Pit stop in Death Valley

Death Valley National Park

There is a lot of national parks in the Grand Canyon area. Other visitors wouldn't stop talking about those in Arizona, Utah, Nevada and California. But one has to choose and to like driving to have a good time.

After leaving Tusayan, I got back in Las Vegas, something like four hours later. The plan : find cheap tickets for O, another Cirque du Soleil show.

After I found a closed Tix4Tonight desk, I decided to embrace my backpacker status and to save money. I went back to the hostel and left to visit casinos with a German tourist I just met. Biggest win : 4,50 $. But I lost it all after that. Poor me! Good news are, for drinkers, alcohol is free as long as you play on slot machines... and if you leave the waitress a tip.

The next morning, I said goodbye to Vegas and left for Death Valley. There, temperature is no joke. It is the warmest place in North America. January, in a t-shirt... in a dark car. Will have to review my strategy when choosing a rental car.

Strolling in Death Valley is obviously done by car. With frequent stops to look at the landscape. With a "detour" on the 178, instead of taking the shortest road by the 127, from the South, I felt alone in this world. You can walk in the middle of the road without any problem. And the view is very nice.

Well... In a curve, a few coyotes ran to my car. They looked like they've been fed by humans before. They circled my car, looked at me throught the window for a couple of minutes and understood they would get nothing from me. They let me go. Mip! Mip!

I stopped at Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North American, 86 meters under sea level.

The sun setting slowly, I drove through Artist's Drive, where I came face to face... with a guy from Victoriaville. Was a perfect place to see the sunset. Artist's Palette, during the day, is breathtaking because of the colours in the rock. With a little chance, you can even listen to real silence.

For the sunrise, Zabriskie Point is recommended, The shadows on the dunes, for those who manage to stay one or two hours, are worth it. With a little more time, Eureka sand dunes offer a great escape too.

Note the hotels are expensive in the valley, but may be worth to spend one night. Camping sites may be cheaper. Gaz price is out of this world. More than 5 $ a gallon in Furnace Creek or Stovepipe Wells. Same for the food.

Visiting in January seemed like a good idea. They say they sometimes refuse to rent Jeeps in summer in fear of tourist dying from a heath stroke in the middle of nowhere.

In winter, it is recommended to be careful on the icy roads... when you drive on one. Which wasn't my case. I just wonder if they are really that dangerous or if it's just because people there are not used to snow and ice when they drive.