We just got back from our Death Valley and Joshua Tree trip. We ended up flying into Las Vegas and out of Palm Springs which was pricier for the rental car but we figured we saved on the gas (which was over $5 everywhere and $7.05 in the park) and also our time not having to drive back to Las Vegas from Joshua Tree. We stayed three nights at the Ranch at Death Valley, one night at the Joshua Tree Inn, and then a night at an airport hotel in Palm Springs since we were both flying out very early the last morning. Death Valley was 80 degrees in the morning and up to 105 by the afternoon, so we did all our walking in the mornings. We saw the sunrise (and the pre-sunrise light) at Zabriskie Point, drove through Artist Palette, walked in the water and salt at Badwater Basin, drove up to Dante's View. The wildflowers were in full bloom and were beautiful. In Joshua Tree, we drove around the park taking small hikes (temperatures were ideal there 68-75), really liked Cap Rock, Choalla cactus garden, Intersection Peak, and of course all the Joshua trees. Thanks for all of your help with the planning. Our plan for April vacation 2025 is to see Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, and trying to decide if we can squeeze in Great Basin at the same time. Otherwise Great Basin will have to be a trip on its own which would be too bad but we also don't want to drive ourselves crazy trying to see everything in too little time.

Nice to hear back -- Death Valley in Spring is one of my favorite places.

Maybe ask to have your latest post split out into its own thread as a Trip Report??

Janisj, I just read this now and I have no idea how to ask to have the post split to a trip report. What would I do?

Barbara

Hi.

See the little orange triangles? If you click the one next to your post #29 -- it is a direct line to the moderators and if you want, you can ask them to create a Trip Report out of the post.

Thanks for reporting back. You hit a good year for wildflowers I think!

Ah thank you - I just did that.

So happy to hear you had a great trip! I'd love to see your photos! Nature trips like that are totally my thing ❤️

We DID - they were beautiful!

Karen is the photographer and I am the journalist so I only have the pictures she sent in a printed book. Sorry!

No worries at all! I hope you have another amazing trip this April!