Death Valley – Stovepipe Wells
In the center of the park near where the roads meet to go to the four corners of the park is the Stovepipe Wells Village area, which features the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Devil’s cornfield, and the Salt Creek boardwalk trail. It also has basic services including a very nice General Store with reasonably priced gifts along with somewhat pricey (yet very popular) soft serve ice cream. We kicked back for a while on the patio after heading out to the dunes nearby, which pleasantly reminded one of walking on fine beach sand. If it wasn’t for the creosote bushes that dotted the area, it would remind one of the Sahara. But like most of the park, the scenery changes dramatically. To the east the mountains pierce up in rocky crags with ribbons of color, while to the south lay the marsh-like area around Salt Creek, filled with pickleweed and playful pup fish.
Driver Report: Stovepipe’s central location makes for a good first destination coming from Beatty. Entrance fee here is $20 for a 7-day car permit. If you plan to come back more than once, a $40 year pass is the better value, or an America the Beautiful pass. Don’t forget to bring over-the-mirror pass holder that you should have gotten with the parks pass (and always lock your vehicle when your pass is in the holder so nobody is tempted.) The road to Salt Creek is gravel, but was well maintained with no special restrictions.
Wheels Report: Strollers and Wheelchairs: The boardwalk trail in the area is Salt Creek Interpretive trail, particularly popular in the spring when the pupfish are spawning. Benches are spaced rather far apart on the boardwalk out to the loop area, but there are several once you get there. Overall, the boardwalk is level and well maintained. The bathroom is primitive and out in the parking lot and not marked as accessible, although the ones at the dunes are.
Kids Report: Salt Creek boardwalk has interpretive signage and at 1/2 mile is short enough for younger explorers. The dunes are a good option as well, although not for strollers; you don’t have to step far onto the dunes to experience it fully. The general store at Stovepipe has drinks and snacks and a shaded patio with picnic tables if you need somewhere to take a break.
Tech Report: As in all areas of this park, don’t count on cell phone service. There are pay phones at Stovepipe Wells Village if required.
General tips: If you did forget to bring hats and sunglasses, they are available at the village general store (including kid-sized sunglasses.) They also have water and other supplies, and if you simply must get gas in the park, the gas station here was much cheaper than the one in Furnace Creek during our visit. If you’re planning on heading to Scotty’s Castle, it is still about 44 miles away and takes about an hour. (Panamint Springs, Beatty, and Furnace Creek are 30-35 miles away). Spring is the most popular time to see Salt Creek, but don’t let that stop you from doing it other times of the year and experience what nature is like on the edge of the flats.