Activities On-Property & In-Park
For some travelers, the images of isolation and calmness that Death Valley evokes make for an ideal getaway. However, in addition to the calmness, the Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort offers a wide variety of activities to satisfy the sports-person within.
Both the Inn and the Ranch offer outdoor swimming pools that are naturally heated by warm springs that keep the pool's temperature at a comfortable 82 ºF (27.7 ºC). In addition to the pool, guests can enjoy a game of tennis on the lighted tennis courts, or take in an early morning walk, jog or hike.
Wildflower Season in Death Valley
Spend your day viewing some of Death Valley's color while taking in the flowers of this region. Rainfall levels since last July in the park have been close to normal, although certainly less than the extraordinary amounts that fell in 2004, precipitating a “hundred year bloom.” There are already flowers blooming close to Furnace Creek and we are hopeful that additional precipitation will enhance the late winter/early spring showing.
Scenic Hiking & Walking
The breathtaking scenery itself justifies recreation and guests are encouraged to take advantage of the several hiking and walking trips. Many points of interest are accessible for the casual or seasoned walker. Although formal trails do not exist, paths carved out by past travelers are easy to follow. Trips to the Harmony Borax Works and Golden Canyon are easily accomplished ranging from one to three miles.
Mosaic Canyon can be reached by a 2.5-mile walk up an alluvial fan. The sand dunes, east of Stovepipe Wells, are ideal for either a casual stroll or an all-day excursion.
For the more seasoned hiker, a climb up to Telescope Peak, the highest spot in Death Valley, can be a challenge. Steep inclines make for a strenuous, all-day hike to the top.
The Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort offers the perfect vantage point to explore the beauty of a region that is virtually untouched and extraordinarily distinct.
October through May, the National Park Service conducts interpretive programs at the Visitor Center located next door to the Furnace Creek Ranch. Guided walks and naturalist talks are conducted daily and illustrated talks are presented each evening.
Activities Photo Gallery
Visit our online photo gallery for images of various activities you can enjoy at Death Valley National Park.
More Sites Not To Be Missed Within The Park
The Borax Museum at the Furnace Creek Ranch provides the history of the property and key figures involved in the history of Death Valley and the resort. It offers a pictorial history and showcases artifacts from the past such as antique stagecoaches, mining tools and a railroad steam locomotive. It is the oldest structure in Death Valley.
Artist's Drive, a one-way paved canyon which meanders eight miles through magnificent washes and mud hills with breathtaking colors and natural rock formations.
Badwater, just 17 miles south of the resort, is the lowest spot in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level. Massive salt flats abound.
Devil's Golf Course is actually not a golf course at all, but rather an expansive salt field caused by evaporated bodies of water. One can actually see the crystallization process at work.
Also do not miss Mushroom Rock, Zabriskie Point, Dante's View and Harmony Borax Works.
Nearby Activities, Attractions & Points of Interest
Amargosa Opera House
Thirty miles from Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resort, and just outside the park boundaries, is the Amargosa Opera House where Marta Becket performs ballet pantomimes on Saturday evenings during the season (October to May).
The Opera House itself is not to be missed. Marta has painted murals, which have become a permanent audience of people from her imagination. The murals are scenes of 16th Century Spanish Royalty, clerics, gypsies and revelers. Please call for reservations as Seating is limited. (760) 852-4441
