Winter at Zabriskie Point
WINTER AT ZABRISKIE POINT
Death Valley NP, CA
During the Winter, Zabriskie Point is one of the most popular places to photograph in Death Valley - as it provides incredible shapes, colors, and hues found in few other places in the Southwest. And when it snows, it is a great place to capture unique images which you can proudly add to your portfolio.
At sunrise, most photographers and tourist focus their attention toward the shark fin known as Manly Beacon. However, this special location offers many other great opportunities if you venture off of the main trail.
Images and location summary by Tim Wier
Trail Difficulty - MODERATE
I would rate the difficulty of this trail as a 3 on a scale of 1-5 (with 5 being the most difficult). To get to the location of this shot, you will have to hike up the steep ridge to the right of the Zabriskie Point visitors' viewing area. This hike is slick in some places, and you walk along a narrow and rocky ridge for about 150 yds. The hike can be a bit dicey in areas, and you can tumble if not careful. Slow and steady…
GPS Coordinates & Elevation
740ft Elevation
View In Google earth
Download KMZ Trail File
Click Here to download the KMZ file for this location.
Directions
CLICK HERE to get driving directions to the Zabriskie Point parking lot.
The closest community to Zabriskie Point is Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. From Furnace Creek, drive 4.6 miles southwest on CA-190 to the Zabriskie Point parking lot (it will be on your right).
To get to the location of the shot above, take the gravel trail on the right of the Zabriskie Point parking area - this trail will take you up to a brown rocky ridge. Once on the ridge, hike about 100 yds until you get to the first peak/plateau (see the last picture below). Once you reach this plateau, the shot was taken about 30 yds past that point.
This trail is a bit dicey in places, and you can tumble if not careful. Once upon the ridge, there are many different compositions - find the best spot for you. For the shot above, I tried to line up the yellowish mound in the center - with the snowy peaks in the background.
Photography Tips
This composition is pretty straightforward. However, the sky, mountain, and valley receive light at different times - which means you may need to composite the image to make it work. The sky begins to light up about 10 minutes before sunrise, the mountain range about 5 minutes after sunrise and the valley will receive early morning glow about 20-30 minutes later.
If you move left or right several yards from the GPS location provided, the face of the yellow mound will either get broader or more narrow. This is hard to explain, but if you visit this location, you will see what I mean. I tried to position myself to widen the face of the mound and center it with the two peaks in the background. Arrive early, take your time and find the right composition for you.
EXIF Data
Focal Length – 45 mm
Exposure – 1/45 th sec @ f 8.0
ISO – 100
Date – Jan 29th
Time – 7:11 am
Best Time of Day to Shoot
In my opinion, Zabriskie Point is the best shot from about 10 minutes before to about 30 minutes after sunrise.
During the winter, the sky begins to light up about 10 minutes before sunrise, with the distance mountains receiving light a few minutes later. The valley will starts to light up around 30 minutes after the stated sunrise time. Be prepared to photograph before sunrise.
The image above was a two-shot composite with the sky and distant mountain taken at 6:49 am and the rest of the image at 7:12 am on a morning when the stated sunrise was 6:52 am
Best Time of Year
The composition above can be taken any time of year. However, I thought the composition would be best with different layers of color and texture - so I wanted snow on the mountains.
In this image, the distant mountains sets about 8,500 ft and can receive snow even if the valley doesn't. However, from my experience snow on the mountains around Death Valley does not last very long. So timing is crucial if you want to get a similar composition.
You may also consider using the Photographer's Ephemeris to find a date with a full moon to shoot this location.
The image above was taken on January 29th.
Lens(es) Needed
Most photographers come to Zabriskie Point with a wide-angle vista shot in mind. However, I found a standard or short telephoto lens can provide for some great compositions.
The above shot was taken with a 45mm equivalent lens.
Birds-Eye View
Permits
Zabriskie Point is in Death Valley National Park. Once you have paid the entry fee to Death Valley, there are no permits required.
Direction of the Shot
The direction of the shot above is west by southwest around 240°.
Equipment Needed
There is no need for any special photography equipment other than a sturdy tripod.
Number of Other Photographers to Expect
Sunrise at Zabriskie Point is a trendy spot, and there will most likely be a parking lot full of visitors there every morning. However, not many people will hike along the ridge to the right of the parking lot (north side). I suggest arriving on the trail about 20-30 before sunrise to pick your composition.
Weather
The weather in Death Valley is somewhat modest in the spring and fall, and the winters are pleasant during the days but can dip into the 20s at night. If you are out hiking, it is essential to know that the temperatures can drop dramatically after the sun goes down.
Cell Service
I use Verizon, and the cell service at Zabriskie Point was limited. There is cell service once you get back to the main highway or when you get to the Furnace Creek area.
Lodging & Camping
Furnace Creek is a nice community with lots of rooms/cabins, a campground, a swimming pool, showers, a tennis court, and a golf course. The Oasis at Death Valley is a more upscale resort just 1 mile south of Furnace Creek.
Nearby camping and lodging
Camping - click on the campground below for directions
Texas Springs campground
Sunset campground
Furnace Creek campground
Lodging - click on the lodging below for a TripAdvisor review
The Ranch at Death Valley
(760) 786-2345
328 Greenland Blvd, Death Valley, CA
The Oasis at Death Valley
(800) 236-7916
Furnace Creek, CA
Nearby Restaurants
As you can imagine, fine dining establishments in Death Valley are limited. However, there are several places to eat in Furnace Creek (The Ranch at Death Valley). There is also one restaurant at the Inn at The Ranch at Death Valley and three restaurants at Oasis at Death Valley.
Area Guides and Workshops
None