By Kathy Strong
- Tour Mitchell Caverns
California’s equivalent to the Carlsbad Caverns was closed to the public for several years. The Mitchell Caverns have re-opened for public tours in certain months. As the only limestone caves in the California State Park system (and only one of two you can enter), the natural attraction offers fascinating stalactite and stalagmite formations going back to the Pleistocene epoch when ground water ate into the surrounding marble and sedimentary limestone. There are three caves in all, but only two are available to the public. Winding Stair Cavern has long been regarded as unsafe for most explorers, but El Pakiva (Devil’s House) and Tecopa (named for a Shoshone Indian chief) caves that are connected by a man-made tunnel reward present-day explorers with a rare desert experience.
Tour Details: The ranger-led tour of Mitchell Caverns involves a 1.5-mile moderate roundtrip hike to and from the caverns and an hour guided tour of the cave.
When: Fridays through Sundays (plus holiday Mondays); tours at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (15 people per tour); arrive 15 minutes prior to tour.
Cost: $20 per adult; $10 per child (16 and under); $19 per senior (credit card or exact cash).
Reservations required: By phone only on Mondays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., (760) 928-2586 or online here.
- Take a Scotty’s Castle Flood Recovery Tour
In October 2015, a unique California desert icon closed after a massive flash flood changed the surrounding landscape, destroying roads and utilities. Scotty’s Castle ranks as a “must-see” in Death Valley, not just for the amazing Spanish Colonial architecture, but more for the rich and colorful historical stories and lore. Closed to the public since the devastating flood, the Death Valley Natural History Association has made it possible to tour once again. But this isn’t the same tour that hundreds of thousands took in years past. This one gets a handful of guests up close to what the power of water can do to shape the desert scape in just a few hours.
Although Scotty’s Castle is still not projected to open quite yet, join in a Flood Recovery walking tour in 2024. The tour allows visitors to get a first-had look at the ongoing recovery efforts; the $25 fee will be used to help with the ongoing preservation work. Tickets must be purchased in advance; only 13 “lucky” people allowed on each tour.
Tour Details: Visitors meet at the Grapevine Ranger Station in the north end of the Death Valley National Park to travel together by van. Tour takes 2 hours; walk is moderate but does include uneven surfaces. For safety reasons, children under 6 not allowed.
When: Sundays through March 10, 2024
Cost: $35
Tickets required: Buy tickets on the website and bring print-out; call weekdays for information at 800-478-8564.
- Stay at the Oasis at Death Valley
Goodbye, Furnace Creek Resort and welcome Oasis at Death Valley. Just a short while ago, another venerable icon of Death Valley had a $50 million rebirth and, with it, a new name. The Oasis at Death Valley includes a 66-room inn that is now the Inn at Death Valley and the 224-room ranch, now the Ranch at Death Valley. Owned and operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts, those who crave nostalgia would still have the golf course (214 feet below sea level) carrying the Furnace Creek name.
Also seeped in history and lore, the new name is very fitting. Set in the middle of Death Valley, the resort with date plans, ancient waters that bubble to the surface, birds and wildlife is anyone’s idyllic concept of a desert oasis. My favorite of the two lodging experiences is (and was) the more intimate Inn at Death Valley built into the mountainside where the precious waters originate. The renaissance brought an additional 11 two-room casitas surrounding the spring-fed pool with sweeping vistas. Speaking of inspiring views, the dining room of the historic retreat has undergone a complete restoration including a turquoise ceiling that matches the Death Valley sky and banquettes that capture every sunset from high above the desert floor.
Details: The Oasis at Death Valley is 2 hours west of Las Vegas by car and a four-drive from Los Angeles.
Reservations: Visit the website or call 800-236-7916.
Photos courtesy of California State Parks and Oasis at Death Valley
