Death Valley – Day 3 of 3

Tuesday, April 6th took us south of Furnace Creek to our first stop, the Natural Bridge Canyon. The bridge is about a mile up the canyon. Blake and Stacey check the info kiosk which has a map so we don’t get lost. Behind the kiosk you can see a carpet of yellow flowers. We were fortunate to see the flowers in bloom because they only bloom in a year the valley receives enough rain. Sometimes going ten years or more without blooming.

Blake and Stacey at the mouth of the canyon.

Nearing the bridge.

Finally we arrive. The walk is only slightly uphill but the floor of the canyon is loose debris so its like walking in the sand at the beach. You don’t notice it as much walking to the bridge. When you start back and have already discovered the secrets of the canyon that's when it really gets tiring.

A polished groove carved into the side of the canyon.

Walking back out of the canyon.

Next stop was was 282 ft below sea level, Badwater, the lowest spot in North America. Mount Whitney, the highest point in the US, is only 76 miles to the west. Blake and Stacey walked out to the salt flats in the distance. I didn’t want Debbie to be alone so I waited with her for the kid to return.

Next was Devil’s Golf Course. “Immense area of rock salt eroded by wind and rain into jagged spires. So incredibly serrated that “only the devil could play golf on such rough links.” The unpaved road starts on Badwater Road and is often closed after rain.”