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Zabriskie Point Panoramic

Zabriskie Point is probably the most iconic photographic destination in Death Valley National Park; show up on any given Saturday morning, and you're likely to ...
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Zabriskie Point is probably the most iconic photographic destination in Death Valley National Park; show up on any given Saturday morning, and you're likely to share the overlook with several dozen photographers. Such a designation is well-deserved. The alluvial deposits that form the silty rock catch the morning light, giving the entire area a neat glow. And once the sun rises behind the vantage point, Manly Beacon and the other badland formations catch the bright light and display their best colors and contrast.

I waited until my last morning in DV before trying to photograph Zabriskie Point at sunrise. After several days spent at the Racetrack, Eureka Dunes, and Panamint Springs, the crowds of other photographers were definitely a change. We arrived over an hour before sunrise to stake out a location, and shortly thereafter the hordes of other tripods began setting up around us. The clouds didn't disappoint, catching an awesome pink glow before the sun finally rose.

If you look to the left side of the mountains, Telescope peak is visible towering over the valley. Its 11,000 ft. elevation gives it a ridiculous prominence over the lowest valley in the western hemisphere, and yet is still put to shame by the Sierra mountains visible from the western side of the park. If you followed the stream bed down hill from here, you would eventually exit into Death Valley via Golden Canyon. I wanted to do the Zabriskie Point to Golden Canyon trailhead hike, but there just wasn't enough time in the week! I guess I'll have to plan another trip out here!
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