Green Mountain Loc: Southern California Mountains

Best shooting would be early morning and late afternoon. I lived in Trona, D.V. when I was a kid, off and on for several years. My dad was a railroad dispatcher for Stoffer chem. company, out there. Hwy. 178 now, was called Trona Rd.

The two best places out there, imo are the pentacles, south of Trona about 7 miles, right off Hwy. 178. Several square miles of (moon like landscape w/high pentacles) where 'lost in space' was filmed, back in the 60's and mentioned above also is Scotty's Castle, built by 'Death Valley Scotty' further north out off the 190, then on 'Scotty's Castle Rd'. If I remember correctly I think they have a small motel out next to the castle, the castle is a must see, if your out there.

Ole Scotty had a gun port in every room in that place that he could fire his weapon into and the round would travel thru slightly curved bent lead piping, that ended directly at the front door, dictating who could enter and who couldn't, back in the day, most likely used as protection from Apache Indians, banditos and dry gulchers. Still Visible all thru~out the tour. The rest of the castle is fascinating also.

Lodging for the Trona area would be in Argus, Pioneer Point, or Valley Wells.

They also have a free crystal dig operation, open to the public, set up right off the highway between Argus and Pioneer Point.

Lots of lizards, horned toads and tortoises for the kids to snatch~up and take back home too.

Hope you have a great adventure. Watch out for the rattle snakes, though.

Les White

So what do you think is the best time for wildflowers? mid-April?

azlee Loc: Northern Arizona

Check this first. http://www.desertusa.com/dusablog/zabriskie-pt-close-oct-1-march-31st.html

elee950021 Loc: New York, NY

Hi Tigerpaws!
Since you are from CA and perhaps your photo group, why not approach Death Valley from the west via Bakersfield and first visiting Lone Pine, CA, see: http://lonepinefilmfestival.org/
and Alabama Hills, a fantastic area for images and the "backlot" for over 300 movies and tv shows, both westerns and others such as "Gunga Din." Travel on to Stovepipe Wells and then Furnace Creek where the Visitors Center is located.

I visited the Death Valley and Las Vegas area twice both in 2012 and 2014 in early October when the weather is more temperate. The first time with a dozen other photographers for 7 days and last October in a group of 7 shutterbugs from Park West Camera Club for 11 days. Since we were from the east coast we first flew to Las Vegas as our initial base.

In 2012 the group drove from Vegas to Furnace Creek, on the way hitting the Amargoso Opera House, see: http://www.amargosa-opera-house.com/. I recommend taking the short tour of the Opera House. At Furnace Creek, go to the Visitors Center to pay for a car permit or use your National Parks and Recreational Lands Permit (formerly National Parks Pass, Golden Eagle, Golden Age and Golden Access Passports) which is only $10 for a senior lifetime pass. Only one person in each car needs a pass. Such a deal!

On the way to Furnace Creek and our accommodations at the Ranch (not the Inn!), we visited Badwater (lowest point in North America, 282' below sea level), Dante's View (overlooks Badwater area 5000' below and Mount Whitney in the distance), Natural Bridge, Devil's Golf Course, Artist's Palette Drive and Zabriskie Point. After 3 days there we moved on to Lone Pine and Alabama Hills, visiting Stovepipe Wells Village and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and Mosaic Canyon on the way.

In 2014 I revisited the sites above and those bypassed the first time as well as the more distant sites and "ghost towns" at Beatty and Rhylolite. This time spending more time shooting at each site, picking optimum time of the day and exploring further away from the roads and trails. For example, we shot at the Sand dunes both at dawn and sunset and did the same at Zabriskie Point. So many subjects and so little time!

Some links are: http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g143021-Death_Valley_National_Park_California-Vacations.html

You're a captive audience at Furnace Creek Ranch and any other motel within Death Valley as they are concessions. We stayed initially in Las Vegas, Pahrump and Lone Pine where the rates are reasonable. We did stay at Furnace Creek for several nights as we were lucky and able to get reservations.

I had a great time and many, many wonderful images and can't wait to go again. Best wishes. Ed

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Go this month, while it's tolerable! Daytime temps are great. Nighttime can get cold, so take a range of clothing options.

