Hiking the Artists Palette Trail in Death Valley National Park

U.S. National ParksSouthwest U.S.California

Mar 23

Distance: 0.3 - 1.0 miles / 0.5 - 1.6 km

Artists Palette is one of the most beautiful places to explore in Death Valley, and it’s one of my personal favorites at sunset!

The reason why the distance above is so variable is because you can do as much or as little exploring as you want. I ended up walking about a mile up the many washes, but if you stick to the two main loops in this post, the distance will be under a mile total.

Artists Palette Trailhead Parking

Parking for the Artists Palette Overlook is located in a large paved parking lot.

The overlook/ trail is the most popular stopping point on the 9-mile (14.5 km) Artists Drive, meaning that this spot can get very busy.

Google Maps Directions: Artists Palette Trailhead

Artists Palette Trailhead Parking Death Valley National Park — Artists Palette Trailhead Parking

Artists Palette Overlook Parking Death Valley National Park — Artists Palette Trailhead Parking

Hiking Checklist - Death Valley

Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Death Valley National Park.

Hiking the Artists Palette Trail

The Artists Palette Trail is really a collection of two small loops and side trails around the greater Artists Palette Overlook.

The trails consist of both an inner and outer loop, with several other routes branching off from them, most of which end in dead ends.

Artists Palette Trailhead Death Valley National Park — Artists Palette Trailhead

This is where both the inner and outer Artists Palette loops split.

Go left for the outer loop, or go right for the inner loop.

Artists Palette Trail Split Death Valley National Park — Artists Palette Trail - Left for Outer Loop / Right for Inner Loop

The Outer Loop

Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km

The outer Artists Palette Loop Trail is a beautiful option because you get higher views of the surrounding area compared to the inner loop.

Artists Palette Trail Death Valley National Park — Artists Palette Trail - Outer Loop

These next two photos are looking down on the inner loop.

Artists Palette Hike Death Valley National Park — Looking at the Inner Loop

Artists Palette Loop Death Valley National Park — Looking at the Inner Loop

Artists Palette Loop Trail Death Valley National Park — Artists Palette Trail - Outer Loop

Toward the back of the initial ridge, the trail drops down, as shown below.

Best Spots Artists Palette Death Valley — Artists Palette Trail - Outer Loop

Artists Palette Hike Death Valley — Artists Palette Trail - Outer Loop

Go right to stay on the main path. The path to the left goes up a little bit before ending in a dead end.

This area in the photo below is both the back inner and outer loop.

Go left to continue on the outer loop.

Artists Palette California — Artists Palette Trail - Outer Loop

At this split, go right. The path to the left ends in a dead end.

Best Hiking Death Valley — Artists Palette Trail - Outer Loop

At this split, go right to return back to the beginning.

Best Canyons Death Valley — Artists Palette Trail - Outer Loop

Slot Canyon Hiking Death Valley — Artists Palette Trail - Outer Loop

Places to Explore Death Valley — Back to the Beginning!

The Inner Loop

Distance: 0.3 miles / 0.5 km

As if you had gone right at the initial split in the photo above, you would end up here at the split for the inner Artists Palette Loop Trail.

In these photos, I went around the left side of inner loop first.

Artists Palette Inner Loop Trail Death Valley National Park — Artists Palette Trail - Inner Loop

Artists Palette Inner Trail Death Valley National Park — Artists Palette Trail - Inner Loop

Best Hikes Death Valley — Artists Palette Trail - Inner Loop

At this split, go right to continue on the inner loop.

Toward the back of the inner loop, the trail goes up and over this small ridge to continue around the other side.

Artists Palette Death Valley National Park — The Back of the Inner Loop

Overall, Artists Palette is one of the best places to explore in Death Valley National Park.

Artists Palette Trail Death Valley — Back to the Beginning!

How to Get the Best Photos at Artists Palette?

Artists Palette is best shot at sunrise and sunset. The harsh midday sun can wash out some of the best of the colors, which is why I wouldn’t visit Artists Palette at any other time of the day.

For example, this photo below was shot shortly after sunset when the light and the colors are their softest. However, sunset will always be much busier than sunrise, meaning that you are likely to deal with more people in your photos.