DEATH VALLEY AND YOSEMITE WORLDWIDE DISCOVERY USA MARCH 2025

Lightstalker’s Worldwide Discovery – Yosemite and Death Valley

Destination summary

You’re invited to register your interest as one of just 3 guests touring and photographing two of the USA’s most iconic National Parks. In Death Valley and Yosemite you’ll travel with myself on this intimate photo journey of discovery, searching out the best light and locations  at dusk and dawn.

Death Valley lies in the northern Mojave Desert and in summer it’s the Hottest place on Earth. In March it’s a lot more manageable but can still feel pretty warm around mid afternoon. Expansive salt flats, twisting dunes, mountain ranges and canyons all offer the possibility of some vivid and minimal compositions, especially at dusk and dawn. The Winter months are high season here but we’ll be visiting as it makes the slide into the hotter, quieter months, but there will still be plenty folk around.

World Heritage listed Yosemite National Park lies in the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California.  In late March it will slowly be coming out of its wintery slumber, snow flurries may still occur and waterfalls will be starting to flow. Made famous by Ansel Adams, Yosemite in March means visitor numbers will be much lower  and between wintery showers  and some dynamic weather should produce some incredible light and results.

More Info

This 11 day trip will commence in Las Vegas, Nevada and conclude in San Francisco California.

On the 10th March we drive west out of Las Vegas reaching  Death Valley National Park, after a couple of hours, where we’ll be based for 4 nights.

It’s a huge park and we’ll focus on two key areas around Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells. Subjects will include valleys, dune systems, salt flats and maybe some star gazing and astro photography.  Some classic  locations, include Mesquite Flats, Bad Water Basin, Ubehebe Crater, Artists palette, Telescope Peak and the spring wild flowers that will be in bloom at some elevations.

After some warm sun and fantastic sessions around the valley we make a quick run back to Las Vegas airport and fly west out over the Sierra Nevada to San Francisco, California. Here we’ll re organise our kit for colder conditions and spend the night.  We then pick up a 4×4 vehicle and snow chains and drive out to  Unesco World Heritage site, Yosemite National Park, one of America’s greatest.

Home of El Capitan, Half Dome, Yosemite valley, Bridalveil and Yosemite falls,  all locations made famous by the great Ansel Adams and John Muir. Its still in its winter conditions in the Sierra Nevada but at lower altitude in the Yosemite valley its one of the best times to capture the falls views and compositions made famous by Ansel Adams.

From Yosemite  we head back down through the Sierra Nevada  on the 20th March  to San Francisco where our trip will conclude at the International Airport.

The Details 

Starts / depart Las Vegas 10th March 09:30 – ends San Francisco 20th March at 13:30

Meet up in Las Vegas at the Desert Rose Resort* near the strip on the 9th or departure day (10th) of March before we drive west out to Death Valley in California. We’ll base ourselves at either Stove Pipe Wells or Furnace Creek which are as close as possible to then main locations of interest.

It’s starting to warm up at this time of year with day time temps around 14-29C (70-85F)

From Death valley we return to Las Vegas ( 2hrs) and fly to San Francisco where we’ll spend one night. From here we pick up a 4×4 vehicle , snow chain equipped and travel out to Yosemite (3.5hrs). The climate will be very different from what we experienced in Death Valley, with winter conditions still prevalent at this altitude. Average temperatures from 0-15C (30-54F)

10th – 14th Death valley 4 nights – *twin share hotel room – Stove Pipe Wells Village Hotel

14th – 15th  San Francisco 1 night single occupancy – Regency Inn

15th – 20th Yosemite NP 5 nights Yosemite View Lodge – twin share *

*Fee is based on Twin Share, a single  supplement may be available subject to availability.

If you’re interested in joining this trip please contact Glen Directly