Dante's View

High atop the Black Mountains (at nearly 5,500 feet) is Dante's View - an overlook with some of the best panoramic views in all of Death Valley!  On a clear day  you can see both the lowest and the highest points in the contiguous United States from here (if you know where to look).  Just below you is Badwater, the lowest point, at -282 feet and across the valley, barely visible in the distance is Mt. Whitney, the highest point, at 14,496 feet.  

The horizontal distance between Badwater and Mt. Whitney is about 85 miles and the vertical distance down to Badwater is just over two miles.  This dramatic drop-off creates an outstanding view of the sprawling Death Valley below. 

The mountains you see directly across the valley from Dante's View are the Panamint Mountains and the tallest peak is Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet.  As you look at these magnificent mountains, keep in mind that the difference in elevation between Telescope Peak and Badwater is greater than that of Mt. Whitney and its valley floor!  

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  Getting There
A trip to Dante's View is all pavement and not difficult.  The total distance is 23.5 miles and it is a subtle climb until the last 5.5 miles.  At this point, the road is marked "limited access" and vehicles or vehicle-trailer combinations longer than 25 feet (7.7 meters) are not allowed.  This last section is very steep with sharp, hairpin corners.  There is, however, an "escape" for vehicles with trailers since there is no backing up or turning around once your on Dante's View Road.  A parking lot is provided where you can un-hitch and park your trailer about one mile from the summit.  This parking lot should only be used as a last resort.

Keep in mind that the elevation at Furnace Creek is sea level and Dante's View is 5,475 feet.  As the sign says at the summit, there is usually a 25 degree temperature change between the valley floor and the summit.  If you are taking our suggestion and going at sunrise (especially in February), be prepared for some chilly temperatures and wind.

There are two ways to get to the junction for Dante's View (near the Borax mining camp of Ryan). 

From the north (Furnace Creek): Go south 10.5 miles on Furnace Creek Wash Road and turn right onto Dante's View Road.  Continue reading directions at the * below.

From the south (Death Valley Junction): Go north on S.R. 190 for 18 miles and turn left onto Dante's View Road.  Continue reading directions at the * below.

*After turning at the junction, you'll pass both the Billie Mine (active as of 2003) and the mining camp of Ryan on your left.  Further down the road, you'll also pass the Widow Mine which is part of the collection of mines around Ryan.

After about 7.5 miles, the pavement makes a sharp right turn into the Black Mountains.  This is Dante's View Road and where the "limited access" mentioned above begins.  The dirt road to the left is the continuation of Furnace Creek Wash Road which continues on through Greenwater Valley and goes all the way to Tecopa.

The summit is reached in another 5.5 miles.  Signs along the way remind you that no trailers or long vehicles are allowed.  The last, winding mile to the summit ends at a parking lot where it is easy to turn around in a standard vehicle.

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Photography
Early morning offers the best lighting for photographs here at Dante's View.  Because Dante's View is on the east side of Death Valley atop the Black Mountains, the view looks west towards the majestic Panamint Mountains with the expansive valley floor in between.  The long shadows cast by the Black Mountains onto the valley floor as the sun rises are very dramatic and the colors at this time of day are at their best.  Try to be there for the first hour or two after sunrise. 

If your timing is good and you can be at Dante's View in the early spring after there have been several winter storms, the Panamint's will be beautifully capped with snow and will make a dramatic contrast to the stark valley below.  Early February is usually a good time to see this breath-taking scene.  If you are lucky enough to be there just after a fresh dusting of snow remember that Dante's View is almost 5,500 feet above Furnace Creek and may have been dusted, too.  We recommend that you check with the Visitor's Center to make sure the road is open and passable for your type of vehicle.

Visiting Dante's View in the afternoon will not be as rewarding as those early morning hours.  The colors will be less dramatic and "washed out" thanks to the brightness of the sun.  The view is still good but not as spectacular.  

As you approach Dante's View from Greenwater Valley and Ryan, you'll see on your right the chaotic geology of the Black Mountains.  The early morning light highlights the stunning mix of colors and is, itself, worthy of photographing.  Save your afternoon hours for a trip down Badwater Road and see how the colorful, west side of the Black Mountains are now lit-up in the late afternoon sun.

