Zabriskie Point Death Valley

This elevated viewpoint showcases Death Valley’s most photographed badlands — twisted, eroded hills of golden, pink, and brown sediments laid down by ancient lakes. The overlook sits above a maze of ridges and washes carved from the Furnace Creek Formation, with Manly Beacon’s pyramid peak as the foreground focal point. Sunrise transforms the landscape into a photographer’s dream of warm, layered colors.

Accessible via a short paved road off Highway 190, five miles east of Furnace Creek. The parking area accommodates maybe 20 vehicles but fills before dawn during cooler months when sunrise photography is prime. No shade or facilities at the overlook itself. Summer visits are brutal — arrive before dawn or skip it until autumn.

Death Valley badlands sunrise overlook