Rough salt formations at Devils Golf Course in Death Valley National Park California with rugged salt textures and mountains in background

    Jagged salt formations at Devil’s Golf Course — heavily eroded salt crust shaped by evaporation and extreme desert conditions.

    ← Back to Death Valley Salt Flats (Badwater Basin)

    Devil’s Golf Course

    Landmark

    Devil’s Golf Course is a salt formation area within Death Valley where the surface is broken into rough, jagged structures. The terrain is uneven and textured, contrasting with the smoother flats of nearby areas. The composition resolves through texture, detail, and the relationship between foreground formations and surrounding landscape.

    36.28591, -116.82607

    Gallery

    Quick Facts

    Access

    Roadside / Step-out

    0–5 min

    Elevation Gain

    0 m

    Best Light

    Sunrise
    Sunset
    Golden Hour

    Light works best when low-angle light moves across the formations because it enhances texture and maintains detail across bright and shadowed areas.

    Why This Light

    Low-Angle Relief
    Wide DR OK

    Season

    Seasonally Distinct

    Summer has extreme heat with limited time on the formations and strong atmospheric haze. Winter has more manageable conditions with clearer visibility and easier movement.

    Crowds

    Often Busy

    Restrictions

    Surface is uneven and sharp; walking requires care.

    Photography Notes

    Devil’s Golf Course is photographed by moving across the salt formations rather than from a fixed viewpoint. Composition depends on selecting textured foreground structures and aligning them with distant mountains. Movement is required to find strong patterns and depth.