Think You Can Brave The Devil’s Golf Course?
First off, Devil’s Golf Course isn’t actually a golf course. Nor would you want to golf here, considering that it’s the most hellish area in all of Death Valley National Park.
Located in eastern California, this Death Valley “golf course” was a joke that originated in a 1934 National Park Service manual that stated: “only the Devil could play golf” on such a course.
And it’s true! Nobody in their right mind would want to try and whack a ball on this terrain.
This Death Valley Golf Course Earned Its Name For A Reason
The fact that the Devil’s Golf Course is not actually a “course” in the first place doesn’t seem to matter. The point is more that the terrain is uneven, sharp, and reminiscent of Hell. In fact, people who actually walk on it are prone to cuts, twisted ankles, and even broken bones.
Play at your own risk! This salt flat in the Badwater Basin of Death Valley is the largest in the Mojave Desert. It’s essentially a huge, dried up bed of a former lake that once covered the valley at a depth of 30 feet.
Between 2,000 and 4,000 years ago, the lake dried up leaving a whole lot of dissolved minerals. Over the next thousands of years, the minerals were sculpted by the weather into these jagged shapes. The serrated tips and deadly harshness of the landscape is what caused the Death Valley Monument to state that “only the Devil could play golf” here. Shortly after that, the area got its name: Devil’s Golf Course.
How Hot Does It Get At The Devil’s Golf Course?
It gets real hot at Devil’s Golf Course.
In fact, if you listen closely you’ll hear the sounds of pops and hisses that are literally billions of tiny salt crystals bursting apart as they expand and contract in the tormenting heat. From mid-May to mid-September, this area can reach highs of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
Is It Actually Dangerous?
It’s dangerous if you don’t bring water. Devil’s Golf course is also dangerous if you don’t have the right shoes, and also if you don’t wear sunscreen.
Other than the jagged floor and scorching heat, however, you should be fine. Please keep in mind that your dogs will have a very hard time on this surface. Local guides recommend not bringing dogs at all, as it’s just too hard on them.
What’s The Best Time Of Year To Visit?
The most pleasant time to visit Death Valley and the Badwater Basin is from October to April, when it’s not too hot to walk around.
Even in March, however, the heat can rise above 90 degrees. So treat it like the desert that it is, and you’ll be just fine.
Other Things To Do In The Area
There are actually a lot of really cool attractions in Death Valley National Park. It’s the hottest, driest, and lowest national park in the country. Despite its morbid name you can have some really lively times here.
Death Valley has a variety of campgrounds that range from primitive to full hook-up. Here’s a link with some really great campsites that also offer water so you don’t die.
Artist’s Palette in Death Valley is another super popular stop you can make cruising through the desert. It’s a geological formation with colorful rocks that is apparently a Star Wars filming site. The drive is a fan favorite, and the reviews are really good!
Then there’s the Desolation Canyon hike, which is a lesser-known trail that’s less frequented by tourists. The canyon is narrow and a bit tricky to climb. However, all in all it’s not that difficult. Your work will pay off with views of the orange and green rocks colored by iron and other minerals.
Related: These ice formations look like alien sculptures!