Death Valley National Park
Artist’s Palette
Artist’s Palette vs. Artist’s Drive
Yes and no. The names seem to be used interchangeably but aren’t, exactly. Artist’s Drive is the nine mile loop through these cotton candy colored hills, a resukt of oxidation of minerals in the soil. The hills are actually ancient volcanic ash and debris, rich in minerals that oxidize when they are exposed to air and water, creating these vibrant mounds.
Artist’s Pallete, however, is a specific stop on the loop. These hills are accessible by foot from the car park, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the drive is inaccessible. There are some well hidden but great stops if you know where to look.
For all the details, check out our FULL BLOG POST HERE.
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Artists Drive is located off Badwater Rd nine miles south of the Furnace Creek junction
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$30 per vehicle for a 7 day pass; $55 for the year or free with an America the Beautiful Annual Pass ($80/yr)
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There are only two official car parks, one at the beginning of the loop overlooking Badwater
Basin to the west and the other at Artist’s Palette. -
Pros:
It’s really interesting and some areas are downright spectacular.
It’s an easy drive and doesn’t take longer than an hour to complete.
Cons:
Because of the location and accessibility, it’s fucking packed all the time.
Drivers are impatient and can induce a little road rage.
Hard to get quality photos with so many people around.
