- May 4
- 12 min read
Star Wars Filming Locations in Death Valley National Park
In 1976, after filming the bulk of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope in Tunisia, George Lucas realized he needed to get some extra shots (or reshoot some scenes) for the film. The budget would not allow him to go back to Tunisia, so he did the next best thing: he scouted locations in what is now Death Valley National Park, but back then it was a national monument. It worked out so well that they returned to Death Valley in 1982 to film a sequence for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi, but in 1994, Death Valley was designated a national park, which significantly tightened filming restrictions, so a lot fewer productions were able to shoot there. However, the creators of The Mandalorian were later able to use a location in Death Valley as an homage to the original films.
In this article, we’ll list out all of the known locations in Death Valley National Park that have been used for filming in the Star Wars universe, each including a map and directions for how to get there from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Be aware: cell service is almost non-existent in Death Valley, and evenly downloaded offline maps often didn’t load for us, so we highly recommend stopping at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center first and getting a free paper map to help you navigate inside the national park.
CONTENTS
Dante’s View
Dante’s View is the 5,575 foot plateau that towers above one of Death Valley’s best-known attractions: Badwater Basin. It was used in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope as the first view of Mos Eisley, placed way down in the valley of Badwater Basin. Obi-Wan Kenobi (aka Ben), Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, and C-3P0 stop on a bluff to take in the wide expanse that is the Most Eisley spaceport.
While you’re in Death Valley, Dante’s View is a must-see because it provides some of the most amazing views in the national park. Situated over a mile above Badwater Basin, it’s incredible to see just how giant the saltwater flat is. You can also see Telescope Peak, the highest point in Death Valley at 11,049 feet, which is directly across Badwater Basin. It is not uncommon for it to be above 100°F at Badwater Basin and to look up and see snow on Telescope Peak above.
Be aware: even when Death Valley is really hot, Dante’s Peak, being a mile up, will be much cooler. If you’re visiting in the height of winter, it might be downright cold, so plan accordingly.
Plan on spending anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour at Dante’s View. There are a lot of informational signs to read and a great relief map showing where various points of interest are, relative to Dante’s Peak. There’s also a short walking trail along the mountain ridge just off the parking lot that you can explore, but it’s not necessary for the incredible views, which you will get as soon as you step out of your car in the decently-sized parking lot.
To get to Dante’s View from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, you need to travel east on Highway 190 for 12 miles, turn right onto Furnace Creek Wash Road for 7.5 miles, which will turn into Dantes View Road. After another 5.5 miles (and a pretty steep ending where it looks like you’re driving into the sky), you’ll be at Dante’s View. The turn off of the 190 can feel a bit sudden because the signs pointing you there are a bit small, and the road is unassuming, so it is best to get your free paper map from the Visitor Center to help you navigate. The drive is around 40 minutes from the Visitor Center or 1 hour - 90 minutes from Badwater Basin.
For more on Dante’s View, such as where it got its name and what you can see on the drive up, click here to take a look at our full article (and video).
Artists Palette
Artists Palette is a colorful series of hills that range in striking colors due to various natural compounds like iron oxides and chlorite.
There are two scenes from Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope that were shot here:
The first is a shot of R2-D2 trundling through an arroyo, a dry watercourse that is visible from the Artists Palette parking lot. When looking at the informational sign in the Parking Lot, look northwest and you’ll see the arroyo.
The second shot is when the Jawas are carrying R2-D2 to their sandcrawler. This shot is just south of the Artists Palette parking lot, so it makes sense to park there and then hike down to see it. It’s just a big open plain.
Artists Palette is a really intriguing view with surprising colors that defies the notion that Death Valley is all just drab desert. It’s definitely worth a trip, regardless if you’re looking for Star Wars filming locations or not. Its location makes it easy to visit in-between other popular attractions in Death Valley, so there’s no reason to not make the stop. We spent about 40 minutes on the drive, with stops, but of course you should plan more time if you want to walk/hike amongst the colors.
To get there from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, take Highway 190 East for 1.3 miles, then turn right onto Badwater Road. Take Badwater Road for 8.6 miles and then turn left onto Artists Drive. It’s a one-way road, so make sure you’re going the right way! The 9-mile loop doesn’t have any signage to tell you where Artists Palette actually is, but there is an optional right turn 4.3 miles into the loop that takes you to a small parking lot right in front of the colorful mountain.
For a more in-depth look into Artists Palette, click here to watch our video.
Golden Canyon
Golden Canyon is a gorgeous yellow-hued canyon that was used for some scenes in Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. As you wander through the canyon, you might feel some glowing red eyes watching you from the shadows, because this is where the Jawas were filmed popping up from behind rocks or around corners to capture R2-D2. Not all of the shots in that scene were from inside Golden Canyon, but it’s pretty obvious watching it now which shots were.
