Badwater Basin

Badwater Basin in Inyo County, California is noteworthy for its vast stretches of salt flats and for being a beautiful stark contrast against the imposing mountain peaks that surround it in the background. At 282 feet (86m) below sea level, this part of Death Valley is the lowest point in North America and the second lowest in the entire western hemisphere. Hikes of varying lengths are available throughout Badwater Basin’s areas of interest. A must-see is Devil’s Golf Course, an area full of sharp, spiky salt formations that look like a golf course of sorts. There are some easy hikes starting from the boardwalk trail on the basin's edge, or you can try the longer, more difficult hikes like the 6-mile hike to Natural Bridge Canyon.