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History
Dante's View was discovered in the 1920's when two rival businesses were trying to promote tourism in Death Valley.  Both Bob Eichbaum with his resort near Stovepipe Wells and the British Borax miners at Furnace Creek were trying to make Death Valley profitable now that the big mining boom was over.

One way to entice the tourists, they thought, was to offer them a chance to see both the lowest and highest spots in the United States at the same time - what a thrill!  So, the search was on to find an accessible view point that offered not only a sweeping view of the valley and Badwater but a glimpse of Mt. Whitney as well. 

At the time, businessmen from Beatty were trying to promote nearby Chloride Cliff as "The Rim of Hell" and called it the perfect view spot.  Union Pacific was considering running tours to it and the Beatty businessmen managed to convince the Governor of Nevada to widen the road from Beatty to Chloride Cliff (across the California line) so that tour buses can be driven on it.  It seemed to be the view spot both rivals were looking for. 

In April of 1926, men from British Borax, Union Pacific and the Governor of Nevada went to Chloride Cliff to see for themselves that it was, indeed, this great vantage point.  It would have been settled then and there if it were not for the fact that they stopped in Shoshone on their way home to Los Angeles and spoke with Charlie Brown.  They casually asked Brown (the founder of Shoshone) if he knew of a better viewpoint than Chloride Cliff.  Brown shrugged and told the men that he didn't look at scenery much but knew of a place that made him stop and look.

The next day, Brown took the men to the overlook 30 miles northwest of Shoshone.  The men agreed this was much better than Chloride Cliff, named it Dante's View and the rest is history.  The Union Pacific started bus tours in February of 1927 and tourists were treated to the awesome view from the inside of a small, glassed-in view observatory. 

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Photo Tour:
Click on picture to enlarge
Pictures taken: February 2003

	A panoramic view of Death Valley from Dante's View.
	Same view with points of reference in Death Valley.
	The sign at the summit with facts about Dante's View.
	One of the most prominent points, looking across Death Valley, is Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet.  This picture was taken about 20 minutes after sunrise and is a typical view across the valley.  The Hanaupah Fault scarp is very visible on the right portion of the large alluvial fan.
	In the background, Telescope Peak.  In the foreground, some of the rocky outcroppings at the summit.
	A closer view of the Badwater Turtleback.  Three of these "turtlebacks" [glossary] can be seen on the western side of the Black Mountains.
	Looking north, up Death Valley.  The mountains in the far right distance are the Funeral Mountains.
	The same view looking north, but taken around 12 noon.  An example of how the lighting is much different when compared from morning to the middle of the day.  Badwater Road can be seen more clearly in the center of the picture.
	Looking almost straight down to the the Badwater parking area along Badwater Road.  The actual parking area is just out of view behind the rocks.  Badwater Road can be seen looping around the alluvial fan on the right side of the picture.  The actual low spot of Badwater is towards the top of the picture.
	This alluvial fan is just a mile south of the Badwater parking area.  If you look closely, you can faintly see Badwater Road going around its outer edge.  If you can't find it, click here and we'll point it out to you.
	You can hike to several different ridges to the south of the Dante's View Overlook parking lot.  Each offers great views and photo opportunities.
	Another view looking north, up Death Valley.
	Looking at the Panamint Mountains less than 15 minutes after sunrise.  Notice the large shadow of the Black Mountains stretching across the valley.
	Looking from the parking lot down the south ridge of the Black Mountains (east side) and into southern Death Valley.
	Same ridge as above except this is the west side.
	The Death Valley sink -  where the Amargosa River ends and creates Badwater - the lowest spot in the United States.
	The Black Mountains as you approach Dante's View from the east.  Do you see the similarity between these mountains and the Amargosa Chaos?
	Looking up at Dante's View from Badwater Road.  This view is found driving around the alluvial fan just south of Badwater.
	Looking at the same point along Badwater Road where the previous picture was taken 5,600 feet down and 2.3 miles away.

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Last updated March 03, 2007.

June 2005 Version
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