Badwater Basin earned its name because of the high salt content in the water. At 282 ft below sea level, it is the lowest point in North America and covers an area at nearly 200 square miles. The most notable feature is the snow-white ground which is mostly composed of sodium chloride. The basin was once a site of a large ancient lake which had no outlet, so it has accumulated sediment and salt. After the lake had evaporated it left a thin layer of white sodium crystals.
At the start of the trail, you will go along a short boardwalk. And on the right-hand side there is a small pond. The water in this pond is extremely salty, but believe it or not, there are animals and plants that can thrive in that environment. The pickle weed and endemic snail to name a few. And straight ahead are the salt flats that is an out and back hike with a round trip of 1.8 miles. Ellie was sleeping so it was just me and the boys exploring the area. The landscape is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.