I know it’s been forever!
Took a really quick weekend trip to Death Valley National Park! Ever since I learned about Lake Manly forming in Badwater basin I’ve been itching to go. Thought I missed my chance but at the end of April I had a free weekend, and the lake was still there!
Wikipedia can tell you all about lake manly 🙂 and so can Google! The lake hasn’t formed since 2005 I think, the photos I’ve seen looked incredible, Death Valley is one of my favs (though I am likely to call any national park my fave 🙈), when will the lake form again, and it’s still here, it was a sign, I must go and so I went!
Normally I stay outside of the park and drive in daily, as it was a short trip, and I wanted to save on sleep, I stayed inside the park at The Ranch. It was good, served my purpose (sleep!), and I had some hotel points to help offset the cost.
Video recaps if it’s of interest:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6lsKc6rCdn/?igsh=aHU0NHBkd3Z1aHp1
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6XQXExPSmv/?igsh=Ymd2Y2h1NGZkemJi
Sunrise, Saturday April 27 - it was not all I had hoped as the wind whipped through the lake and everything else. It was cool to see the lake, i was disappointed by not getting to see the clear flat mirror like lake that I wanted to see. Though I did see the lake and it was still very cool. Got there before sunrise and watched the sun paint the panamint mountains in light which was still an awesome sight to see.
Lake Manly was the goal, everything else a bonus!
Sadly Devils golf course road was closed, that was really interesting last time so another time! I stopped at the Natural Bridge, and did Artists Palette before going back to hotel for a nap/rest before afternoon adventures.
*Natural bridge, the road is a bit rough, you hike up to get to it but it is short and the views were cool, I didn’t go too far beyond the bridge.
*Artists palette, paved road. You don’t have to get out of the car, and if you do, you don’t need to hike if you don’t want to, this time I did not though last time I did do the hike up to get closer to the colors.
Did Dante’s view for an above view of Badwater Basin, the Borax Mine interpretive trail, and then Mesquite Sand Dunes for sunset (don’t do as I did and pack just enough water, I thought I planned well and did not. I did make it safely back to the car after sunset!).
The water is green!!!?!?
Wildflowers😍
Borax Mine interpretive path - short, sweet, fascinating
Sand dunes, sunset, that sky 😍😱 oh and a lizard !
Sunday April 29, decided I should at least try again right?!? I leave on Monday and I may not see this lake for a long long while! Decided since it was early, I was going to do Artists Palette again before sunrise as the sun washes out the colors.
These colors are just different! 😍
Dawn and yellow wildflowers from the road to Badwater Basin
And success!!! I got what I wanted to see!! How lucky am I??!!? To be honest thought that wind was going to beat me up again (mentally prepared myself to be disappointed), I was waiting for it and it didn’t happen thankfully! 😍😍😍
Everything else was definitely a beautiful bonus after that!!
Did Zabriskie point (and an early-ish hike on Badlands Loop which took me through the Gower Gulch and then up through the badlands. I also hiked it backwards 🤷🏻♀️ though on a hike that is a loop it’s not really backwards right??!). After that quick pit stop for gas/lunch, then Twenty Canyon Mule drive, back up Dante’s peak for a last view (as I had time), then to Vegas to come home!
Zabriskie point
Twenty Mule Canyon drive
Dante’s Peak & Drive (lake is still there and it is still green!! 🙂😂I needed to confirm)!
If you have read/come this far - thanks for stopping by!!! Death Valley is amazing, go! Next time, and I’m positive there will be a next time for me, I’m hitting the other side of Death Valley (panamint mountains). I’ve spent my time on the Dante’s view side and thru to the mesquite flats but have not yet gone over to Panamint mountains. Otherwise on list is Golden Canyon (that area is always busy so it deters me a bit!). Take care and thanks again for visiting!!