Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America with an elevation of -282 ft and you need to go right now to see this once-in-a-lifetime lake! Death Valley’s record-breaking rainfall this past August has created two unique phenomena in the park: there is a temporary lake over the salt flat and wildflowers are blooming all over the desert floor right now in Fall.
If you’ve been to Badwater Basin in Death Valley before, you need to go again — and soon! You will need a National Park Pass to enter Death Valley National Park – click here to get your pass online in advance.
What is special about Badwater Basin?
Badwater Basin is the lowest elevation in North America at -282 ft. But what makes it truly special right now is that Badwater Basin salt flat is currently flooded as of November 2023. This flood created the temporary Lake Manly which is about 6-10 inches deep, and 2-4 miles long. Lake Manly has been extinct for 10,000 years which makes it a truly once-in-a-lifetime must-see spot in Death Valley.
Fun fact: At the peak of Lake Manly about 150,000 years ago, the lake was 600 ft deep.
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Death Valley Flooding and How It Brought Back Lake Manly and Wildflowers in the Fall
On August 20, 2023, Hurricane Hillary brought in a significant amount of rain and flooded Death Valley’s salt flats, creating the rare Lake Manly over Badwater Basin for the first time in 10,000 years.
The flash floods from the hurricane created a lot of damage to the roads that the national park had to shut down for two months, but when it finally reopened in mid-October 2023, Lake Manly became a must-see temporary attraction.
These floods have also created another phenomenon in the park – wildflowers. Typically, wildflowers bloom in late winter and spring depending on the rainfall we get in the winter. From what I understand, there needs to be a certain amount of rainfall in the earlier months of winter to get the super blooms in the springtime.
Well, with the amount of rain we got in August, wildflowers are blooming all over the desert floor on the drive into Death Valley right now in November!
Read more about the record-breaking rainfall on NASA’s blog here.
Visiting Badwater Basin and Lake Manly in Death Valley 2023
On November 25-26, 2023, I finally made the quick trip out to see the flooded Badwater Basin, also known as Lake Manly. Because there is at least 6 inches of water, you cannot see the usual hexagonal shape of the salt flats right now, but there will be plenty of time to see that after the lake dries up.
Lake Manly is temporary and it is unsure how long the lake will be around but the lake and water levels are currently much more than I anticipated which makes me believe the lake will be around for at least a few more weeks to months, especially given the cooler season upon us. However, I have no idea if it will be around by Spring/ Summer… so go now!
We went in the late afternoon for sunset and again the next morning for sunrise.
Badwater Basin at Sunset
Sunset at the salt flat was stunning. Golden hour lights up the white salt flats just a bit and while the sun sets behind the mountains in front of you where Telescope Peak is, it lights up the mountains behind you by the parking lot and even gets some pretty cotton candy sky colors on a clear day.
Badwater Basin at Night
It was the day before the full moon on our visit which made for an incredible experience visiting the salt flats and Lake Manly at night. It was a clear night and the bright moon lit up the white salt flats and surrounding mountains at night, which created a unique hazy whiteness to the whole view. While the stars weren’t as prominent, we were able to see them sparkle still. Best of all, there is almost nobody out there at night so you do not need to worry about crowds.
Badwater Basin Sunrise
Sunrise was the best time to see the temporary lake at the Death Valley salt flats. The alpenglow hit softly but what was more impressive was to see the sky light up pink and reflect in the lake. I think that view just made my whole trip worth it.
It was really cold in the morning though so be mindful of that and pack a down jacket!
The water is also much colder than it was in the late afternoon the day before.
I wore waterproof hiking boots which were just the right ankle height to not get wet at all as long as you aren’t running around in there and you are mindful of your steps. If you step onto softer parts of the salt flat that sink in a bit though, your whole boot will dunk and you will get wet. Avoid any brownish spots you see in the water (closer to the end of the boardwalk) as those are the softer parts of the salt flat that I sunk in and got wet.
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Badwater Basin Weather
In November/ December, the weather tends to sit at a high of 60s and low of 40s. Late Fall and Winter is the best time to visit as it gets hot here during the daytime by Spring. I’ve experienced 90-degree temps in early April, but sunset and sunrise temps may be more pleasant.
