Photos from Death Valley’s Lake Manly

A desert lake between mountains and below clouds in a blue sky — A very flooded Death Valley, known as Lake Manly

About two months ago, I was editing my final photos from 2023, which included our visit to Lake Manly at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park, California. I was sad about editing the photos because I figured I’d never be able to publish them – after all, who wants to see pictures about an event that happened two years ago and was likely never to happen again in my lifetime? Well, Lake Manly is back, so now I’m thrilled that I get to post pictures from our visit!

A photographer in a red jacket on a white salt plain with a lake and desert hills beyond — A photographer in a red jacket beside Lake Manly

Lake Manly is an extremely rare occurrence. The first time I heard of it was August 2023, though I gather it has also happened a few times before, including in 1911 and 2005. On December 1, 2025, the lake reappeared after the rainiest autumn on record, with more than the park’s average rainfall in the months of September, October, and November… and there was more rain on Christmas Eve!

A silhouette raises a hand to the sun and clouds over a lake — One of my group members tries to push the sun back up into the sky

I visited in November 2023 on a whim when my plans to visit Grand Canyon were disrupted due to rain and snow. It was a magical experience; so peaceful and wild and mind-blowing and beautiful and mystical all at the same time.

A boardwalk leading to brown and white salt flats, mountains, and a blue sky with clouds — Walking the boardwalk at Badwater Basin – as you can see, the water wasn’t anywhere near the boardwalk; you had to walk a quarter mile or so to the lake

We walked out from Badwater Basin to see the lake in our hiking boots and sneakers. It was such an incredible sight that we went straight back to the van and changed into water shoes (which I packed for some reason I can’t remember… I honestly don’t know why we needed water shoes in November, but it worked out for us!) I opted for all-plastic flipflops, and I’m glad I did – some of my group had trouble washing the salt out of their water shoes, so if you do opt to wade, you might want to wear something that’s very, very easy to rinse afterward.

Three hikers on a white, wide path with distant mountains below blue sky and clouds — Walking out to Lake Manly – the distant line of people is the edge of the lake

We walked the quarter mile or so back out onto the salt flats to the lake’s edge and spent the entire rest of the afternoon wading and enjoying the scenery. I had other plans, but those could wait… after all, I was pretty sure I’d never see this again, and it was worth experiencing all the way to sunset.

A white salt flat beach and a lake below colorful brown mountains, blue sky, and clouds — The shore of Lake Manly and the Black Mountains

I wrote extensively about visiting Badwater Basin back in 2017, and I have detailed coordinates on my other website, so I won’t detail all that here. Instead, I’ll let you enjoy the pictures!

A hiker with boots and a braid jumps above a lake with the sun behind her and blue sky, clouds, and mountains in the distance — That’s me, jumping for sheer joy (and still in my hiking boots)

Salt formations and reflections in a lake with distant mountains and clouds — Reflections on the edge of Lake Manly

Colorful yellow and brown mountains below blue and cloudy skies — Looking back at the Black Mountains

Ripples on a shallow desert lake with distant mountains and clouds in a blue sky — Ripples in Lake Manly

Four hikers standing in shallow water of a desert lake with distant mountains, clouds, and blue skies — In awe of Lake Manly

Clouds with sun streaming through it over a dark desert — The sun shines through the clouds as we return with our water shoes

Looking through water to golden salt crystals on the lakebed — Ripples with the salt crystals only a few inches below the surface of the water

A hiker standing in a shallow lake with distant mountains and blue skies and clouds in the sunset — Wading in Lake Manly. You can see footprints to the left of my group member

Clouds over a lake with sun streaming in sunbeams — Sun streaming through the late afternoon clouds

People on the edge of a lake with reflections in puddles. Dark mountains have clouds in a blue sky above them. — In case, after seeing my pictures, you thought I was alone

Sunset over a desert plain and lake with distant mountains and clouds — Sunset over Lake Manly

If you plan to visit Lake Manly, note that the water may blow up or down the valley, leaving a previously very wet portion of the lake high and dry. Also, try to stick to more popular wading areas, as you will likely leave footprints in the face of the salt flats.

Easy Day Hikes in Death Valley

There’s hiking for all kinds of abilities and desires in Death Valley, but this book focuses on some of the best easier trails. Buy your copy here.

California, Death Valley National Park, Desert, Lake, Photos, Views, Wilderness

Easy Day Hikes in Death Valley

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