Fun fact: most of the Jawas were played by children of Death Valley Park Rangers!
The hike through Golden Canyon is an easy 3 miles round-trip with 577 feet of elevation gain. The National Park Service and AllTrails both have this hike listed as moderate, but we found the first half mile or so to be fairly easy, even with Phoebe’s back injury. You don’t have to walk far into the canyon to see the absolute beauty of it, but if you hike 1.5 miles, you’ll get to Red Cathedral, an imposing red wall of rock that is striking against the yellows of Golden Canyon. You can also continue another 2.1 miles to Zabriskie Point, another Star Wars location we will discuss below, but that would be much more challenging, and you’d have to hike back down as well, but Zabriskie Point is also much more easily accessible by car. To ensure you’re prepared for your hikes in Death Valley (and the trip in general), check out our 35 Tips to Know Before You Go to Death Valley National Park.
To get to Golden Canyon from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, take Highway 190 East 1.3 miles to Badwater Road. Turn right on Badwater Road and the parking lot for Golden Canyon will be on the left, 2 miles down the road. This is an easy location to visit in one go with Badwater Basin and Artists Palette (listed above) because they are all along the same road.
For more tips about visiting Golden Canyon, click here to watch our short video about it.
Desolation Canyon
Not far from Golden Canyon is Desolation Canyon, which was also used to shoot a scene from Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope. The scene shot here is when Luke is watching the Sandpeople through his macrobinoculars with C-3P0. Luke and Threepio were filmed in Tunisia, but the shots of the Sandpeople and the Banthas were filmed at Desolation Canyon.
Fun fact: the Banthas were played by one elephant, named Mardji, wearing a Bantha costume. Editors made an optical duplicate to have the two Banthas in the shot.
We haven’t been to Desolation Canyon yet, as we didn’t have time to fit it into our schedule on our trip to Death Valley, but we will likely return and include it next time. To see the filming location, you will need to hike into the canyon after driving to the end of the unpaved road, off of Badwater Road. Roundtrip, the hike is 3.6 miles and takes you very close to Artists Palette (listed above). In fact, you’ll see colors much like at Artists Palette as you hike. AllTrails lists this hike as moderate and the National Park Service lists it as moderate to difficult, and you should be aware that there are two dryfall rises that you must navigate on the hike: one that is 8ft tall and another that is 6ft. Be very careful hiking back, as getting down dryfalls is much more dangerous than going up. We even saw a man during our hike in Mosaic Canyon coming back down with a bloody elbow from falling, which is why it’s important to keep a first aid kit with you (or at least in your car) in Death Valley. Click here to find more of our Death Valley planning tips.
To get to Desolation Canyon from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, take Highway 190 East for 1.3 miles and turn right onto Badwater Road. In 3.7 miles, Desolation Canyon Road is on the left. This road is short, but unpaved. It’s usually passable with sedans, but it might be best to take an SUV, and you should always check the National Park Service website for road closures before your trip. Google Maps often doesn’t note road closures within the park. The parking lot at the end of Desolation Canyon Road is gravel and you should read this page on the NPS website about the hike before you go so you don’t get lost.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are a unique feature in Death Valley, and in Star Wars, they are featured as the vast Dune Sea on Tatooine. The scene shot here for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope is after R2-D2 and C-3P0 escape with the Death Star plans and Artoo decides to make his own way after arguing with Threepio.
Fun fact: like many people, we mistakenly thought that the Sarlacc Pit scene from Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi was shot at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, but it was not. It was shot just outside of Yuma, Arizona.
The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes were formed by the eroding mountains to the north, but the sand is trapped by the mountains to the south. While the sand does shift constantly in the wind, the dunes will just continue to grow as time passes. Sand dunes are mesmerizing to see in person, and this is one of visitors’ favorite spots to watch sunrise and sunset in Death Valley National Park because of how the low sun casts shadows across the sand from the natural, wind-blown ripples on the dunes.
The name of this area comes from the mesquite trees that grow in the sand dunes, turning and twisting to stay above the shifting sands. From the outside, they often even look dead, but their roots are buried deep. Keep an eye out for signs of sidewinder rattlesnakes on the dunes as well, as they are native to the area and sometimes burrow just under the sand to stay cool. You can learn all about them at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, which we recommend visiting before heading out on any adventures. If you’re scared, don’t worry too much. We didn’t see any.
Some visitors bring sleds to ride down the sand dunes, and some will hike off into the distance to reach the peak of the tallest one… just be careful not to get lost as the sand shifts! If you visit Death Valley during the summer, do not go hiking in the sand dunes after 10am, as it will be extremely hot (the sand could burn you) and you would be putting yourself at risk for heat stroke. We spent around 30 minutes wandering around on our way to Mosaic Canyon, but it’s somewhere that you could spend much longer exploring if you have the time.
