Plan to hike before or after midday, when the sun is hottest. Carry plenty of water, wear protective clothing, and keep an eye out for tarantulas, black widows, scorpions, snakes, and other potentially dangerous creatures. Some of the best trails are unmarked; ask locals for directions.

Easy

Darwin Falls. This lovely 2-mi round-trip hike rewards you with a refreshing waterfall surrounded by thick vegetation and a rocky gorge. No swimming or bathing is allowed, but it's a beautiful place for a picnic. Adventurous hikers can scramble higher toward more rewarding views of the falls. Access the 2-mi graded dirt road and parking area off Hwy. 190, 1 mi west of Panamint Springs Resort.

Natural Bridge Canyon. The somewhat rough 2-mi access road has interesting geological features in addition to the bridge itself. It's ½-mi round-trip. Access road off Badwater Rd., 15 mi south of Furnace Creek.

Salt Creek Interpretive Trail. This trail, a ½-mi boardwalk circuit, loops through a spring-fed wash. The nearby hills are brown and gray, but the floor of the wash is alive with aquatic plants such as pickerelweed and salt grass. The stream and ponds here are among the few places in the park to see the rare pupfish, the only native fish species in Death Valley. Animals such as bobcats, fox, coyotes, and snakes visit the spring, and you may also see ravens, common snipes, killdeer, and great blue herons. Off Hwy. 190, 14 mi north of Furnace Creek.

Titus Canyon. The narrow floor of Titus Canyon is made of hard-packed gravel and dirt, and it's a constant, moderate uphill walk. Klare Spring and some petroglyphs are 5½ mi from the mouth of the canyon, but you can get a feeling for the area on a shorter walk.

Moderate

Fall Canyon. This is a 3½-mi one-way hike from the Titus canyon parking area. First, walk ½ mi north along the base of the mountains to a large wash, then go 2½ mi up the canyon to a 35-foot dry fall. You can continue by climbing around to the falls on the south side. Access road off Scotty's Castle Rd., 33 mi northwest of Furnace Creek.

Mosaic Canyon. A gradual uphill trail (4 mi round-trip) winds through the smoothly polished walls of this narrow canyon. There are dry falls to climb at the upper end. Access road off Hwy. 190, ½ mi west of Stovepipe Wells Village.

Difficult

Keane Wonder Mine. Allow two hours for the 2-mi round-trip trail that follows an out-of-service aerial tramway to this mine. The way is steep, but the views of the valley are spectacular. Do not enter the tunnels or hike beyond the top of the tramway—it's dangerous. The trailhead is 2 mi down an unpaved and bumpy access road. Access road off Beatty Cutoff Rd., 17½ mi north of Furnace Creek.

Telescope Peak Trail. The 14-mi round-trip begins at Mahogany Flat Campground. The steep trail winds through pinyon, juniper, and bristlecone pines, with excellent views of Death Valley and Panamint Valley. Ice axes and crampons may be necessary in winter—check at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. It takes a minimum of eight hours to hike to the top of the 11,049-foot peak and then return. Getting to the peak is a strenuous endeavor; take plenty of water and only attempt it in fall unless you're an experienced hiker. Off Wildrose Rd., south of Charcoal Kilns.

Tours

Available during the spring months, Death Valley National Park and Red Rock Canyon Hiking Tour (Death Valley Tours. 800/719-3768. www.deathvalleytours.net) is a six-day adventure that begins in Las Vegas. All transportation, permits, park fees, meals, snacks, beverages, first aid, and camping gear is included in the fee. Tours are $1,230 per person.

Join an experienced guide and spend six days exploring Death Valley's most popular sights with Death Valley National Park and Red Rock Hiker (Escape Adventures. 800/596-2953 or 702/838-6966. www.escapeadventures.com). The tour ($995), offered October and February-April, also spends two days in Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. For an additional fee, you can rent hiking shoes, tents, sleeping bags, trekking poles, water bottles, and more. The price includes a night in the Furnace Creek Inn.