Zabriskie Point Sunrise or Sunset? [Complete Guide]
Visiting Zabriskie Point was one of the highlights of my trip to Death Valley National Park. So much so that I ended up visiting on three separate occasions (sunrise, sunset and daytime)! This iconic spot is a must-see destination for photographers, hikers and nature enthusiasts exploring the area! But if you’re on a tight timeline, how do you decide between a Zabriskie Point sunrise or sunset when you’ve never seen either?
Don’t worry, I’m here to help you choose! This guide will cover everything you need to know for your visit, including sunrise vs sunset at Zabriskie Point, hikes at Zabriskie Point and plenty more tips for your visit.
About Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point is a famous viewpoint located in Death Valley National Park, California. It’s named after Christian Brevoort Zabriskie, the Vice President and Manager of Pacific Coast Borax Company that mined in the area during the early 20th century.
The viewpoint offers stunning panoramic views of the park’s unique landscape, characterised by colourful badlands, eroded rock formations, and salt flats. Visitors can enjoy sunrise or sunset vistas, capturing the vibrant hues of the desert against the backdrop of the Amargosa Range, or even explore the awesome rock formations below!
How to get to Zabriskie Point?
Zabriskie Point is located near Furnace Creek, the main hub in Death Valley. The peaks of Zabriskie belong to the Amargosa Range, near the eastern edge of the National Park not far from the border with Nevada.
Since there is no public transport around Death Valley National Park, the best way to get to Zabriskie Point is by road. The viewpoint is easily accessible by car with no off-roading required.
From the visitor center in Furnace Creek follow the CA-190 East for nearly 5 miles, then turn right into the car park.
From the parking area, it’s a short walk uphill to the overlook. The viewpoint is wheelchair accessible.
What is the best time to visit Zabriskie Point?
Best time of year to visit Zabriskie Point
Since Death Valley is dry throughout the year, your visit will mainly be dictated by the temperature (and your personal availability).
In the summer months (May-September), temperatures in Death Valley will easily average more than 30°C, peaking at nearer 50°C.
The best time of year to visit Zabriskie Point is early Spring (February-April) when temperatures are warm but still bearable. This will give you the largest opportunity to explore Zabriskie Point and the surrounding areas.
The winter months are also bearable, though nights are colder and there is a slight chance of rainstorms.
Zabriskie Point Sunrise or Sunset or Daytime
For various reasons (a different story!), I’ve now had the fortune of visiting Zabriskie Point at sunrise, sunset, and during the day.
I can safely say that it’s worthwhile going at any time of day! But I’m now qualified to give my opinion on the age-old question: Zabriskie Point sunrise or sunset?
*Spoiler* – my favourite time to visit Zabriskie Point is at sunrise, but you should decide based on your availability.
NOTE: I haven’t visited at night but Death Valley is a dark sky area, meaning stargazing on a clear night would be amazing too!
NOTE: Before you get started, check sunrise and sunset times for Zabriskie Point here.
Zabriskie Point at Sunrise
Sunrise at Zabriskie Point means an early start, but it’s totally worth it!
Not only will you need to wake up in the dark, but you’ll need to have all your belongings packed and ready to go the night before! Then you will need to drive in the dark and make the short walk to the viewpoint.
As the sun rises, it illuminates these iconic rocks to a deep yellow colour, bringing them to life. Plenty of keen photographers are drawn to Zabriskie Point for sunrise because these incredible colours are at their best.
Despite the people, if you can still find a solitary spot at Zabriskie Point, it can be very peaceful. Plus, once the sun is up and photographers begin to leave, there’s often a lull of quietness before anyone else arrives.
We made it even more amazing by having our morning coffee up there!
Zabriskie Point at Sunset
Sunset at Zabriskie Point is probably the busiest time of day at the viewpoint. However, in my opinion it’s not as pretty as sunrise! (A close second place!)
Looking directly outwards from the viewpoint, you can watch the sun setting over the mountains in the distance, with a gentle orange glow across the sky. It’s beautiful, but since the sun is directly in front of you, the rock formations you’re overlooking aren’t illuminated as they’re in shadow.
Of course, if you turn around and look behind you or to the left, the rocks are illuminated and look better than at sunrise.
Essentially, it’s all down to perspective!
