Hiking to Lower Monarch Lake really rewards you for climbing nearly 5 miles uphill. Even though there is the option to travel further to Upper Monarch Lake and Sawtooth Pass, I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything, and let me say - my fear of missing out on any hike is pretty substantial. Lower Monarch Lake was spectacular enough to call it a final…
Despite the name, Racetrack Valley sees far less action in Death Valley National Park because it’s so far remote. While it's only ~90 miles from Furnace Creek, 27 miles require driving down Racetrack Valley Road - a rough, washboard, off-road-only ordeal that makes visiting kind of tricky. However, that’s not the half of it. You need to drive a little further if you want to see those…