Short and Easy Walk at Dante’s View

Views into a desert valley with a lake with clouds above and blue skies — Views north up Death Valley from Dante’s View

If you’re looking for a quick, gorgeous view in Death Valley – and one of the most accessible views from a mountain in the park – Dante’s View is perfect. From the parking lot, you can look down on Death Valley (you’re standing almost directly above the lowest point in North America) as well as across the valley to the Panamint Mountain Range (including Telescope Peak, the highest point in the park). It’s beautiful at any time of day, but I personally like early morning (though not too early) when the views are best to the west. If you want more than a parking lot view, a trail goes along the ridgeline to a small viewpoint – and it’s worth seeing, too!

Quick Stats

Round Trip Length: 0.5 miles Trail Type: Out & back Elevation Gain: 517ft. Pets: No Fees: $30/vehicle

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Three hikers on a trail with amazing views of mountains and a salt flat in the valley with a sidewalk in the foreground — The “trailhead” for the Dante’s View Trail

0.0 Dantes View Trailhead (5,473ft.). Walk south (left if you’re facing the view down on Badwater Flats) on the well-defined trail along the ridgeline. (Don’t go right – these are great views, too, but you’ll be on the trail to Mount Perry instead of the much, much shorter trail to Dante’s Viewpoint.) Views are excellent both down on Death Valley and into the Black Mountains on your left. (36.220576°, -116.726783°)

Views across black hills down to salt flats and distant desert mountains — Views south from the end of the Dante’s View Trail

0.5 Dantes View Overlook (5,166ft.). Enjoy spectacular views of the Panamint Mountains to the west, Badwater Flats, the Black Mountains, nearby valleys, and more. I had the joy of visiting Death Valley after the storms in the late summer/fall of 2003 turned the valley into a lake (Lake Manly). So my pictures have water in Death Valley – not at all a common sight! The canyons in the Panamint Mountains are (R-L/N-S) Trail Canyon, Hanaupah Canyon, Johnson Canyon, and Galena Canyon. You can also see Telescope Peak (the highest point in the range and as well as in Death Valley National Park) and Wildrose Peak (over Trail Canyon). (36.214612°, -116.730847°)

Desert plants and rocks with distant mountains and clouds in the blue sky — Views north into the Black Mountains

Round Trip Trail Length: About 1 mile. You don’t have to go the entire way if you don’t want to.

Elevation Gain: 517ft. (5,473ft. to 5,166ft.)

A bush along the Dante's View Trail with salt flats in the valley and desert mountains in the distance — A bush along the Dante’s View Trail

Facilities: None. There is a restroom a short distance down the road.

Fees: $30/vehicle to visit Death Valley National Park, valid 7 days. National Parks & Federal Public Lands Passes and Death Valley Annual Passes are accepted.

A bush on a dark mountaintop with views down into the desert valley of salt flats, a lake, and distant mountains — The edge of Lake Manly and the left side of Badwater Flats

Trail Notes: I often recommend this view to first-time visitors to Death Valley for three reasons: 1) It’s a great view, 2) it’s cooler than being in the valley, and 3) it’s easy. Most people recommend sunset up here, but it’s not my favorite because the mountains across the valley (the Panamint Mountain Range) are silhouetted against the setting sun. However, visit too early in the morning, and the Black Mountains will shadow Death Valley (as is evidenced in some of my pictures!) If you’re desperate to stay high elevation in this area, you can also hike the trail to Mount Perry or the trailless trek to Coffin Peak.

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Would I go 100 miles out of my way for this?

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A gravelly desert hillside with distant hazy mountains — Looking south over the Black Mountains

GPS Coordinates for Dante’s View

Dante’s View Trailhead: 36.220576°, -116.726783° (36°13.23456′, -116°43.60698′ / 36°13’14.0736″, -116°43’36.4188″) (5,473ft.) (0.0)

End of Trail: 36.214612°, -116.730847° (36°12.87672′, -116°43.85082′ / 36°12’52.6032″, -116°43’51.0492″) (5,166ft.) (0.5)

Views into a desert valley with a salt flat and distant mountains — Views toward the Panamint Mountains

The gpx file for Dante’s View can be downloaded – please note that this and the GPS Coordinates are for reference only and should not be used as a sole resource when hiking this trail.

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A valley with a lake with distant desert mountains and clouds below a blue sky — Views north across Lake Manly toward the High Sierra

Getting to Dante’s View

From Furnace Creek, drive east (toward Badwater Road) on CA-190. About 10.7 miles after the Badwater Road goes off on the right (stay on CA-190 at this junction), the road to Dante’s View will go off also on the right. Turn up this road for 12.6 miles to the restroom on the left. Trailers must park here. Continue another 0.6 miles up to the parking area at the top of the road – with a viewpoint right there along the railing!

A desert hillside with distant mountains and clouds below a blue sky — Looking northeast toward the Funeral Mountains

From Death Valley Junction (near the Amargosa Opera House), turn onto CA-190 toward Death Valley National Park. After 18.1 miles, turn left onto the road up to Dante’s View. The parking area will be on the left after 12.6 miles (it’s beside the restroom). Trailers must park here. Continue another 0.6 miles up to the parking area at the top of the road – with a viewpoint right there along the railing!