Dante's View, Death Valley NP
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Dante's View - by TuendeBede from Pixabay
Description
Dante's View provides visitors with sweeping views over Death Valley, in particular the Badwater Basin. It is located at an altitude of 1,669m and accessed by road; there is a parking and a panoramic terrace. The viewpoint is situated on the crest of the Black Mountains, a part of the Amargosa Range created when the surface of the earth was being stretched, forming grabens (a depressed block of the crust such as the Badwater Basin). On very clear days, the highest and lowest points in the contiguous 48 states of the United States can be seen: Mount Whitney 4,421 m (14,505 ft) high and Badwater −86 m (−282 ft below sea level). The spot is named after the author of the Divine Comedy. Trivia: Dante's View was used as a filming location for the 1977 film Star Wars when the characters overlook the fictional Tatooine spaceport.
Access & Transport
Dante's View is about 25 km (16 mi) south of Furnace Creek, near the border with Nevada. It is a 2h30 drive from Las Vegas, 3h from Barstow and 3h30 from Bakersfield.
Instructions & Recommendations
The best time to visit Dante's View is in the cooler morning hours, when the sun is in the east. It is also an excellent stargazing spot. We recommend combining a visit there with Badwater Basin, except during the summer when the temperature down in the valley is too hot.
Environmental & Social
Infrastructure has been kept to a minimum so this is a green activity (besides the transport to get there)
Conclusion
Nothing to do except enjoy the views and those are quite spectacular, but we would not suggest all that driving just for them so make sure you also take in other highlights of the national park such as Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
Key positive
Panoramic views over Death Valley
Key negative
Time consuming to get there
Suitability
The viewpoint is accessible for wheelchair users
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
August 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:1h 30m
est. visit time:0h 45m
Sunrise / early morningOk
MorningOk
Lunch timeOk
AfternoonOk
Sunset / eveningOk
Night – bef. midnightNo
Night – aft. midnightNo