If you can afford it, or find space, stay at Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch. It's amazing. Many years ago, I stayed there in February. There's a swimming pool fed by underground springs that stays warm all winter. Dates fall on you from the palms by the pool... They are edible.

I like photographing the valley early and late! Sunrise and sunset are very glorious there, especially at Zabriskie Point.

The entire area features lots of photo ops.

Les White

what is the ideal spring time to go for best chances of wildflowers--mid-April?

GAS496 Loc: Arizona

I have been to Death Valley for the three times over the past three years and may even go again this year. There is so much to see and photograph. I have only scratched the surface.

You and the group need to stay in one of the two hotels in the park. The rooms are not expensive and for those on a tight budget there are nice campgrounds nearby. Sitting around the campfire after out shooting all day is a great way to talk photography and be with friends. The restaurants have good food and prices are reasonable. Don't stay outside the park! You will waste the best part of the shooting times in the car traveling to your shooting locations. Then all the money and time you spend will be wasted. Distances traveled are long between places. If your party does not have four wheel drive you can forget the Race Track and Titus Canyon.

Death Valley is difficult to shoot. While it is one of my favorite places to go it is desolate, vast and difficult to capture its magnificence with a camera. My suggestion is to pick an area that has several areas of interest and stay there. Get there before sunrise and be there after sunset. If you are shooting during the day a graduated ND filter is necessary if you have the sky in your photos.

Have fun with your friends, relax, see some of the most beautiful places on the planet (my opinion) and enjoy the solitude. You will have the time of your life and come home with a great photograph or two.

GAS496 Loc: Arizona

Oh and by the way we all bring our spouses and I think they have more fun than we do!

gmcase Loc: Galt's Gulch

desertartist

I live in Beatty, Nevada, which is Nevada's gateway to Death Valley. Rhyolite Ghost Town is only four miles from Beatty, and if you visit there I am the host at Goldwell Open Air Museum (goldwellmuseum.org). If I know when you are coming, I will try to have it open. Photographers like to do light painting and star trails shots there. If you have a high clearance vehicle, you might like going through Titus Canyon and shooting there. All the places mentioned are good to shoot. I would also recommend Mosaic Canyon near Stovepipe Wells. Accommodations, food, and gas are much cheaper in Beatty than in Death Valley, and we are only thirty miles from Stovepipe Wells. Our tiny town also has the biggest candy store in the state.

hiker60 Loc: Northern Idaho

Just returned from a photo assignment in Death Valley. Suggest you consider Stove Pipe Wells; it is first settlement established way back when and has both nice rooms and trailer facilities (some with hook-ups). Also, great restaurant and saloon/restaurant. Food was quite good. You are near some fantastic locations (Mesquite dunes & Mosaic canyon to name a few) for great sunrise/set shots.
Location is on west side entrance. Nice drive in from Ridegecrest (check out Tronan if you go from R) or Lone Pine. Gas is available.
Always stay here because of services and location. May luck out if there is any rain in the area as you will see the desert comes alive with flowers!

Reinaldokool Loc: San Rafael, CA

I'll be very interested in the answers as I'm planning a trip to DV for late February or early March to catch the wildflowers. I'll probably take both cameras because I have the Rokinon fisheye for the Nikon.

D and ME Loc: Stevensville MT

We stayed at Stovepipe Wells last Feb. It was comfortable - no TV or Phone and very little Cell coverage (most of the park). We ate at the restaurant there-served a buffet in the am and dinner at night. My brother's camera club from Surprise AZ used it as there "home base" for their excursions. Everyone was satisfied.

MarkintheHV Loc: Hudson Valley

Bell bottoms and tie die?

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

You didn't say how long you were going for or when so advice is pretty general. We last visited there for the last two weeks of March 2011. I would strongly recommend that you stay at one of the hotels in the N.P. You want to be on site early in the morning and hang around until dark and that makes for a long day if you have to drive to Pahrump to sleep. There is lots of advice and info on what to shoot in Death Valley. I suggest you make up your own mind and try to shoot some things that haven't been shot a million times before. The sand dunes as well as Zabriskie point are common on the tourists list, but the places is full of wonderful scenes. Explore.
http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Hotels-g143021-Death_Valley_National_Park_California-Hotels.html

Sand dunes


Zabriski point


Hills near Zabriskie point