Kayaking at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park
Hi friends! This week we’re back in Death Valley National Park embarking on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Due to recent weather, the ancient Lake Manly has reappeared at Badwater Basin and the National Park Service is allowing visitors to kayak on the shallow waters! After hearing this, Nate & I immediately put in an Amazon order for 2 inflatable kayaks, and the next day we were on the road to Death Valley! Join us as we set out on an adventure unlike any other as we paddle across the lowest spot in North America.
3/6/24 UPDATE: Since the posting of this article, extremely windy weather has moved the historic Lake Manly across the valley floor and reduced the water depth. The National Park Service is no longer allowing visitors to use kayaks and stand-up paddle boards.
Kayaking at Badwater Basin on Lake Manly in Death Valley
Location
At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is located in the heart of Death Valley National Park surrounded by the Panamint Range and the Black Mountains. This area can be reached 30 minutes south of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, and it has a parking lot along Badwater Road that can fill up quickly during day, so I highly recommend visiting early. There is also available parking roadside...just make sure to park your vehicle safely according the Leave No Trace Principles, not blocking traffic and not harming the environment. Famous for its salt flats, this area typically features miles and miles hexagonal formations. Check out my full Badwater Basin blog post for more info on when this area is dry. Currently, however, visitors won’t find these iconic features when visiting Badwater Basin. Instead, they’ll find a historic lake that has reappeared from intense weather the park has experienced over the last several months.
Lake Manly at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park
Kayak at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park
Lake Manly
In late August of 2023, the remnants of Hurricane Hilary ripped across California, hitting Death Valley and the surrounding regions particularly hard. Setting the record for the wettest day, the national park received over 2 inches of rain during the storm, which is more precipitation than it typically receives in an entire year! This resulted in major flooding throughout the park, and Lake Manly reappeared over Badwater Basin. This ancient body of water once covered this region, stretching nearly 100 miles long and 600 feet deep...but it’s been long dry now for thousands of years, with the exception of rare seasonal flooding.
Kayaking on Lake Manly with Telescope Peak in the background
Badwater Basin boardwalk and flooding in Death Valley National Park
Earlier this month (Feb 2024), Death Valley got slammed with another storm, and it nearly doubled in size since the park reopened last October from the damage sustained due to Hurricane Hilary. This temporary lake is now 6 miles long and 3 miles wide, and there’s a channel of water covering what used to be a walking path, which extends all the way to the short boardwalk at the parking lot! Although it’s covering an enormous area, the depth is only about 2.5-3 feet at its deepest point. Park officials estimate the waters here will lessen substantially over the next couple months and completely dry up by the hot Summer season.
Kayaking in Death Valley at Badwater Basin
Bestway Hydro Force Inflatable Kayak at Badwater Basin
Kayaking at Badwater Basin
Last week, news was released that park rangers were allowing visitors to take kayaks and stand-up paddle boards out onto the shallow waters at Badwater Basin. Nate & I instantly jumped onto Amazon to find inflatable kayaks, and sure enough, we found a great option that could ship next day!
Side note: If you’re interested in a low-cost inflatable kayak, I’d definitely recommend this Bestway Hydro Force Kayak. Although the directions were lacking (to say it nicely lol), Nate & I were able to get them inflated and on the water in 5-10 minutes without any issue.
Kayak on Lake Manly at Death Valley’s Badwater Basin
Blue hour and moonlit waters before sunrise at Badwater Basin
Once the kayaks arrived, we hopped in the car and started our Death Valley adventure. Since it was a weekend, we opted to camp out the night before and set out on the water as early as possible the next morning. We wanted to be out on the water for sunrise and avoid the crowds that would likely arrive later in the day. Under the bright light of a full moon, we were able to set up our kayaks without a hitch and be out on the water by 4am! Being out on Lake Manly for blue hour was absolutely serine. Although cloud cover prevented the sunrise colors we were hoping for, the shade that was provided allowed us to be comfortably out on the water for 6 hours!
Once out on the lake, every direction offers unique and spectacular reflections. The Panamint Range with Telescope Peak are blanketed in snow to the west, the Black Mountains with Dante’s View are to the east, and the long symmetrical views where the ranges extend out towards one another ripple in the waters to the north & south.
Death Valley kayaking at Badwater Basin
Wading through shallow waters at Badwater Basin
Death Valley Products from Our Etsy Shop
Know Before You Go
• Drones are strictly prohibited in Death Valley National Park. During our recent adventure, Nate & I loved using our Insta360 X3 and Extended Selfie Stick from our kayaks to get a drone-like perspective.
• Prior to setting out on your kayak or stand-up paddle board, you’ll have to wade through waters that are about 6 inches deep along the 1/4 mile channel that covers the path extending out from the Badwater Basin boardwalk.
• Please honor the Leave No Trace Principles and refrain from creating your own path down to the water in areas other than the official Badwater Basin boardwalk.
• The parking area can fill up quickly, especially on weekends. Consider visiting on a weekday or starting your adventure early in the morning.
• Anytime you visit Death Valley, I highly recommend bringing a GPS device or smartphone equipped with a GPS app and pre-loaded maps (I recommend and use Gaia). There is no cell service at Badwater Basin, and even though you won’t be hiking right now, it can be easy to get turned around while on the water, especially if you venture out several miles.
• If you’re considering a kayaking adventure at Badwater Basin, I’d highly recommend a visit within the next few weeks. Although the waters may stick around until Summer, it’s unclear when Lake Manly will diminish to a depth unsuitable for kayaking.
• Always check the official Death Valley NPS website for the most up-to-date road conditions and closures. Currently there are several roads and trails that are still closed due to damage from the recent storms.
Stand up paddle boarding in Death Valley at Badwater Basin
Kayaking on Lake Manly in Death Valley National Park
In Summary
Thanks so much for joining me this week inside Death Valley National Park. For a virtual visit of our kayaking adventure on Lake Manly, make sure to watch my Behind the Blog video located at the top of this post, or watch it on YouTube here. Until next week, I hope you find adventure and encouragement wherever you go.
Canadian goose at Badwater Basin in Death Valley
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About Me
I’m Dawn Marie, a travel and lifestyle blogger based out of Southern California. With in-depth articles, travel guides, and reviews on hotels & products, I seek to share my journeys to help you plan for your own. My adventures take me all over California, the western United States, and around the globe...and every Monday I post new content here, including a comprehensive blog post and YouTube video.
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Can you kayak in Death Valley? Yes! Currently the National Park Service is allowing park visitors to take kayaks and stand up paddle boards onto the historic Lake Manly, the ancient lake that has reappeared at Badwater Basin. Read this Flying Dawn Marie travel guide for all the info you need to plan your kayaking adventure to Death Valley National Park, a perfect road trip from Los Angeles.