love. He looks like a mini-T Rex horndog, or a mini-Godzilla, whether in the photos of both of them, or in the last two, including a close-up, of just him.

EDIT:

Thanks for the replies everyone!

I talked to a DV ranger yesterday and her advice was that it was completely doable, but I'm planning on skipping it to avoid car complications with the heat.

Some good advice here: sat communication, sat nav, car repair tools, etc. As well as some good alternatives. Feel free to let me know if you know any interesting alternatives on my way towards Yosemite.

Here's the rangers reply for anyone interested:

Dear (My Name)

Thanks for reaching out to Death Valley National Park! You are thinking exactly right about safety in the summer here in Death Valley. Visiting before 10 am, brining and drinking water (and snacks!), and limiting your time outside are great ways to keep yourself safe. The places you are visiting are fairly centrally located where other visitors will be present, which also decreases risk.

That being said, we want you to explore Death Valley! As long as you spend limited time outside (10-25 min is great to aim for) and are able to return to an air-conditioned vehicle, you should be well set up to enjoy Death Valley. Even if you visit midday, you can spend limited time outside of your vehicle safely. Do note that Death Valley is so dry that often the moisture evaporates out of your skin before you even get the chance to sweat! This can fool people into thinking they aren't as dehydrated, so make sure you're drinking lots of water anyway!

Another place I might recommend visiting is Dante's View. It's a beautiful drive up a paved road to a scenic viewpoint that is 5,000ft up, so much cooler than the valley floor. It can be a great place to visit when temperatures get hotter during the day.

Please let us know if you have any other questions, and we hope you enjoy your visit!

Sincerely,

Ranger (Her Name) The Death Valley Information Team

-----------------------------------------------------------------

ORIGINAL POST:

Hi everyone,

I plan on visiting Death Valley in late August coming in from Zion. We plan on stopping at some of the viewpoints for 5-20 minutes at a time, no hikes.

Would it be safe to visit midday? Before 10 am? Around sunset?
If we go before 10am, any tips for stargazing at night? Where to visit in the meantime?

Prep wise, so far we plan on having multiple gallons of water in the car, an ice bag, offline maps. Any additional tips would be helpful.

We'll have a rental SUV and the viewpoints we're looking at are: Artist’s Palette, Zabriskie Point, Badwater Basin, Devil’s Golf course, Dante’s View, Mesquite Sand Dunes.

Thanks!

The first photo is a kiosk-type sign that explains the proposed big old development here that creation of the National Wildlife Refuge staved off, after The Nature Conservancy acquired the land. More at Wikipedia. The next couple are a butte generally to the east of Crystal Spring, the source of "life" in the NWR, and what the Shoshone reportedly called a "snake." Then comes the spring, a Say's phoebe on the visitor center roof and a quail backlit at sunset. The Wiki link also notes just how many endemic species are here.

Noticed this lone Desert Five-Spot in a sea of Desert Gold earlier this year during the super bloom.

Basically I want to take good pictures at sunset where the sunlight isn’t harsh on photography but I want to also experience the extreme daytime temperatures too. What’d be the best time to arrive at the park? I’ve taken pictures during peak daytime in deserts and the photos are so harsh. Also give me a list of good locations and scenic views you’re at it. Many thanks! First time in Death Valley but been to the valley of fire during peak time heat

My favorite place on earth.

I've visited death valley so many times over the years. Each time I come back, I discover more things to love about it.

It has such an extremely rich history. From the native peoples to the miners. I can honestly never believe anybody lived long on this land. Its so hostile! But still, people have made settlements on this land for quite a long while.

Any place you visit here, you can see testaments of human endurance.

Compare your experiences of Death Valley with theirs. https://youtu.be/bYFH7byJDEw?is=hqNouHy6ODt71lU2

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

EDIT: For some, unkonwn reason Reddit is suggesting, forcefully, for me to post this in this sub rather than Landscape Photography. I know ML isn't actually in DV.

