Badwater Basin is the signature stop in Death Valley and the lowest elevation in North America, at 282 feet below sea level. From a parking area and boardwalk beside a small spring-fed pool, a path leads out onto a flat of crusty white salt that stretches for miles toward the Panamint Range. A sign high on the cliff behind the parking lot marks sea level, and looking up at it gives a real sense of how deep you are. The pool itself is not drinkable, which is how Badwater got its name: a surveyor's mule supposedly refused to drink from it. The water is a salty brine, yet small life survives here, including a tiny snail found nowhere else. Walk a quarter mile or more beyond the boardwalk and the salt forms honeycomb polygons that crunch underfoot, and the silence and brightness are remarkable.
Why the salt
The basin is an enclosed depression with no outlet to the sea. Rain and runoff from the surrounding mountains carry dissolved minerals into the valley, and in the intense heat the water evaporates, leaving salt behind. Over thousands of years this has formed a crust that in places is a few inches thick. After wet winters, a shallow lake can briefly return, and the reflections of the mountains on its surface are among the most photographed scenes in the park. In normal conditions the basin is dry, white and glaring.
How to visit
Badwater sits about 17 miles south of Furnace Creek on a paved road, so it is easily reached by car, and most day tours stop here. Parking is free once inside the park, but the park entry fee applies. There is no shade and no shelter at the lot, so bring water, sunscreen and a hat, and in summer visit early in the morning or in the evening.
Heat in the basin can be dangerous, and the white surface reflects sunlight so strongly that sunglasses are essential. Stay on the marked path near the pool, since the edges are fragile habitat; further out on the salt flat, walk freely but avoid damaging the polygon patterns.
Making the most of it
Sunrise and sunset bring soft light to the mountains and long shadows to the salt, and the basin is also a fine place to stand for stargazing on a clear night. Combine Badwater with Artists Drive and the Devil's Golf Course, both on the same road.
The stop usually takes thirty minutes to an hour. Children enjoy the experience of walking on salt, although the glare and heat limit how long they will want to stay. Check the park service for current road and weather conditions, since flooding can occasionally close the road.
Things to notice
The boardwalk crosses a shallow pool that is home to the Badwater snail, a tiny creature found nowhere else, and the sign on the cliff above reads sea level, a striking reminder of how far down you are. Beyond the pool, the salt polygons grow more pronounced the farther you walk, and the quiet is almost total except for the occasional creak of salt crystals.
At night, the basin is a superb place to stand under the stars, and in the cool of early morning the light on the Panamint Range across the flat is soft and lovely. Birds and insects can be seen near the water if you look carefully.
What to expect
The experience
A roadside stop with a boardwalk, a spring-fed pool and a walkable salt flat that stretches into the distance.
Best time
Early morning or evening; avoid midday heat in the warmer months.
How long
Half an hour to an hour.
Tips
Bring water, sunglasses and a hat. Stay on the marked path near the pool. Look up to see the sea-level sign on the cliff.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Everyone; it is the park's signature stop.
- Families
- Kids love walking on salt; keep visits short in the heat.
- Couples
- Come for sunrise or sunset when the light is soft.
- Pair with
- Artists Drive and the Devil's Golf Course.
- Time needed
- Under an hour.
Good questions
How low is Badwater Basin?+
It is 282 feet below sea level, the lowest point in North America.
Can you walk on the salt flat?+
Yes, beyond the boardwalk you can walk on the salt. Stay on the path near the pool to protect the habitat.
Is the water drinkable?+
No. The pool is salty brine, which is how the basin got its name.
Is there shade?+
Very little. Bring sun protection and water, and avoid midday heat in summer.
How far is it from Furnace Creek?+
About 17 miles south on a paved road, around twenty to thirty minutes by car.