Death Valley Biking Insight?
 

I'm trying to decide whether to join a biking/hiking camping trip in Death Valley the week before Christmas. DV has never been on my places to visit list, but original vacation plans to Big Island were cancelled and this trip fits nicely into the timeframe, and I love biking and seeing new and interesting places. Sounds like interesting landscape, but also sounds like it could be chilly and desolate which does not appeal to me. Any advice/insight would be appreciated. Thank you!!

"Biking" as in motorcycle?

Or bicycling?

I've bicycled across the US twice (LA to Boston) and being fair-skinned was worried about sunburn while crossing deserts. On the hottest/brightest days I work a long-sleeve teeshirt and kept putting on SPF25 sunblock. Never did burn, but sure "rented" a lot of water.

Wow---just had to read this based on the question! I'm not a biker, hiker or rider, but I wish you a wonderful trip if you go ahead with it, Amba.

I'm a native Californian and I went camping in Death Valley for the first time last February. Loved it so much went camping again for 4 days just a couple weeks ago. It was warm during the day (in the 80's and cooled down at night to about 48f). It will be a little cooler when you go. I find the place fascinating with beautiful mountain/desert scenery and interesting old west history of mining. Scotty's castle is a great tour.

By the way, I love the Big Island and went there twice this year too!

i enjoyed my visit to death valley. unique area to experience. the spring is the best time to go when the desert flowers are coming out. the day time before christmas would probably be great temps for biking and hiking, but the nights will be cool. i second the suggestion to do the tour at scotty's castle. very interesting and pretty cheap.
if you get a chance, take a break and go enjoy the pool at the furnace creek ranch. i think you can pay a sum for day use.

I'm guessing it's too late to respond to this thread (Christmas only a few days away)... but for what it's worth, I just came back from Death Valley and can report that the weather was perfect during the day for biking and hiking - around 65 degrees. Add a couple degrees if you're on the valley floor, subtract 10 or more if you're up in the hills. At night it gets downright chilly, in the low 40's.

Death Valley is incredible - no one adjective could describe it. Certainly parts of it are desolate (They didn't call it Death Valley for nothing) - but overall it is fascinating, geologically and historically, and exquisitely beautiful. At this time of year it is not crowded at all and you can really find isolation and peace. The dunes are really magical!