It was full of water when I went, I suggest you bring sandals because the salt hurts. One thing to remember is that you should never put your whole body in the water or your arm, the salt solidifies like rock....but nonetheless it is beautiful.
Such a unique and beautiful place — totally worth visiting.
Tip: if you plan to step into the water or walk far on the salt flats, bring proper shoes and a change of clothes. Definitely recommend it — just come prepared
A unique experience in Death Valley - there is a large parking lot and then a level walk out onto the salt flats, as far as you want to go. I recommend walking out a half mile or more. Depending on rain, there can may be a shallow lake that reflects the surrounding mountains. Even if the parking lot feels full, there is so much space on the salt flats that it never feels crowded.
An absolutely breathtaking place where you can touch and feel the salt formations up close. Visitors are welcome to take their time soaking in the stunning views and capturing beautiful photos.
This place is north America's deepest below the sea level spot , incredible history is explained in detail that how it formed over past millions of years .
Badwater Basin is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Standing at the lowest point in North America (282 feet below sea level) feels surreal. The vast white salt flats stretch endlessly, creating a stunning and almost otherworldly landscape.
Walking out onto the salt patterns is peaceful and mesmerizing — it feels like you’re on another planet. The contrast of bright white salt against the surrounding mountains is absolutely breathtaking, especially during sunrise or sunset.
If you’re visiting Death Valley National Park, this spot is a must-see. Just make sure to carry plenty of water and visit during cooler hours, as it can get extremely hot.
An unforgettable stop for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts! ?✨
Best time to visit is December.
Absolutely gorgeous especially with present water along the basin if you walk beyond the boardwalk. Most people walk straight with the boardwalk, but I'd say the best views are a short car ride a little further down Badwater Road towards Jubilee Pass (away from Furnace Creek). If you have the chance, pull over to the side at these additional spots and walk to the waters edge there its absolutely spectacular. The water is like a mirror and if there is no wind its a complete reflection of the mountains around.
I went as of Feb. 8-9 during Dark Sky Festival so the present water was from unusually high rainfall during the winter. It is the lowest, driest, and hottest of the Western Hemisphere, and some records on Earth. Even during winter it is incredibly drying along the salt flats, so bring more water than needed even on a short walk.
It is within the valley so sunrise is after official times and sunsets beyond the mountains before official times. As of February the sunset photos I got were just before 5pm.
Our family came here on Jan 18th 2026. The weather is pleasant! It is second time to visit Badwater basin. Because it had rain before I came, the salt water’s levels was plenty higher than that of last time.
Very cool point of interest in Death Valley. Awesome to see Lake Manly when it has water and be at the lowest point in North America. Not the biggest parking lot, gets packed. If you plan to aee other parts of the park be sure to map out the park prior. Easy walk out and back, fun experience.
We were lucky enough to see this iconic view with the lake. It had recently rained in December so the water hasn’t yet evaporated. Even though we went in January, the basin was HOT and the air was dense. The drive to get there from the visitor center is about 18 miles down an out and back road and felt long. When you’re there, don’t forget to look up on the valley wall for the sea level sign.
The drive over is easy, the views are beautiful. I came during the winter and it had rained the days before so there was water accumulation and it was not as dry. I was told dawn and sunset were the best times to see the reflections, I came around 4pm and it was as beautiful with a good view of the salt and mountains. The parking is a bit small but it loops around to where you can park alongside the road.
We visited when there was accumulated water, and it was incredible. The water acts like a mirror, reflecting the sunset with unreal colors. The salt flats are fascinating to walk on.
If you stay after sunset, the stars are amazing—just be sure you’re comfortable driving back in complete darkness, as it’s very remote.
We loved this place. We went there three times. During the day the place is beautiful but it was spectacular at sunset. Do stay another 1/2 hour after the sun disappears.
I arrived just before sunset, eerily quiet with almost no noise/sound polution.
You feel the pressure change and walking out on the salt flat is quite surreal. There's a sign on the cliff wall to mark sea level for perspective.
Visit when it’s not too hot. It seemed like the area could easily be closed if it rains. The ground was quite firm, and there were shallow puddles here and there. Interestingly, there were living organisms in those puddles.
A must place to visit. Limited free parking space. You can park on street too. Place gets busy. You need to walk to the edge of the water. I recommend you walk into the water. Nice views and great experience. The salty crystals crack when you walk on them. The road is closed after this point.
It was early September and the whole valley was still very dry and hot ? not to mention this lowest point in the continental of United States! We got up at 5:00am and drove here to view the beautiful sunrise! Booked the Ranch at Death Valley which is very convenient to visit the attractions in the park ?
Badwater Basin is one of the most iconic and surreal places in Death Valley—and the lowest point in North America! Standing 282 feet below sea level on that vast salt flat feels like stepping onto another planet. The white salt crust stretches endlessly in every direction, and the patterns on the ground are wild up close.
It’s an easy walk from the parking lot to the basin, but the farther you go, the more dramatic and quiet it gets. Just be very careful in the summer—the heat is no joke. Bring plenty of water, wear a hat, and try to go early in the morning or near sunset when it’s cooler
Lowest place in the United States. It is very flat, with many areas having almost the same low elevation. In a cliff behind the parking lot, there is a sign that shows the sea level height. There is also an outhouse to go to the bathroom.
Badwater Basin was one of the most unique places we visited during our USA trip. The landscape felt otherworldly—the vast salt flats and surrounding mountains create an amazing view that’s hard to describe. Walking on the cracked, hot ground was such an interesting experience. It was quite windy when we went, so we couldn’t stay as long as we wanted, but it was absolutely worth the visit. A must-see if you’re in Death Valley!
Pretty amazing to visit the hottest place on earth! What looks like snow is vast swaths of salt, crunching beneath your feet and reflecting back the scorching sun! There’s a cool sign that points out your below sea level which is just incredible to imagine! Try not to venture too far away from the “boardwalk” path as it can disturb the natural ecosystem but definitely walk out far enough to witness the cool geometric patterns that grace the “sea” floor.
This was probably one of the highlights of our Death Valley tour, being at 200+ feet below sea level. You get to really see why they call the Death Valley, Death Valley. Enormous salt plains with an endless view of the valley meeting the horizon, especially during sun set, is simply gorgeous.
Don't come in the day; make sure you check for sunset timing and reach the carpark before that. After that, try to also stay for the night skies, as the stars will be out and stargazing takes over (assuming fair weather conditions). The thing with nature is, once you miss it, you miss it; but it's also unpredictable.
We came here with iTravel USA LLC, and Mama Lankun was an amazing tour guide for what we needed for the day.
Wow! An interesting place, but you’d better like it hot, especially if you’re visiting in the summer months as I did. It was 119° and the wind blowing off the sand felt like I imagine a blast furnace would feel like. After driving from Las Vegas through Death Valley, I was glad to take a quick break and even row 2,000 meters on my rowing machine. One for the record books.
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