Guide to Visiting the Rare Lake Manly in Badwater Basin (Death Valley National Park)

There’s a rare, temporary lake in the driest place in North America. Does that not blow your mind? If you’re wanting to see this incredible phenomenon, go now! It’s estimated that Lake Manly could dry up soon. Here’s everything you should know before making the trek out to Death Valley to see Lake Manly in Badwater Basin.

6/2/24 Update: Lake Manly is now almost entirely dry, according to Death Valley National Park officials. Please do not walk in wet/muddy areas to avoid leaving long-lasting footprints.

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What’s So Special about Lake Manly in Badwater Basin (Death Valley National Park)?

Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level. It’s one of the top 10 lowest points on earth.

Death Valley is also one of the hottest and driest places on earth. The world-record hottest temperature of 134 ℉ was recorded in Death Valley in 1913.

Normally, Badwater Basin is just a large area of salt flats, covering nearly 200 square miles.

Tens of thousands of years ago, Lake Manly actually existed in Badwater Basin, an ancient lake that has long since evaporated, according to the National Park Service.

But it makes a brief and rare reappearance every now and then.

author near lake manly in death valley — Lake Manly, Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park

What Is Lake Manly? Is It a Real Lake?

Lake Manly is the name of the temporary lake in Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park.

It’s not a real lake, more like a flooding of Badwater Basin, which is normally dry and covered in salt polygons.

Lake Manly appears only during seasons of excess rainfall, which is rare and hasn’t happened since 2005, and then again in 2023 and 2024. When it did happen in 2005, the lake lasted all but a week before drying up again.

sign at Badwater basin that says "Badwater basin: 282 feet / 855 meters below sea level"

Why Is There Water in Badwater Basin?

Lake Manly filled Badwater Basin with water for several months, beginning in August 2023, after Hurricane Hilary dropped more than 2 inches of rain on Death Valley. It dried up by June 2024.

Two inches might not seem like a lot, but Death Valley normally receives less than 2 inches of rain all year. So to get that much rain in a day was quite an event.

Death Valley received 1.5 inches of more rain in February 2024 which filled up the lake again.

For those keeping score, in those 6 months Death Valley received nearly 5 inches of rainfall, well more than double their annual average.

For the driest area in North America, this is quite a phenomenon.

author holding up a chunk of salt by lake manly in death valley — Chunk of salt easily picked up from ground, Lake Manly

What’s the Current Status of Lake Manly? Is the Lake Still There?

As of June 2024, Lake Manly at Death Valley National Park has dried up.

Park rangers originally estimated that the lake would dry up by the end of February, but that prediction was literally blown out of the water.

In February, after the rainfall, Lake Manly grew to be 6 miles long, 3 miles wide and 1 foot deep — so deep that kayaking was allowed for a short period of time. Kayaking is now no longer allowed as the lake has receded past what would make boating feasible.

I visited Badwater Basin in mid-March 2024, and the lake was still large and full of water.

It was truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Now that it has dried up, who knows when it will fill up again?

view of lake manly at badwater basin in death valley national park

How to Visit Badwater Basin: Where Is Lake Manly?

Location on Google Maps: Trailhead and Parking Lot
Trail Length: Few hundred feet to 1/4 mile to lake edge. It’s up to you how far you’d like to walk around or in the lake.
Elevation Gain: Flat
Difficulty: Easy
Parking: Paved parking lot
Road to Badwater Basin: Paved road, good condition
Restroom: Port-a-potty type restroom available at the parking lot

Badwater Basin is in Death Valley National Park, on Badwater Road. The road to Badwater Basin is paved and in good condition. So you don’t need a 4-wheel drive vehicle to reach Badwater Basin.

There is a small parking lot near the trailhead. It can fill up in the afternoon, so be patient for a spot or try to get here early or later in the afternoon.

Just off the parking lot is a boardwalk that slopes down into the salt flats of Badwater Basin and eventually to Lake Manly. You’ll need to walk at least a quarter of a mile to get to the large lake, but you’ll see water right away.

6/2/24 Update: Lake Manly is now almost entirely dry, according to Death Valley National Park officials. Please do not walk in wet/muddy areas to avoid leaving long-lasting footprints.

the author near lake manly in death valley national park — Lake Manly, Death Valley National Park

Tips for Visiting Death Valley National Park

Drive a reliable car with working A/C. Death Valley is the largest national park in the continental U.S., so you’ll be doing a lot of driving in the desert, and you have to be able to rely on your car. Before heading out, make sure you check your tire air pressure, get an oil change, have a roadside assistance kit ready, and have working A/C. It gets dangerously hot in the desert, so air conditioning is a must.

Fill your car up with gas. Before heading into or out of the park, be sure you are filled up with gas. There IS a gas station inside the park at Furnace Creek, which is a bit more expensive, but it’s better to spend a few extra dollars on gas then get stranded somewhere in the desert, wishing you had filled up. The next closest gas stations are in Shoshone, CA and Pahrump, NV.

Download offline GPS maps and print paper maps. The internet is unreliable and sometimes non-existent in the desert. Be sure to download a map of California and Nevada for offline use ahead of time and also print out your driving directions, just in case.

Bring a portable charger. Be prepared in case your phone dies. Bring your charging cables and portable chargers to help charge your phone in case of an emergency.

