What to wear for hiking in Death Valley??

[Appalonia]

I'm not a hiking kind of person, but I've agreed to go on this holiday with a friend. I don't wear shorts and have no hiking trousers, and especially not for a desert type climate. I'm at a bit of a loss to wear but I need to find something, as I'm going beginning of October. Apparently it's too hot for jeans, which are the only kind of utility clothes I wear. I'm more of a long dress, linen trousers kind of person. Any ideas as to what I could wear, as I'm starting to panic a bit!

Hi OP

I am a very keen hiker, I have visited both Death Valley and Yosemite…. And Vegas

If neither you nor your friend are ‘hikers’ then I think being realistic and visiting for a walk to see the highlights is probably what he means. You’ll need to ask him.

To give you an idea…
I spent a week in Yosemite on trails last October. 3L water minimum a day. More back in the car. Food with enough calories for the hike day + a day. Getting lost is a genuine risk. The trails are well marked, but this isn’t the lake district there are vast areas where you will see noone. There are also bears, you cannot leave food in your car, there are lockers. Warm and waterproof clothing. You’ll also need a map and know how to use it. I suggest you stick to the Yosemite Valley area. There are tonnes of view points from the car parks, 100m walk max. for most. Trainers will be fine, the paths are concrete and well maintained. Wear whatever you like, although jeans are probably a bit warm. You will still need to bring a lot of water and food as although there are some cafe’s they’re sparse.

We have all the necessary clothing, weather gear, footwear, the lot.

We did drive through death valley as we had also hiked around Utah and Arizona. If you’re driving Las Vegas to Yosemite via Death Valley I recommend a stop at Stove Pipe Wells, there is a cafe and fuel station. There are other fuel stops but that route has more passing traffic. We walked about 10meters up the dunes there and took some pictures, I wore a skirt and Birkenstocks.

I cannot imagine anyone really ‘hiking’ in Death Valley, especially in October. That 10-15mins I spent outside the air con of the car was enough. I could feel my eyes drying!! Doing things for fun is my priority on holiday and as a big hiking fan, I think accepting it’s called Death Valley for a reason is sensible.
If you were to walk any distance I am not sure what you would see, it’s a dessert, also very difficult to walk on sand, the view from the road allows you to see a fair distance so a few stops to take pictures is a more realistic plan. That route on a clear day will also offer a view over chloride city and the borax works.

Have fun!

Pink jeep tours go to Death Valley for the day from Las Vegas. You’d both be far safer doing that than hiking around there. You’re woefully underequipped and unprepared.

Seems useful op

Are you sure that the plan is to actually hike, rather than just stop off at the visitor centre?

A bodybag, as you're highly likely to die!

This.
If you think 'what to wear hiking in Death Valley' has anything to do with Style and Beauty you don't understand the potential danger and you shouldn't be doing it.

No offence but they're hideous( to me ). Was thinking maybe lightweight cargo pants? Maybe I could just wear leggings?

I think if you're willing to do this hike you need to be willing to wear the right gear. Leggings might work if they're proper sports ones that wick away sweat (I don't think cotton ones would be that comfortable in those conditions). Check out Sports Direct and TKMaxx for cheapish options. But you definitely need decent hiking boots or shoes. Find out how much hiking your friend really expects to do and choose accordingly - boots would be better for really long hikes and essential if it's hilly or uneven, but if you're mainly going to be walking a flattish, well maintained trail along the valley floor you could get away with trail shoes (like trainers but with more stable and non-slip soles), which again you are likely to find in Sports Direct, unless you have very narrow feet. If you do, Salomon is the best brand for you and you'll get a better range of those online.

Can you just wear linen trousers if you like those anyway? I got some good ones on Amazon recently and walking boots/ trainers? Definitely go and get some good shoes. Loose fitting trousers would be cooler anyway i should think than leggings. It will be hot enough to fry an egg on the ground/ the wind is like an hairdryer, and there will be snakes so I’d probably just wear what I was comfortable in!

I doubt very much you’ll be doing much hiking in Death Valley. I was there last September, it was over 100f.
we got out of the car to walk the salt flats, for about 10 minutes that is all we could last.
go on the mountain warehouse website buy some light weight walking shorts, and a breathable running type t shirt. If you don’t want walking boots buy trail running trainers.
i wore teva sandals.

I went on a road trip round the west coast of the US in August a few years back and although no hiking took place at Death Valley we did stop very close by to refuel and view the worlds largest thermometer (lol). It was 47 degrees Celsius and I have never felt heat like it. I managed only minutes outside before retreating back to the air conditioned van. I have no clothing advice other than cover extremities as much as feasible, as I don’t think anyone who isn’t heavily experienced should be doing it!

The warning signs about switching off air con were there when I went last September.
you need to take plenty of water in the car because the roads are vast and lonely. If you break down you may not be able to get help straight away as there is no phone signal and not many other vehicles on the road.

we did Vegas , stayed one night in Death Valley and then onto Yosemite.
you and your friend seem very naive and clueless.

And the heat in death vallley literally sucks the moisture out of your mouth and throat . I’ve never been anywhere like it.

