Hiking around Death Valley: Dante’s View
| Location: | Death Valley National Park |
| Elevation gain: | 250-300 ft |
| GPS Coordinates: | N 36 13.238 W 116 43.584 |
Dante’s View is a fabulous overlook that is considered one of the best high elevations and easily-accessible viewpoints in California. This viewpoint is situated at the edge of the Black Mountains and provides gorgeous views of southern part of Death Valley National Park. This place is considered to be one of the most photogenic places in the entire National Park.
Thirteen-mile road leads you to Dante’s View, be prepared for the elevation gain from 3,000 ft to 5,476 ft. This viewpoint rises above another park’s attraction Badwater that is worthwhile visiting.
It’s interesting to know that the temperature at Dante’s View in summer is in the 90s, but beneath at Badwaters it will be 20-25°F hotter. Gorgeous views of salt dunes as well as part of the Panamint Range and the highest summit Telescope Peak (11,049 ft) won’t leave anyone indifferent. Not only views are great here, everything that surrounds you is so beautiful and full of history: multicolored and eroded rocks can tell you more than any historian.
Death Valley National Park is one of the hottest places in the whole world; Furnace Creek recorded the highest temperature of 134 °F (57 °C) in 1913. When hiking, remember to stay hydrated.
Several paths lead from Dante’s View parking lot. One of them leads to the top of Dante’s Peak, offering fabulous panoramic views. Another trail gives the opportunity to explore Coffin Peak. The views from this peak include gorgeous and colorful Coffin Canyon and Greenwater Valley.
Dante’s View was discovered in the 1920s. At that time the mining bloom was over and the companies that had worked here were trying to make Death Valley a tourist destination. These companies were looking for an easily-accessible overlook that offered panoramic views.
Dante’s View is named from the famous writer Dante Alighieri. The name was given in April 1926 by the businessmen from the Pacific Coast Borax Company.
Dante’s View is truly one of the best overlooks in the valley. We enjoyed stunning views of the salt pans below, the Black Mountains and fabulously beautiful sky. By the way, cool mornings are considered to be the best time to visit Dante’s View and take pictures. The sun will be in the east and you will enjoy the colors and shapes that change with the rising of the sun.
If we speak about dangers, please, be attentive and careful, dangerous animals include scorpions, black widow spiders, rattlesnakes, coyotes, and mountain lions.
Photo: Roman Khomlyak
Photo Editing: Juliana Voitsikhovska
Information: Marina Petrova
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