Walking Wild & Free

Artists Drive 1

Artists Drive

Photo credit Marc Cooper, Public Domain. View at https://flic.kr/p/xhSXHh

Artists Drive 2

Photo credit Jeff Hollett, Public Domain. View at https://flic.kr/p/24ZR4fc

Artists Drive 3

Photo credit Jeff Hollett, Public Domain. View at https://flic.kr/p/24ZR3CR

Artists Drive 4

Photo credit Jeff Hollett, Public Domain. View at https://flic.kr/p/2evtDTy

Take a winding paved road through the foothills of the Black Mountains to the spectacular Artists Palette and Star Wars film site.

Total Distance: 9.2 miles point to point (one-way)	Elevation Gain: 1,682ft. up, 1,720ft. down (-203ft. to 946ft.)
Road Difficulty: 0.8	Bicycle Difficulty: More Difficult
View Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0	Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0
Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]	Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]
Pets: Leashed	Horses: No
Best Seasons: October-May	Special Permits: None. Vehicle length is restricted to less than 25ft.
Water Availability: None	Overnight Options: None
Amenities: Primitive restrooms at Artists Palette	Crowd Factor: Moderate to Crowded
Uses:	Road surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Artists Drive

0.0 Entrance to Artist Drive (-163ft.). The scenic drive begins by shooting straight for the Black Mountains (east), but it fairly quickly begins its winding travel to and through the foothills. Occasional pullouts allow you to pull over to enjoy the views or let other cars pass. (36.329933°, -116.829965°)

1.5 First major pullout on right (southeast) (324ft.). Park here to take a short hike up the hillside for views down on Badwater Basin. Then continue on Artists Drive as it winds through the foothills with views of the nearby mountains. Another pulloff about mile 2.5 showcases some pink cliffs. At this point, you’re driving across a type of plain with mountains (colorful cliffs) on the right and hills on the left. The road dips into a wash and then continues along the plain before repeating the dip-wash-plain maneuver. You’ll pass pulloffs about mile 3.0 and 3.6. (36.332704°, -116.805969°)

4.3 Spur to Artists Palette on right (east) (579ft.). Turn right to Artists Palette (the junction is signed). This is the one part of the Artists Palette Scenic Drive that allows two-way traffic. (36.363735°, -116.805616°)

4.5 Artists Palette Parking Area (623ft.). Stop here to look at the beautiful colors of Artist Palette. While you don’t have to hike, you can choose to scramble up the canyon to get a closer-up view of the colorful rocks and badlands. When you’re done looking at it, return to your vehicle and drive back down to the main road of Artists Drive and turn right (you can’t turn left because it’s a one-way road). The remainder of the drive is less interesting than what you’ve seen before, as it follows a small wash with tan, low canyon walls, though at times the rocks are colorful. Pass pulloffs about mile 5.0, 5.7, 6.0, 7.0, and 7.6. At last, exit the hills to views down on Badwater Flats and the Panamint Mountains across the valley. From here, it’s a quick, straight shot down to the Badwater Road. (36.363451°, -116.802726°)

9.2 Badwater Road (end of Artist Drive) (-203ft.). Turn left to go to Badwater Basin or right to return to CA-190 and Furnace Creek. (36.381706°, -116.851133°)

History & More

Artists Drive is a one-way road, with traffic traveling south to north. The NPS figures you’ll spend at least 30 minutes on the driving tour.

Artists Drive is paved. However, it’s narrow and winding, so large RVs and vehicles with trailers shouldn’t attempt it. The National Park Service restricts the length to 25ft.

The small hump of ground on the other side of Badwater Road from the exit to Artists Drive is called Mars Hill.

I visited Artist Pallette about noon one day in May and was highly unimpressed. Maybe I needed lunch, maybe in was 102F in the shade, or maybe the colors are much better in the morning or evening.

Scenes from Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope were filmed in the badlands of Artist Palette. One memorable scene (where R2-D2 enters a canyon at sunset) is in the wash right next to the Artist Palette Parking Area. Scenes of half a dozen Jawas carrying R2-D2 to their Sandcrawler were reshot nearby in 1977. To represent the Jawas, the children of park employees were recruited from the local elementary school.

The colors in the badlands and rocks of Death Valley are formed from a mix of minerals, most of which are different forms of iron that have oxidized when exposed to the air. In general, Yellow Rock = Limonite, Purple Rock = Hematite, Red/Orange Rock = Hematite, and Green/Blue Rock = Chlorite or Nontronite.

Download Road Map

Trailhead Location

Southern terminus (entrance): Badwater Road 8.6 miles south of CA-190 and 7.9 miles north of Badwater Basin.