As others say, it will be hot even if you are just touring. High factor suncream, hat, high uv screen sun glasses are essential. Don't underestimate the tough environment.
Don't wear cotton - cotton garments just absorb sweat and sticks to you.
You can get 'technical' - ie breathable - clothing that's functional but doesn't look too 'serious walker' online from sites such as Craghopper, Mountain Warehouse, Decathlon and Trespass (just Google!)
Leggings aren't a good idea - they will cling and be very uncomfortable. Try cropped trousers like https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/hiker-stretch-womens-capri-p29167.aspx/
As everyone says, the need for water cannot be emphasised enough!! If you're out walking get a belt that holds water bottles.
And get decent trekking shoes and socks, not trainers. Cotswold Sports are great for boots/shoes.
Good luck!

🤣🤣

My cousin hiked through part of the Grand Canyon and people were regularly flaking out and being hosed down, their sweat was so salty it was crystalising on their skin and they were dangerously dehydrated and needed electrolytes.

I'm not sure this is a good idea..

It sounds like the very first thing you (and your friend) need to have is cast-iron travel insurance which will cover you if you need to be rescued from an extreme situation in a remote location and potentially hospitalised and repatriated home. I mean this seriously, not as a joke or a dig.

How you look is the last thing to worry about hiking in Death Valley - save that for the Vegas casinos part of the trip.

You need to have a much clearer conversation with your friend. From your description, he may be equally unprepared, and need to rethink the whole idea. Are you/he planning on driving yourselves, or joining a guided tour? Has he made any plans? Does he have the necessary driving, travel, hiking experience himself?

I wouldn't be blindly tagging along with someone unless I knew them extremely well, and was confident in their expertise.

Might be worth finding the section for travel or outdoor activities and asking again there?

Just fyi, although you've possibly already researched.
Yer a brave wummin' 😅

I used to work for a big international car hire company and when people booked cars in Las Vegas or Southern California, we had to highlight to them that the insurance was invalid if they drove through Death Valley as it was considered too dangerous.

If it is that risky to drive through, do you really think it is safe for two inexperienced hikers?

You also need to check your travel insurance covers you medically, as it could be excluded as a dangerous activity. With the outrageous cost of medical care in the US, even relatively simple treatment for dehydration could be very, very expensive!

@Appalonia

for guidance, (unless you've changed your mind?) 😉

If you think that leggings could be acceptable in Death Valley, or focus on ashtethics when a good suggestion for trousers have been given to you, I urge you not to do this. You're not ready, by a mile.

If you insist, please start looking up blogs or websites of experienced hikers, those who've done Death Valley specifically, and see their recommendations. Not just for clothes but full kits, because a Compeed blister plaster is not going to get you anywhere close to where you need to be.

While I certainly wouldn’t advocate long or even short hikes for the inexperienced and unprepared, driving through it really isn’t that bad, or bad at all. As I said earlier, when we drove through in a convertible with the roof down, it was 50 degrees. There were no Death Valley exclusions on our hired car (Alamo). The visitor centre car park was full of cars.

At one point we stopped to take photographs and a woman passed us on a bicycle. She had the long uphill climb out of the valley in front of her. We didn’t see her dead body on the side of the road, so I presume she made it.

This thread is freaking me out.

We were planning to go to Death Valley early next week, aiming to get to the mesquite flats around 7.30-8am, do a brief trek (as in 10 mins max) away from the car to get a couple of photos, drive over to zabriskie point, badwater basin, artist's drive over the next couple of hours, then drive out, heading towards Los Angeles (so via Shoshone). I estimate we should hit Baker which I understood to be outside the park by about midday.

Could someone who knows the area advise on if that sounds safe enough or are we being silly? We haven't been before and are not experienced hikers, so a couple of brief jaunts from the car to the various view points but no real hiking planned. I had planned to bring lots of water, electrolytes, paper maps etc and leave details of the planned route (I've checked to make sure it's all on paved roads) with a friend, but hadn't figured on buying special clothing for it.

I think people on this thread are imagining a 10 mile hike in Death Valley! What I'm getting is OP and her friend are parking the car, doing a sign posted walk of say 2km and back to car which will have air con. Should be entirely manageable.

If I were you I'd wear trainers and old linen trousers (so you don't have to buy new for a short walk) with a t shirt. Make sure you wear sun screen. My DS went recently he wore normal shorts and trainers, did like 3km max, took water, sunglasses, sunscreen and loved it.

I think the word "hike" is giving people the idea of a stomp through difficult terrain, no sign posts for >5km.

Based on my own experience of early September, you will be absolutely fine. I went for several short walks to take photographs. I wore shorts, a long sleeved top and a wide brimmed hat, nothing special.

We were told a salutary tale in the DV visitor centre of a Swiss tourist, an experienced walker, who had recently died because he grossly underestimated the amount of water he would need for a ten mile walk. You are highly unlikely to come to any harm on a ten minute walk.

Hi we did pretty much the exact same when we went last year. 10-15 minutes outside of your car you’ll be fine, but you will not believe how hot it is. It literally draws all the moisture out of your mount and throat as you breathe. It is worth the visit as it is like nowhere else on earth.

Google it or ask chat gpt? You'll get plenty of useful information.

Whatever you do, don't stop in Barstow, CA. Lonely Planet describes it as, "a charmless pitstop" and it ain't wrong.