pezvela wrote:
Death Valley is doable in June, no sweat. Well, not actually NO sweat.........
Experiencing 110 degrees for a day or two is part of the whole Death Valley aura. You can do it for a day or two!!! The main issue with DV in June isnt the daytime highs, it's the hot overnight lows that make it uncomfortable, unless you love your TC air conditioner. Few of us do; it's a loud, necessary evil.
Many of the attractions of DV are attractions where you drive through interesting areas or drive to an area with a short walk. Hey, it's a gas to walk around at Badwater, The Racetrack or Devil's Golf Course for 15 minutes in that kind of heat. You'll get the pics you need; hopefully some with heat waves rising around you. You're air conditioned truck is just a short walk away. Dante's View, Artist's palette are easily done in the heat of June. And it's generally a DRY heat; nothing like the humid heat of Minnesota.
You could also do the dunes at Stovepipe Wells before dawn when the temps are great and the creatures are venturing out. Great time for photos, too.
There are high elevation campgrounds where the daytime highs will be below 90 like Mahogany Flat and Thorndike. Wildrose, while not a very good campground, is another but it will be above 90. Homestead Dry Camp could also be below 100 and it's near one of the premier attractions; The Racetrack.
The DV website does mention that Mahogany, Wildrose and Thorndike are closed right now, due to a road washout. So, check back in May if you are seriously considering camping at one of them.
Just avoid camping at Furnace Creek, Texas Spring and Sunset and Stovepipe Wells and you can do DV in June, especially early June.
Just be sure you're vehicle's cooling system is in top condition and carry plenty of water. That's easy for a TC!! But water is available in enough places that you dont have to use it that sparingly.
Great information here, thank you and thank you for your advice.
