pankaj

Folks, need some suggestion for my trip in Feb end. I am flying to LasVegas from east coast and have 3-4 days at hand.

I have been advised not to visit Bryce, Zion, Antelope at this time of the year (Feb end). So I am preparing a plan B.

Planning to visit Death Valley NP. Can you please suggest some more places in the vicinity of Death Valley.

Thanks in advance.

utahtea

I haven't been, but I know that winter is the "season" for Death Valley. You might make sure you can get lodging first, then plan around that!

Utahtea

TheWeasel

On the way to Death Valley (assuming you drive on Hwy. 160 out of Las Vegas), you'll pass by Red Rock Canyon. There's a ranch/motel nearby that offers horseback rides into the canyon, among other things. http://www.bonniesprings.com/

Also on the way to Death Valley, you'll be fairly close to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. South of Death Valley, you could visit Mojave National Preserve.

What are you interests? If you're looking for mainly driving/sightseeing, you can make it through much of Death Valley in a couple days. If you want to do some hiking, you could spend significantly more time.

Keep in mind Death Valley is huge. I stayed outside the park in Beatty (to save money) and it took about an hour one-way just to get to where I wanted to be every morning. There's a considerable distance between some of the major things to see: Scotty's Castle (a popular destination on the northeast side) has to be about a 2 hour drive from Badwater Salt Flat (lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere). You can and will spend a lot of time in the car if you're not careful about planning a reasonable route.

Look at www.nps.gov/deva (for Death Valley) and www.nps.gov/moja (for Mojave Nat'l Preserve) for maps and ideas on where to go/what to do. If i had to guess, lodging near Death Valley shouldn't be booked up just yet, as I think April is the busiest month, although March/late February isn't too far behind. When I went in early January I had no problems finding vacancies. Lodging within the park is considerably more expensive than outside the park ($100+/night vs. approx. $50/night), but it will save you some driving time. I've read some bad reviews of the Stovepipe Wells lodging in the park, but the Furnace Creek locations seem to be better (albeit more expensive).

ltt

we stayed at the furnace creek RANCH and enjoyed it. the rooms were basic but clean and a good size. they have a really nice pool on the property.
restaurants - nothing bad to say about them but nothing outstanding either.
we did go to the furnace creek INN for breakfast one day. it was good.
doing the tour at scotty's castle is a must. very enjoyable. i think it took about 45 minutes to get there from the motel.
we spent two nights there. the people i was with were too old to do hikes so this was enough time for us. but, if you want to enjoy the hiking, i'd plan on three nights.

Pat2003

pankaj, I would love to visit Death Valley in February. We spend a few days there last November and loved it. I fell in love with this place. It has to be a great time for visiting. I think it is too early for any wildflowers but there is so much to see. If you are not a hiker I think 3-4 days would be too long, if you are a hike 3-4 days is just enough time to be introduced to this amazing place. We stayed in Furnace Creek Inn and loved everything about it. If you want to commute to Death Valley there is Best Western in Pahrump, that you will pass on the way from Las Vegas. We stopped in Pahrump to buy snacks and water before going to Death Valley. Best Western looks very new, actually everything in Pahrump looked as it was just built. I think it would about one hour to Death Valley from there.

ltt, what age is too old to hike?

pankaj

Thanks for the helpful tips.

We are driving/sightseeing type of people who like to take short hike and lots of snaps. I am thinking of spending 2 days in death valley.

Can you please give me some suggestions for the other 2 days. I think we have 3 options:
#1. Mojave, what can we see/photograph there?
#2. Sequoia & King Canyon, is it good in Feb?
#3. Zion NP, would that be a too long drive and is it good this time of the year.

Thanks.

Pat2003

Because you are going to be there in February I think that the best place to combine with Death Valley would be Mojave. Check out attractions in this park on www.nps.gov

vegasnative

Have you been to Valley of Fire? If not, Feb. is a great time to visit there during one of your other days. It is in the opposite direction, so it would have to been a separate trip on a different day. It is about 45 minutes to an hour away from the Strip area. Great time of year to visit because it will not be hot and not very busy. You'll fall in love with the ancient petroglyphs.

sequoia370

Sequoia and Kings Canyon look fairly close to Death Valley on a map, but you can't get into the Sierra from the east, except in summer-- by hiking 4000 feet up from the end of the road, over 12000 foot passes, then it's a week's walk through alpine wilderness to the giant trees.

By car you have to go south to Mojave then over Tehachapi Pass on Hwy 58, then up Hwy 99 to Visalia where you turn east towards Sequoia NP. About 8 hours driving.

Mama

Hilary, I hope all these posts on Death Valley are going help you decide