Death Valley National Park

I tried, I really did. I planned on writing this entire post about Death Valley National Park without mentioning Star Wars, but in reality, no choice have I.

A week after returning from the largest national park in the contiguous U.S. (larger than Rhode Island plus Delaware), I find myself reflecting on the trip. My thoughts betray me and keep returning to Star Wars. It’s not just about where the films were shot, but rather how both Death Valley and the Stars Wars saga are filled with fascinating contradictions. Much like the blurred lines between good and evil in the films, Death’s Valley’s contradictions are striking – and difficult to fit into a neat little box.

Dry. The Driest. So. DRY.

Let’s start with obvious. Death Valley is the driest place in North America. I’m talking parched. Your skin will agree when I say it’s dry enough to make you wonder if you’ve accidentally stepped into a giant dehydrator. (Pro tip: bring lots of lip balm.)

And yet… not all dry. We stayed at The Inn at Death Valley where the grounds are green and lush. Streams of water and ponds with fountains gurgle and splash. We even spent one afternoon lounging under palm tress, swimming in the spring-fed pool. A part of the Oasis at Death Valley, The Inn offers a striking contrast to its surrounding arid landscape.

Hot. The hottest. Not Always Hot.

Death Valley is reportedly the hottest place on Earth, with a recorded air temperature of 134° F. During our visit in January, we wore beanies and gloves in the early morning and evening hours, proving that Death Valley is not always scorching. January is a lovely time to visit.

Low. The Lowest. But wait… a high?

From Dante’s view in Death Valley, you can look out and marvel at Badwater Basin, the lowest place in North America at 282 feet below sea level. And yet, if you raise your gaze to the horizon, you’ll spot a mountain peak in the distance. That mountain is Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states. So low… and so high.

The Star Wars Connection

In preparation for our trip, Sean and I rewatched Star Wars: A New Hope to refresh our memories of the scenes filmed in Death Valley. Even if you are not a Star Wars fan, I highly recommend this assignment. The desert landscapes take on a new significance once you’ve seen them on the screen. I thought of Tatooine on every drive and every hike.

In 2020, when we were all binge watching something, I watched Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Anakin Skywalker quickly became a favorite character. Even though you know where Anakin’s journey ends, it’s hard not to like and admire him. The duality of Anakin is part of his appeal. The Star Wars saga is a story of contradictions, as is the story of Death Valley. It’s a place of extremes: stark and brutal, yet breathtakingly beautiful.

A Landscape of Contradictions

One of the greatest contradictions of Death Valley is its appearance. The badlands and canyons here are some of the oldest formations in the world, millions of year old – yet walking across them, you feel like you’ve landed on another planet. In fact, NASA uses Death Valley as a stand-in for Mars when testing equipment for future planetary exploration. When you look up at the Death Valley night sky, you are reminded of these same planets awaiting exploration. Death Valley is an International Dark Sky park, meaning the stargazing is spectacular. During a ranger-led night sky program, we experienced a kind of darkness you rarely see. The beauty of the field of stars on a bed of black sky was indescribable. All my thoughts went to distant galaxies, space stations, and possibility of life beyond Earth.

Perspective: Shades of Brown

When you first arrive in Death Valley, one word might come to mind: brown. Once you start exploring, however, you realize the colors here are more than a typical desert palette. The colors of Death Valley transform in the light of sunrise and sunset, shifting through shades of creamy beige, rusty red, mustard yellow and deep brown. There are even splashes of pink, purple and blue. The brown becomes rich, layered, and alive.

Good versus evil. Jedi versus Sith. Light side versus dark side. Desert brown versus spectacular brown. It’s all about perspective.

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Death Valley: A Place of Paradoxes

In the end, Death Valley is not easy to define. It’s a place of unique, enigmatic contradictions. It is a desolate, quiet place, but like Anakin Skywalker, ” the Force is strong with this one”. Come see for yourself.