Artist’s Drive is a 9.7 mile scenic drive in Death Valley National Park. It’s a lonely winding road that snakes through the desert and paves the way into a wonderland of colorful mountains. Artist’s Palette is located along this one-way road, which winds through the foothills of the Black Mountains.
To Get There
- Artists’s Palette is located inside Death Valley is a National Park Map it
- There is a parking lot and bathroom at this location
When To Go
Best month’s to go: February, March and November (April and October could work too, but bring more water and hike in the mornings and evenings)
Tip: Wear shoes with good tread
As you’re head through the Artist’s Drive, there are several places to park and take in the view along the way. The desert is filled with beautiful vistas, especially on a cloudy day.
Artist’s Palette
The Artist’s Palette is a stunning geological feature located in the Artist’s Drive area of Death Valley National Park, California. It is famous for its vibrant, multi-colored hills, which are a result of various mineral deposits that have oxidized over time. The vivid colors range from pinks and purples to greens, yellows, and reds, making it look like a natural painting.
Park in the Artist Point Parking lot. You’ll cross through a river wash from the parking lot that looks like below. These types of washes are all over Death Valley. Rivers once flowed here and carved out a path into the earth. A glow of soft light lit the wash with a tint of yellow the morning we went.
The color saturation varies on the lighting. The reds, pinks, and yellows come from iron oxides, while greens are caused by decomposing mica, and the purple hues are likely due to manganese.This site is a great place to park and wander around the mountains.
We walked around scaling and descending from all of the vibrant mountains, exploring freely and peacefully.
Volcanic Origins
The surrounding hills are made of ancient volcanic ash and deposits that have been eroded over millions of years. The vibrant palette is created as the minerals within these deposits undergo chemical reactions due to exposure to the elements.
It’s really quiet and serene here, wandering around looking at at the interesting deposits that create these unique colors of earth. I highly recommend you add this to your list of things to see in Death Valley.
For a full list of things to do check out my post 3 Days In Death Valley National Park.
Do you have any other great recommendations for this drive? Please leave them in the comments below.
Just For Fun Park Tees
These tees are unnecessary for hiking, but it’s always fun to get a tank or tee with the National Park name on it for photos. I found these Tees on Etsy.
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