Death Valley, California, east of Lone Pine, is five hours south on the main road from Mammoth Mountain, offering an interesting side trip or worthwhile destination on its own. Located between the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the west and Nevada's border on the east, Death Valley is a 12-mile wide and 130-mile long stretch of barren desert plains and rocky ridges. Here's the hottest, driest spot in the United States, with a record temperature of 134 degrees F. recorded in 1913, and the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, 282 feet below sea level, sloping from the valley's highest elevation of 11,049 feet. Sites such as Funeral Mountain, Starvation Canyon and Dead Man Pass reflect the misfortune endured by 19th century pioneers who first inhabited and mined Death Valley. Despite its history of misfortune, today's visitors discover a landscape of incredible natural beauty. Multi-colored desert rocks, orange canyons, unspoiled sand dunes, pristine salt fields, snow-capped mountains and an array of native wildlife create breathtaking scenery and a unique atmosphere. Designated a National Monument in 1933, Death Valley covers 3.4 million acres, the largest U.S. park outside Alaska. The U.S. National Park Service maintains several places of interest and artifacts remaining from the valley's earliest settlers. Scotty's Castle, located in Grapevine Canyon, a green oasis in the northern valley, was the summer home and getaway of Roaring 20's Chicago businessman Walter Scott. There are relics and remains of a dozen ghost towns that thrived in the heyday of early 20th-century gold and copper mining. In the heart of Death Valley National Park lies the Furnace Creek Inn, established as a desert resort by a mining company in 1927 and still providing luxury accommodations to desert travelers. There are also dozens of well-maintained trails for driving, hiking, and biking, along with scores of campsites.
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