Lexi Goforth

Lexi Goforth

Lexi lives in a truck camper down by the river.
  • Joined: February 14, 2019
  • Articles: 751
  • Comments: 149

Salt Creek Interpretive Trail

Man on a boardwalk running parallel to a creek.

In a notoriously hot and dry environment such as Death Valley National Park, Salt Creak's presence on the desert floor is a surprise. The creek is fed by brackish springs over a mile upstream, resulting in a marshy habitat and home to the rare Salt Creek Pupfish. The creek may be too salty for us to drink and can be saltier than the ocean, yet it still supports a thriving ecosystem.

Zabriskie Point

Towering golden rock formation of Zabriskie Point with the Panamint Range in the background.

There's no shortage of dramatic rock formations in Death Valley National Park. But one that is (arguably) the most iconic is Zabriskie Point. This striking struckure rises out of ancient badlands older than Death Valley itself. It was formed by erosion of sediment left by Furnace Creek Lake when it dried up 5 million years ago, long before Lake Manly and Death Valley as we know it. Today, it is the gem of the Ameragosa Range, the eastern mountain range flanking Death Valley National Park

Dust Storms

Boardwalk winding next to a sand dune.

We aren't too alarmed when we hear about the wind advisory in Death Valley. After our December experiences with tornados in Kentucky and Kansas, we don't think much of winds in sunny California. Even so, we don't have to be in Tornado Alley for winds to whip up quite a storm. Rather than dropping tree limbs and flipping trailers, this wind kicks up a dust storm so great as to block out the surrounding mountain range and, later on, the sun. We wander Death Valley through a muted haze. Even in that midday twilight, we wear sunglasses and masks to protect our eyes and airways from the grit and dust kicked up by the wind.

Dante’s View

Colorful salt flats paint the floor of Death Valley as seen from Dante's View.

So many of the iconic stops in Death Valley are on the valley's floor. Badwater, the Sailing Stones, and the Devils Golf Course are all fairly low elevation. For many, the opportunity to see the park from above is most common while driving CA-190 over the Panamint Range and into the Badwater Basin. While the drive includes many stunning vistas, they are hard to compare to the colorful marbleized salt flats of the Death Valley floor and Badwater Basin as seen from Dante's View.

Camping on the California Coast

1970 Avion C11 truck camper driving among redwood trees in California

As avid outdoors people, we love to camp along the California Coast, but it isn't easy. As one might guess, a lot of people share our interest in camping on the California Coast and campsites are limited. Popular sites book up far in advance, but there are enough options out there to not completely ruin ones camping plans. So, here are our tips, tricks, and a few campsite recommendations for camping on the California Coast.

Montaña de Oro State Park

Man in a green shirt walking the coastline of Montaña de Oro State Park at sunset.

The California Coastline is awash in scenic draws. We could spend years exploring the state's coastal forests and delicate tidepools and constantly find new, remarkable places. That said, there is one park that regularly draws in, whenever we are in the area. Montaña de Oro State Park is located in Los Osos, south of Morro Bay and north of Pismo Beach and offers the full California coast experience: rugged rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, and thriving local wildlife.