Where to Park When Visiting Badwater Basin Salt Flats
We got lucky with a parking spot in the parking lot, but overall it was jam-packed. The one-mile boardwalk that leads to the edge of the salt flat was so crowded. It’s been a while since I’ve been in a touristy sight of a national park and it felt like Disneyland in the outdoors. Some cars were also pulled off to the side of the road before the parking lot.
*Pro Tip*
Skip the main parking lot and keep driving on the road around the corner – you will come across several spots to pull off on the shoulder to park. We found the best spot to park and walk to be a little further down. This makes for a much shorter walk to reach the salt flat and lake, and there were no crowds here so you could enjoy it more and get your photos without worrying about photoshopping others out.
FAQ: Badwater Basin Death Valley
Where did the salt come from in Badwater Basin?
Badwater Basin is the dried-up lake bed from Lake Manly, which was a 600 ft deep lake that existed years ago. The salt that forms Badwater Basin is from the salt and other minerals Lake Manly accumulated which have been concentrated to form a dense salt layer on the ground.
Can you walk on Badwater Basin?
There is no actual trail on the salt flat but you can walk out onto it; however, it is advised to walk a path you’ve seen others go to help preserve the salt flats and minimize damage.
What is the dried up lake in Death Valley?
Lake Manly is the temporary lake on top of Badwater Basin salt flat in Death Valley right now.
When did Lake Manly dry up?
According to NPS, Lake Manly evaporated about 10,000 years ago, making this a truly unique once-in-a-lifetime sight to visit now. The lake was around from 186k – 120k years ago, and more recently from 35k-10k years ago. The water from this lake was previously filled by glacial melt from glaciers in the Nevada mountains.
TIP: Death Valley Gas Stations
I wanted to touch on this just as I had a lot of issues finding premium gas. I noticed all of the gas stations either only offered regular gas, or the premium gas pumps were out of order which means they still only offered gas. I struck out 3 for 3 and this was an issue for our road trip.
The closest premium gas station to Furnace Creek Visitor Center, if you are heading back towards the 15 fwy in the direction of Riverside/ San Diego, will be in Johannesburg where Trona Road meets the 395 hwy. This cost $6.40/ gallon when I went. However, you can make a short 16-minute detour to Ridgecrest for more gas options which I’m sure premium gas would have been a choice there.
There is also a Furnace Creek gas station in the park but the premium gas cost over $7/ gallon on my trip and I didn’t check if it was working or not so that’s an option.
Stovepipe Wells Gas Station in the park was $4.80 for regular gas only when I went on 11/26/23.
Trona gas stations (there are 2) were in the $5 range and only had regular gas.
Things to do in Death Valley
Where To Stay In Death Valley
Death Valley National Park is a huge park with a few lodging options all around. Check out the best ones below!
- Budget-Friendly: Panamint Springs Resort – For those searching for a budget-friendly option, Panamint Springs is a bit of a drive but it’s still located inside the park, closer to the sand dunes, and conveniently on the way if you are coming from the 395 (basically if you are coming from California vs Nevada).
- Mid-Range: Stovepipe Wells Village Hotel – This hotel is right by the Mesquite Sand Dunes, making it a great choice for those looking to explore the area and break up the drive.
- Luxury: The Inn at Death Valley – For those searching for a more luxurious stay inside Death Valley National Park, this upscale hotel is just a 15-minute drive from Badwater Basin.
Questions? Comments? Thoughts? Let’s chat more in the comment section below and please don’t forget to practice leave no trace.
Great tip! Thank you.
Thank you so much for writing this posts and making a reel about it! I never would have known about this without your content creation. You are amazing and an Instagram crush for the masses.🤙🏼
Thanks for the kind words, Scott! Hope you enjoy your experience out there 🙂
Before the lake there were salt pools that were covered with 1” salt crystals. You wouldn’t want to accidentally walk into one now as they have razor sharp surfaces on the crystals and go hundreds of feet deep.
Salt Bae is officially replaced by Salt Babe.