Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Landscape Photography Locations => Topic started by: madlantern on December 04, 2016, 11:14:16 pm
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I have a few weeks off in December/Jan and was thinking of visiting Death Valley. But most people recommend going in the spring/fall (especially fall). So I was wondering what will be different in the winter compared to fall/spring? Is visiting in early Jan a good idea?
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My one visit to Death Valley was in January a few years ago and the weather was very pleasant, day and night. Light was excellent for photography.
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Winter is rainy season, which is of course a relative thing given that it's Death Valley. :) But there is some potential for localized flooding and rapids-like water flow. Keeping that in mind January is IMO a really good time to visit.
-Dave-
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Winter is an excellent time to go to DeVa. The days are coool and crisp, the desert mornings are spectacular. There can be snow in the higher elevations of the park. The time between the two ends of the day when the light is the best is shorter/shortest during Nov-Jan. You don't have to get up as early as you would during the other seasons.
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I am looking to be in Death Valley around March 25-27. Planning in staying in Furnace Creek. Looking to do some night sky photography and then pick a few good places to shot during the day. Suggestions? Will be heading to Joshua Tree for the next few days.
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Dantes View.
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We were there last end of Feb to March 1st or so. Even then, it can get very hot during noontime. Stay on the known roads and do not just trust your GPS. DV is HUGE so even driving from Dante's View back out to say the lowest spot salt flat takes over an hour. So be sure to tank up frequently at either Furnace Creek or you can go out to Butte, NV, or carry extra tanks.
Zabriskie Point is a must see. Get there at least 30 mins before sunrise and the view is AWAY from the sunrise (I was wondering why everyone was pointing the cameras westward, ha ha). Aguereberry Point is great for sunrise also.
We don't have a off-road vehicle, so we didn't go to Racetrack, but really so much to see.... be sure to pick up your kaws from the floor ;-)
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Just remember it gets way too hot in the summer. You don't want to be there from the end of May until September.
I have been there twice in the summer; but only stayed for one day- the heat made it too hot to enjoy or do anything.
Winter months are usually best.
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Here is the relevant excerpt from "Treasured Lands":
A summer visit to Death Valley is an exercise in survival, with high temperatures often reaching 120°F, amply justifying the valley’s name. Even by mid-March, temperatures can already be too warm, sometimes reaching in the 90s or even low 100s. However, from mid-November to the beginning of March, temperatures in the Valley are mild and the air clear, although springtime can be windy. Death Valley normally receives less than two inches of rain per year, so great wildflowers displays are rare, but exceptionally wet years can carpet the whole valley in February and March.