The answer to a mystery that has puzzled scientists for decades lies in this dry lakebed, which is speckled with rocks that seem to move by themselves.
Racetrack Playa is a remarkable dry lakebed in the heart of a remote valley. The area is renowned for its rugged beauty and eerie landscapes, hemmed in by the Cottonwood and Last Chance mountain ranges. Drive around the awe-inspiring Racetrack Valley to reach the lakebed and discover formations, such as the Grandstand. Despite its immense size, the Racetrack Playa is extremely flat, which has allowed some spooky phenomena to occur. Explore the lakebed to solve the mystery of the “sailing stones.”
The journey to Racetrack Playa is almost as spectacular as the destination itself. You’ll pass broad desert plains, rugged ridges and distant mountains. Watch for peculiar spiky Joshua trees as you travel. Arriving at the northern end of Racetrack Playa, you’ll see the mesmerizing expanse of the dry lakebed coming into view. At least 10,000 years ago, the lake that was once here evaporated and left behind thick beige-colored mud. Look out across the dry lakebed, which is 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers) long and 1.3 miles (2.1 kilometers) wide.
Spot the monumental Grandstand northwest of the lakebed. This bedrock outcrop is comprised of quartz monzonite, which contrasts starkly with the playa. Walk out to the outcrop for stunning views of the Racetrack. For more strenuous exercise, take on the 6-mile (10-kilometer) round-trip hike to Ubehebe Peak along the old miners’ trail.
Continue south to reach the most mysterious section of the playa. Near the southeast corner, rocks have fallen from the surrounding mountains. These stones have left tracks behind them as they move across the surface of the flat lakebed. This phenomenon bewildered visitors until 2014, when a paleobiologist and an engineer reported their observations. Special climatic conditions involving thin ice sheets and light wind push the rocks across the surface of the mud.
Racetrack Playa is a very remote area of Death Valley National Park. It is at least a 3.5-hour drive each way from Furnace Creek. You’ll need a four-wheel drive with high clearance, as well as emergency supplies. There is a fee to access the national park.