Depending on which way you enter Death Valley National Park, you may see the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes before you even get into the heart of the park (like we did), as it’s just past Stovepipe Wells on Highway 190. To get there from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, take Highway 190 West for 22.4 miles, and the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes will be on the right. There is a paved parking lot right off the paved road.
To get a preview of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, click here to watch our short video.
20 Mule Team Canyon
20 Mule Team Canyon is the only location in Death Valley National Park that was used for Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi. Once again, it was for shots of the droids, but this time, they’re making their way to Jabba’s Palace, located on Tatooine.
20 Mule Team Canyon was named after the 20 Mule Teams that would haul borax from the nearby mining fields down through the valley to be loaded onto trains. Now, it’s a one-way 2.5 mile unpaved loop that you can drive off of the main highway through the national park. It took us about 15 minutes to complete without stopping. It’s usually passable by all vehicles, but there were definitely some rises and drops that would be pretty frightening in a sedan, so we suggest using an SUV for the drive. That wasn’t the only reason why we were thankful to have the car we did for this trip, and we explain why in tip #6 in our other article that you can read by clicking here.
To get to 20 Mule Team Canyon from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, take Highway 190 East 5.9 miles, and then turn right onto 20 Mule Team Road. Remember, it’s a one-way road, so make sure you’re going the right way! Keep an eye out for a small brown sign on the right side of the road pointing you towards the entrance.
For a bit more information about the nearby borax mine (which you can also visit, even though it has nothing to do with Star Wars), click here to watch our video about it.
Zabriskie Point
Zabriskie Point is another great location in Death Valley National Park for some breathtaking views elevated above the surrounding valleys. While not used in any of the Star Wars films themselves, the view from Zabriskie Point was used in the off-shoot Disney+ TV show, The Mandalorian. In the very first episode, when The Mandalorian is landing on Arvala-7, he passes by Manly Beacon, the most obvious landmark when looking out from Zabriskie Point. Red Cathedral is also nearby (part of the hike mentioned in the Golden Canyon section of this article), but The Mandalorian toned down the red hues of the rock formation to make it less recognizable.
Despite there being a lot of sequences in The Mandalorian that look like they could’ve been shot in Death Valley (Golden Canyon in particular), with filming no longer allowed in the national park, all of these slot canyon shots were created using VFX with the characters inserted via Stagecraft, a filming technique that projects backgrounds onto a dome, allowing characters to walk around more naturally.
If you go to Death Valley National Park, Zabriskie Point is a must-see location. The views are not quite as vast as from Dante’s View, but the surrounding landscape is textured and gorgeous, especially at sunrise and sunset. It’s also probably the best place to go stargazing at night due to its heightened elevation and ease of navigation. Death Valley is a certified International Dark Sky Park, which means that there are no street lamps to help you navigate the drive. It makes for amazing stargazing, but make sure your headlights work really well and take a flashlight. We spent about 1 hour here to watch the sunset and we will definitely return if and when we go back to Death Valley.
To get to Zabriskie Point from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, take Highway 190 East for 4.8 miles and turn right into the Zabriskie Point parking lot. The road and parking lot are paved, and there’s ample parking. From there, it’s a quarter-mile walk uphill on a paved path to get to the viewpoint. It is wheelchair accessible, but give yourself a little extra time to take it slow if you have mobility challenges like Phoebe did after her back injury.
National Park Service Audio Tour
The National Park Service offers a free audio tour of 6 of the filming locations for Star Wars in Death Valley on the free NPS app. Here’s how you can use it:
Download the app at the NPS App website. It is available for iPhone and Android.
In the search bar, search for ‘Death Valley’.
Find the ‘Self-Guided Tours’ button and click it.
The Star Wars Film Locations Tour of Death Valley is the last option.
Clicking it brings up the list of Star Wars locations, with a suggested order:
Starting at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center
20 Mule Team Canyon
Dante's View
Golden Canyon
Artists Palette
Desolation Canyon
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes
Pro Tip: You do not need to visit these locations in any specific order. They are simply listed this way because of which ones are close to each other. If you are trying to do the tour in the suggested order, keep in mind that you should not do any hiking in Death Valley after 10am from April - October, which means you may need to split up these destinations over multiple days.
Since cell signal is essentially non-existent in Death Valley, we recommend downloading the Death Valley page to your phone. To do that, look for a button that has a cloud with a down arrow at the top of the Death Valley page in the NPS app. If you do this, all of the information about Death Valley will be available offline, including the Star Wars Audio Tour. However, maps are not included in this data, so make sure to grab one from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center to help you navigate the park.
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