Skip to content »
Skip to second navigation »

Sep

01

2012

Oct

31

2012

Sep

01

2013

Oct

31

2013

Sep

01

2014

Oct

31

2014

Sep

01

2015

Oct

31

2015

Sep

01

2016

Oct

31

2016


Tee it up at The Devil's Golf Course

Published by Spencer Spellman, Writer

Country: United States

The Experience

Visitors that tote their golf clubs and equipment to what's known as the Devil's Golf Course, are going to be in for a little bit of an awakening. That's because the Death Valley attraction isn't what most people would call a playable golf course. The place has taken on its name because its said that only the devil could play golf on the rough surface of the land.

Devil's Golf Course is located in the Badwater Basin of Death Valley National Park. Situated near the California/Nevada border, the Badwater Basin is known as the lowest point in the U.S., at almost 300 feet below sea level. Years ago, nearby streams ran from the nearby mountains into what is today known as the Devil's Golf Course. The water created a lake, which at its deepest points was 30 feet deep. However, as the climate changed, warming up, the lake quickly began to evaporate. The Devil's Golf Course is what is left of the evaporated lake, existing today as a dried up lake bed.

The Devil's Golf Course is no ordinary lake bed. What's unique about the craggy bottom is the many salt crystals that have formed to create a variety of shapes. Climate and other conditions have caused the crystals to take on many different forms, making the Devil's Golf Course one of the most photographed areas of Death Valley. Interestingly enough, the lake bed is actually a national monument because of its interesting history and ever changing landscape. Scientists have noted that the salt and gravel beds could be as deep as several thousand feet below the actual surface.

Although the Devil's Golf Course wouldn't be considered dangerous, visitors are still encouraged to move with caution. As a craggy lake bed with crystal shapes in many forms, it can be unsafe to navigate through, as some of the crystals are sharp. Visitors can simply walk past the parking lot to the edge of the lake bed and still get a good idea of its uniqueness and significance, without walking on the jagged landscape to the middle, and therefore risking getting injured.

The Death Valley National Park attraction can be reached via a gravel road to the parking area. Flooding sometimes occurs in the area, covering the road and preventing access to the Devil's Golf Course. However, during most of the year it's easily accessible to take the gravel road to the parking lot and take the short walk to the lake bed. It's not something that visitors can expect to spend all day or even half a day, but it's a nice, quick side trip while driving through Death Valley.

Photos

Map

Puzzle

When to Go to Devils Golf Course

Although Devil's Golf Course is accessible anytime of year, it's not recommended to visit during the summer. If you do, make it a short visit, as temperatures can reach over 100 degrees during the summer. Even during winter months, it's still warm, but much more bearable and offering a better time to explore and enjoy the area. Early mornings and afternoons are the best time to visit, when it's a little more comfortable and so you don't get stuck after dark.

Odds n' Ends

When visiting Devil's Golf Course, it's important to make sure above all that you're well-hydrated, but also have the appropriate clothing. Even if just going for a short visit, make sure you have some water with you. Wear the type of clothing you would typically wear when hiking or climbing, including a good pair of athletic shoes, but preferably hiking boots.

More Experiences Nearby

Highs and Lows in Death Valley National Park
The road to Death Valley National Park from Los Angeles winds along the Owens River—a dry, hot region bordered by the Mojave Desert and the High Sierra. Death Valley has been the stage for gold prospecting, cowboy movie backdrops (John Wayne was a frequent visitor to the town of Lone Pine to film Westerns), and fierce battles over the ownership of water that flows through the Owens. Driving through the desiccated air on the way to Death Valley, I could taste dust on my tongue—the sweet tang of desert yucca, pinon and sage. Death Valley in California holds two extremes: ...15 miles away.

Video

Video Wall

You are now being transfered to our Video Wall

Books and DVDs

Hiking Death Valley: A Guide to Its Natural Wonders and Mining Past
The Photographer's Guide to Death Valley
Death Valley: National Parks Collection
Death Valley National Park, CA - Trails Illustrated Map #221

Elsewhere on the Web

Death Valley National Park - NPS.gov

Media References

36 Hours Death Valley - NYTimes.com (newspaper)

Language Guides

French , Hindi , Indonesian , Italian , Japanese , Lao , Malay , Mandarin , Portugese , Russian , Spanish , Thai , Turkish , Vietnamese are some of the languages spoken in United States. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!

Discussion

Experienced this and have something to share? Experienced something like this somewhere else? Looking for advise or travel companions? Use this space to leave your mark. Our writers and editors are more than happy to help answer your questions.

Recent Tweets

Listed below are the most recent comments made on Twitter for "devils golf course":