Wear layers. In winter and spring time, the park has milder temperatures, but it can get hot in the middle of the day. Wear layers so you can easily adjust with the weather.

Bring sunscreen. Did I mention it gets hot? Wear sunscreen to protect your exposed skin from the UV rays.

Pack a lunch. There are very limited restaurants in the desert. I’d highly, highly recommend packing a lunch. We packed some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, granola bars, chips, and apple sauce in a mini cooler, and ate our lunch in Badwater Basin parking lot. We had a great view, so I really can’t complain.

Pack a lot of water. You never know what could happen, so be prepared and pack more water than you think you’ll need.

the author's mom walking back to the boardwalk at Badwater Basin — Lake Manly, Death Valley National Park

view of lake manly in death valley national park — Lake Manly, Death Valley National Park

FAQs About Visiting Lake Manly in Badwater Basin (Death Valley)

What Shoes Should I Wear to Visit Lake Manly?

6/2/24 Update: Lake Manly is now almost entirely dry, according to Death Valley National Park officials. Please do not walk in wet/muddy areas to avoid leaving long-lasting footprints.

I wore hiking shoes and opted not to stick my feet/shoes in the lake. I saw some people wearing water shoes or rain boots, but most were wearing regular sneakers or hiking shoes. It’s up to you what you’re comfortable wearing or getting wet.

Consider bringing an extra pair of shoes to change into afterwards. Your shoes will be covered in salt deposits. This is what my mom did — she brought a special pair of shoes to only wear here in Lake Manly.

Can I Go Barefoot in Lake Manly?

Sure, why not? Seize the moment, right? Keep in mind, though, that the water is VERY salty and leaves your skin feeling dry and itchy. I did see several people walking barefoot in the water. If you do this, have a towel in your car to dry off afterwards, and maybe bring some soap to wash off the salt and some lotion to moisturize.

What Is the Best Time of the Day to Visit Lake Manly?

Sunrise and sunset are amazing times to see Lake Manly with less people and incredible views. It can be hard to time it right if you’re planning on only visiting Death Valley for a day and want to be on the road before nightfall. So if you can’t make it at sunset, don’t worry, it’s just as magical to visit during the day.

We visited around noon and had a great time. We were able to find a parking spot after waiting just a few minutes. It was busy, but once you walk out to the lake, the crowds thin out.

As we were leaving, the line of cars looking for parking spaces was much longer, so the afternoons from maybe 12 to 4 p.m. might be the most busy.

Can I Kayak in Lake Manly?

No, unfortunately, kayaking is no longer allowed in Lake Manly due to receding water levels.

Can I Bring My Dog/Pet to Lake Manly in Badwater Basin?

No, pets are not allowed in Badwater Basin for both the pet’s safety and because it’s Death Valley’s policy. There’s a sign on the boardwalk of Badwater Basin that warns people not to bring their pets into Badwater Basin.

For that matter, pets are not permitted on any trails in Death Valley, including the Badwater Basin boardwalk and trail.

If you bring your dog or pet with you, they have to remain in the car or in the parking lot with their owner. They can’t be left alone. It’s also advised not to bring pets in the summer, when heat is extreme.

What Are Some Tips for Photographing Lake Manly?

Go during sunrise or sunset for the best lighting at Lake Manly.
Try to capture the reflection in the water at Lake Manly of either you or the nearby Panamint mountains.
Head up to Dante’s View for a bird’s eye look at Lake Manly. (However, don’t go during a cloudy day like we did because all you will see is … clouds.)
Wear your best dinosaur costume. Wait … what? We really saw someone whip out an inflatable dinosaur costume while visiting Lake Manly, and if that doesn’t inspire your photography, I don’t know what will.

Do I Need a Car? Is There a Shuttle in Death Valley?

Yes, you will need a car to get around Death Valley. There is no shuttle service in Death Valley National Park. Attractions in Death Valley are also spread apart, so a car is essential.

Where Should I Stay When Visiting Death Valley National Park?

If you’re coming from Las Vegas or the Los Angeles areas, it’s possible to do a day trip. However, if you’d like to stay somewhere nearby Death Valley before heading back, here’s what you should know.

Death Valley National Park is quite literally in the middle of nowhere. You can drive for hours without passing by civilization or a decent hotel.

There are some hotel options within Death Valley National Park — such as the Ranch at Death Valley and the Inn at Death Valley — but they are very pricey at around $400 to $700 a night.

If, like me, that is out of your price range, consider staying about an hour away from Death Valley in the nearby Pahrump, NV. It honestly looks a bit sketchy driving into this town, but the center of town is more normal looking, I promise.

We stayed at the Holiday Inn Express in Pahrump, which is a newer hotel near a race track (lots of guests had new Corvettes parked in the parking lot), and it was a nice, clean hotel.

We’re from California, so when we told people we were staying in Pahrump while visiting Death Valley, they responded as if we were driving into the middle of Nevada. It’s not that far from Death Valley, only 30 minutes from the entrance, and just outside the California-Nevada border. It really is the most civilized town for miles, so in hindsight, I’m glad we stayed here!

How Long Will There Be Water in Lake Manly?

June 2024 Update: Lake Manly is now almost entirely dry, according to Death Valley National Park officials. Please do not walk in wet/muddy areas to avoid leaving long-lasting footprints.