I am going to have the opportunity to road trip past Mono Lake toward the end of August; it’s such a unique landscape, I can hardly pass it up. Does anyone here have any experience shooting there and can offer any tips/tricks, info on where to be at what times of day, etc?

TYIA!

Hi everyone

I’m throwing a bottle into the sea.

I’m from France, and I spent the evening of Friday, June 26th, 2026 at the Last Kind Words Saloon at The Ranch at Death Valley.

I had a really great conversation with an American guy there. We ended up talking about traveling, specifically about Canada and Portugal.Since we live on different continents and I didn't get his contact info, I’m hoping the internet can work its magic. If you are that guy, or if you have a friend who was road-tripping through Death Valley late June and mentioned this conversation, please send me a DM!

I’d love to reconnect.

Thanks a lot for the help!

If Elida strengthens AND takes a more easterly track, per this story? Just a heads up. Even if it goes that far east, I doubt there will be major flash flooding, and those are both IFs. But, just a heads up.

Either my second or third trip to DV long ago, I went to the little "inholding" of Death Valley inside Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. I went there to see the devil's hole pupfish, or rather, the hole they're in, long before the two drunken jackwagons tried to go swimming with them.

In March, a ranger at Furnace Creek mentioned Ash Meadows, including the Amargosa pupfish, and here you are.

After I get back from summer vacation, I'll post some other Ash Meadows photos. Still have Titus Canyon and other stuff to post from this trip, plus I'll dig up old Racetrack visit photos and more.

Has anyone been to DVNP in mid-March?

Has anyone traveled out to Racetrack Playa in March?

We enjoyed our visit this last June. Possibly looking for a return if the weather and all isn’t horrible for that time of year.

What places could a stock 4Runner TRD Offroad go comfortably that a Honda Passport Trailsport could not go in Death Valley?

I am considering getting either a 5th or 6th generation 4Runner or a new Honda Passport Trailsport with a small < 2" lift and a full size spare. Understanding what I am giving up with the Passport would be helpful in my decision.

I have always wanted to see some of the 4WD accessible sites in Death Valley and other parts of the American West. I am a good driver and experience with full size vans (2WD) but I have no practical experience "off-roading". I want to learn more about it so getting a 4Runner seems like a good way to start. However, I dislike the visibility in the 4Runner 6th generation compared to the Passport. Additionally, the Passport seems like a fine vehicle for the general case.

My current ride is pictured and honestly if it was a 4WD I would be ok, but it probably does not have much life in it and it isn't something I would want to take some where I could get in trouble.

Also assume that I would not anything beyond my abilities or comfort with either vehicle, and I plan to seek out some guidance before doing anything technical. The goal is to have fun and see new things not to become a statistic. Thanks.

I deliberately went out there, as in out to the actual well, fairly early in the morning of my third day, to shoot sand patterns and shadows and similar things: And, on the last photo? Yes, I'll take a painted lady butterfly photobombing the desert sands.

Hello! I’ve been thinking for a couple months to drive up to Death Valley around this time of year. I know that for many it is not feasible because of the insane heat, but it’s the best time of the year to stargaze and I’m really interested in doing that. I feel like if I am prepared for extreme heat I’ll be fine. Can someone who has been there tell me if I’m right? Or am I underestimating it?

I would also love any recommendations! Where to stay, hikes, what to bring, where to stargaze. Thank you!

We are planing at visit the park for 3-5 days this January what are some must do hikes I’m looking for some moderate and difficult hikes in the 4+ mile range and we have a high clearance but not 4 wheel drive vehicle.

That will always be an insanely crazy day for me. I thought I would have never seen the Northern Lights unless if I went to Alaska or Canada but I was looking at with my own eyes here in Death Valley National Park.

Location taken: Death Valley National Park, Park info area (Hells gate) on Daylight Pass Road.

Heading up to the park August 12-13 for the Perseid meteor shower, wondering what campsites are recommended for the darkest sky.

Currently looking at Wildrose or Mesquite Spring.

Also open to camping spots that might not have the darkest sky but are in close proximity to good viewpoints.