I've gone to vegas the last four years and each time didn't really venture much off the strip. For my upcoming trip I am hoping to spend a couple days doing the non strip things such as seeing Hoover Dam, Red Rock area and thinking about a trip to Death Valley. This would be in July so obviously I know that it would be extremely hot although heat doesn't bother me and i typically go to Vegas at the height of August temps and love the extreme conditions. Part of the attraction to go to DV is to feel one of the most extreme places on the planet.

anyways, what are everyone's thoughts on Death Valley? Is it worth it and if yes, what are the must see attractions?

Are you just wanting to drive through or camp for a night. Regardless I don't think there's much to see there I could be wrong.

Grand Canyon > Hoover Dam > Death Valley IMO

I'm not a desert guy, and got dragged into going to Death Valley as part of a three day Univ. extension course that my wife wanted to take.

It is one of the most interesting, strange, weird places in the world. There are a number of very worthwhile places to visit - the Ubehebe crater, the Racetrack, Scotty's castle, Badwater, etc. etc. We've been back several times, stay at the Furnace Creek Inn (good restaurant, GREAT pool) and I'd be happy to go again.

But not in July. It's killing hot - as in hot enough to KILL you if anything goes wrong with your trip. And more than hot enough to make a visit to any of the above (except Scotty's castle) pure misery. A typical clip from a newspaper story...

"It's important for people to know that only a tiny portion of Death Valley has cell phone reception," search and rescue coordinator Micah Alley wrote in an e-mail. "GPS units are not only fallible but send people across the desert where no road exists."

Over the past 15 years, at least a dozen people have died in Death Valley from heat-related illnesses, and many others have come close. Another hiker vanished last June in Joshua Tree National Park. His body has not yet been found.

These are not just stories of unimaginable suffering. They are reminders that even with a growing suite of digital devices at our side, technology cannot guarantee survival in the wild. Worse, it is giving many a false sense of security and luring some into danger and death.

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/30/336...#storylink=cpy

Go between mid October and mid April and actually enjoy it.

MM MD

I second the furnace creek inn , gf relented after 50 mph winds were abusing our tent . Ex gf got punished that night.

I'm a fan of Death Valley, but only if it's cool enough to actually get out and hike.

Tomorrow's DV forecast: Sunny. Highs 93 to 96 in the mountains...113 to 118 at furnace creek. South wind under 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph with gusts to around 30 mph in the afternoon.

118F with 30mph wind. Joy. The only sane possibility for July hiking is to start at the 6000'+ levels. If you want a suggestion, hit the charcoal kilns and head up Wildrose Peak.

Take BUTTLOADS of water. Take enough to fill your radiator and leave yourself buttloads of water to drink. Just assume you will be in the middle of nowhere on some dirt road when your car stops dead, and nobody will come by for a day. If you can't get through that, you didn't bring enough water.

If you just want to go to say you've seen it and got out of the car for a few minutes to experience 120-130+ temperatures, this is the perfect time of year. Otherwise, not so much.

Brutal

walk on the strip at 4pm for 20 minutes then add twenty degrees to that then see if you still want to go

I went on a tour van a few years ago and loved it.

One of the stops we had was at a flat area with a little sign about 20 feet away. I wanted to see what it said, so I walked over to it. It was a warning that the area (the flat area) was an ecosystem for an extremely tiny shrimp that lived in the cracks of the dried mud, and asking no one to walk on it since this was the only place on earth they could live. I felt really bad walking back to the van and wished the sign had been positioned near the road instead of the middle of the mudflat.

A nice alternative to Death Valley is Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It's less than 30 minutes from the strip, but I suggest going as early as possible in the morning, like 7:00am and bring lot's of water.

The unique geologic features, plants and animals of Red Rock Canyon NCA represent some of the best examples of the Mojave Desert.

Red Rock Canyon is located 17 miles west of the Las Vegas Strip on Charleston Boulevard/State Route 159. Red Rock Canyon offers enticements of a different nature including a 13-mile scenic drive, more than 30 miles of hiking trails, rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, road biking, picnic areas, nature observing and visitor center with exhibit rooms and a book store.

http://www.redrock.org/issues/2002_l.../map_loop.html

lol funny but sad

god you're such a jerk. rip little shrimpies