Artist's Drive, Death Valley National Park

From artist's drive, you can reach easily artist palet. Various mineral pigments have colored these volcanic deposits. Iron salts produce the reds, pinks and yellows, decomposing micas causes the green, magnesium supplies the purple. Colors on the palette are reproduced in a larger scale on the mountains around Death Valley.

Located south of Furnace Creek, this is a one-way scenic drive off Route 178. The road winds for about 6 miles through multi-hued rock formations on either side including Artist's Palette.

We visited close to sunset and everything took on an orange tinge.

A colorful volcanic rock area located off the Artist Drive. Colors are produced from the various mineral pigments.
Iron salts - produce reds, pinks, yellows
Mica - green
Manganese - purple

Again, everything appeared orangy possible due to the sun setting.

This is a one-way nine miles scenic drive through hills splashed with colors from mineral deposits. There are reds, yelows and pinks from the iron salts, green from decomposing mica, and purples from manganese. About halfway through the drive is Artist's Palette a remarkable spot which is worth a stop.

Because of the seven miles one-way road to reach this place, you need to visit the Artist Palette when driving from Badwater in the direction of Furnace Creek.

The volcanic rock in the natural amfitheater shows lots of colours. Iron ore is responsable for the red, pink and yellow shades. Mica turns the rock into green and manganese produces the purple colours.

Again, these colours are at their best at the end of the day or around sunset, and again we were there at a wrong moment.
But... I can assure you that it's also a wonderful view under the afternoon sun.

For some reason of another I have not yet seen a photo that comes close to the real view.

The Artist's Palette is a series of colorful rock formations located along Artist's Drive south Furnace Creek. The rocks' color derived from various minerals such as copper and manganese that were contained in the rocks.

Artist's Drive is a sideroad that parallels the mainroad for a couple of miles (for location, see directions below).

In this area the rocks have all kinds of different colours. The most spectacular point along this Drive is Artist's Pallette, with lots of colours in the rocks.

Yes, the car in the picture was our rental car. This is what happens if you ask for a three-door car. Not bad, hey?

You can find Artist's Palette on the Badwater Road. There is a one-way looping road that will take you past several viewing areas and points of interest as it winds its way through the heavily-eroded badlands.
Artist's Palette is piece of eroded hillside in the foothills of the Black Mountains covered in an intensely colored mosaic of reds, greens, golds and blacks.

One of the many stops, Artist's Palette with different colors because of the minerals and salts. Took picture quickly and rush back into the car to avoid strong solar exposure.

There are many other vistas like the lowest point of Death Valley, the view of the valley from Dante's view and sand dunes.

There are a dozen of places to visit but it good to cool off at the Visitors Center to understand the different geological formations of this National Park. After ten minutes under the hot sun, you will understand why it is named so.

Drink plenty of water and wear a cap or hat.

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Artist’s Drive is a seven mile one-way road heading south to north so it is best to drive it when heading back up Badwater Road from the basin. The highlight of the drive is Artist’s Palette; but there are several nice views along the way. The turnoff is on the east side of the road between Golden Canyon and the Devil's Golf Course. The road, although short, is skinny with lots of curves so allow plenty of time especially if you get behind a slow driver.