Death Valley: The Devil’s Golf Course Risks Broken Bones

Jagged salt crystals at “Devil’s Golf Course,” Death Valley

The sign warns that walking on the Devil’s Golf Course can result in falls, cuts and even broken bones!  The picture from one mile up at Dante’s View, appears to show a beautiful white salt-encrusted valley floor.  The closer picture reveals a more harsh environment of jagged salt crystals, one to three feet tall. 

Salt Flats of Death Valley as seen from Dante’s View, one mile above the valley floor.

Water evaporating from the lake bed leave behind these large salt crystals that trap soil, rocks, and even old animal bones.  Here these massive salt flats are preserved, while in other parts of the Mojave Desert, this type of salt deposit is harvested or mined. 

Animal bone trapped in salt crystal, Death Valley

We pass one such salt surface mining operation in the Mojave Desert near the town of Amboy, California, an almost 200 mile drive south of Death Valley.  Another place to visit the remains of a lake salt mining operation is Zzyzx in the Mojave National Preserve.

Today begins the annual art show here at the Furnace Creek Resort within Death Valley National Park.  The weather forecast this weekend is sunny and warm with a guaranteed chance to see beautiful arts and crafts.