Explore the Holiday Magic in California's Death Valley

By Edward Smith

Published 5 months ago on

December 24, 2024

The sun rises over the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley, California on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

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When it’s not 130 degrees, the diversity of the 3.4 million acres in Death Valley can make for spectacular sights and unforgettable trips. I toured the national park on Friday and Saturday, enjoying beautiful 70-degree days and crisp 40-degree nights.

Edward Smith

The View Outdoors

The convergence of tectonic plates in eastern California created towering rock formations surrounding the lowest point in the U.S. Volcanic activity helped create a palette of colors on hillsides and slot canyons carved out by violent mudslides.

Travelers can see — and even taste — salt flats at the Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level. Overlooking the lowest point in the U.S. is Telescope Peak, 11,043 above sea level.

A few miles from Badwater at Golden Canyon, hikers can see many of the sights director George Lucas used for Star Wars. If you need a break from the hard ground, expansive sand dunes offer some fun and glorious colors in the morning.

Many sights at Golden Canyon like this of Manly Beacon on Friday, Dec. 20 2024, may be familiar to fans of “Star Wars,” which director George Lucas used to film the blockbuster movie. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

Hillsides hide slot canyons in Golden Canyon on Friday, Dec. 20 2024. The temperature can be quite cool when hiking through the narrow passes. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

It can snow at Death Valley, California, but the more prevalent whites come from salt deposits. Travelers visit Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the U.S., on Friday, Dec. 20 2024. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

The sun shines through a mineral formation at the Devil’s Golf Course at Death Valley, California on Friday, Dec. 20 2024. Visitors can hear the salt crystals forming and separating as heat pulls out moisture. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

Visitors see the spectrum of colors created by volcanic activity at the Artist’s Palette in Death Valley, California on Friday, Dec. 20 2024. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

An early morning trek on Saturday, Dec. 21 2024 to catch the sunrise at the Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes at Death Valley, California. It can take a long walk before finding dunes not completely covered in footprints. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

Sunrise in Death Valley, California creates hues of pinks and yellows on Saturday, Dec. 21 2024. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

The sun peaks over the mountains of Death Valley, California on Saturday, Dec. 21 2024. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

The bristlecone pine trees at Death Valley can be among the oldest living florae in the world such as this one near Telescope Peak on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2021. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

At 11,043 feet above sea level, Death Valley, California’s tallest peak, Telescope Peak, overlooks Badwater Basin, the country’s lowest point. (GV Wire/Edward Smith)

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Edward Smith,

Multimedia Journalist

Edward Smith began reporting for GV Wire in May 2023. His reporting career began at Fresno City College, graduating with an associate degree in journalism. After leaving school he spent the next six years with The Business Journal, doing research for the publication as well as covering the restaurant industry. Soon after, he took on real estate and agriculture beats, winning multiple awards at the local, state and national level. You can contact Edward at 559-440-8372 or at Edward.Smith@gvwire.com.