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Natural Monuments

Badwater Basin Salt Flats

Natural Monuments

Badwater Basin Salt Flats

Highlight • Natural Monument

Badwater Basin Salt Flats

Name: Badwater Basin Salt Flats
Rating: 2

Recommended by 32 hikers

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Death Valley National Park

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Location: Inyo County, California, United States

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Best Hikes to Badwater Basin Salt Flats

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1. Badwater Basin Salt Flats — Death Valley National Park

3.10km

00:47

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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4.8

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2. Badwater Basin Salt Flats – Badwater Basin Salt Flats loop from Pahrump

1.19km

00:18

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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3.0

(1)

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3. Badwater Basin Salt Flats – Badwater Basin Salt Flats loop from Pahrump

1.07km

00:17

10m

Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Tips

Caro "Bandit"

January 2, 2025

This is the lowest point of the continental USA. Badwater is about 282 feet (85.5 meters) below sea level. It is also one of the hottest places in the world with temperatures around 50 degrees Celsius in the summer months. A short walk across the salt desert is still worthwhile in any heat.

Katrien

April 27, 2025

Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America, at 280 feet (86 meters) below sea level. The salt flats here cover nearly 200 square miles (518 square kilometers) and are composed primarily of sodium chloride (table salt), along with calcite, gypsum, and borax.

Stories suggest that Badwater Basin got its name when an early surveyor’s mule refused to drink from the spring-fed pool near the current boardwalk. The water here isn’t really “bad,” just very salty. Despite the high salt content, many organisms not only survive here, but thrive. The pool is home to an endemic snail that is native only to this location, and the rim is dotted with salt-tolerant plants, including samphire.

Badwater Basin was once the site of the large, ancient inland lake Manly, which evaporated tens of thousands of years before the arrival of the man in 1849 for whom it is named. The lake had no outlet, so over time sediment and salt accumulated. When the lake eventually evaporated, it left behind concentrated salt layers. Today, fascinating geometric salt flats form on the plains as groundwater rises through these layers and evaporates.

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🅰️ndy

February 17, 2022

As if someone blows a hot hair dryer in your face...at 50°C it's a brilliant experience...

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Details

Informations

Elevation -80 m

Weather

Today

Thursday 23 October

34°C

23°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 13.0 km/h

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Location: Inyo County, California, United States

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Badwater Basin Salt Flats

1. Badwater Basin Salt Flats — Death Valley National Park

2. Badwater Basin Salt Flats – Badwater Basin Salt Flats loop from Pahrump

3. Badwater Basin Salt Flats – Badwater Basin Salt Flats loop from Pahrump

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