If you decide to visit Zabriskie Point at sunset, I recommend combining it with a walk through Gower Gulch or Golden Canyon beforehand. That way you can see the area from different perspectives and even watch the sunset with a 360-degree view.
Zabriskie Point during the day
Whilst the views are still fantastic, I would try to avoid visiting Zabriskie Point during the day. The temperature is much hotter, and you can get tour groups passing through.
If you visit during the daytime, it’s worth exploring the trails to find some shade. Particularly as the viewpoint itself is very exposed!
Aesthetically speaking, the colours of the rocks at Zabriskie Point during the day aren’t as vibrant! With the sun higher in the sky, there’s less contrast and the rock formations appear duller.
What to expect at Zabriskie Point
From the car park (capacity approx 60 vehicles), it’s a short paved slope up to the viewpoint. It takes less than 5 minutes to get to the top!
The viewpoint overlooks the surrounding landscape, offering panoramic views of surreal rock formations. There are a few interpretive signs that provide information about the geology and natural history of the area.
Most people congregate at the top (within the man-made area) to take photos. However, there are various paths leading down from the viewpoint into the canyons below allowing you to explore further.
Other things to note:
- Free parking
- Toilet facilities are available in the car park
- It can get windy at the top
- No dogs allowed
Hiking at Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point is amazing, but the adventurer in me is always looking for more things to do and different perspectives!
I highly recommend linking Zabriskie Point with a walk through the rocks. It gives you a real sense of scale as you can get up close and personal with the formations.
Popular trails include the Badlands Loop (4.3km), Gower Gulch (5.6km), Golden Canyon (4.7km), Manly Beacon, and Red Cathedral (3.9km). You can combine many of these routes to create a loop.
If you want to see as much as possible in the Zabriskie Point area, I highly recommend the Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch Loop (10.3km).
You can start at the top by Zabriskie Point or at the lower end from the Golden Canyon Trailhead or Gower Gulch Trailhead. For the latter, there is parking on Badwater Road.
The hikes take you through canyons as well as onto ridges with 360-degree views, which I felt created a more complete experience. You also have the freedom to roam since most of the channels are interlinked with each other (just make sure you have a GPS if you do this).
In general, I preferred the upper sections nearer Zabriskie Point to the lower areas by Golden Canyon as they felt more colourful and impressive.
None of the hikes are particularly difficult, however, it’s worth noting the elevation if you’re hiking from Golden Canyon to Zabriskie Point. In the heat, I imagine this would be tough!
What to bring to Zabriskie Point
Packing for Zabriskie Point completely depends on what time of day and what time of year you are visiting.
Early in the morning, particularly in the winter, it can get cold. In which case, trousers, fleeces and hats might be needed. Whereas hiking on a summer’s day would be boiling! In this case, shorts and a T-shirt (accompanied by plenty of sun cream) would be the best option.
The takeaway here is to pack weather-appropriate clothing. You can check the weather for Zabriskie Point here.
All I can say is that it’s unlikely that you’ll need a waterproof in one of the dryest places on earth!
If you intend to walk down the canyon, then appropriate footwear for walking is advised as the dust can get slippery. Sports trainers or hiking trainers are fine.
Other useful items include:
- Water
- Snacks
- Camera
- Headtorch (if doing sunrise or sunset)
Remember, the car park isn’t far from the viewpoint itself, so you can leave any extra belongings in your car if needed!
Things to do before or after Zabriskie Point
Near Zabriskie Point, there are plenty of other things to do:
- Artist’s Palette: colourful rock formations that I didn’t know were possible!
- Badwater Basin: salt flats at the lowest point in the USA.
- Dante’s View: epic views over Badwater Basin.
- Mesquite Sand Dunes: rolling dunes as high as 30m where you can also sandboard!
If you’re considering alternatives to a Zabriskie Point sunrise or sunset, I would recommend Dante’s View or the Mesquite Sand Dunes for sunset. But I don’t think there is anywhere else in Death Valley that has a better sunrise than Zabriskie Point.
If you’re still looking for more things to do in Death Valley, or wondering what order to schedule your plans, check out my Death Valley Itinerary.
Before you go
Thank you for reading my travel guide on visiting one of my favourite spots in Death Valley. I hope this has helped you plan your visit and helped you decide between a Zabriskie Point sunrise or sunset! If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.
Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.
No Comments