star gazing

Question

End of May, we are planning a trip to Vegas and stopping in Death Valley for 3 nights staying at The Inn to view the dark skies and take some astro photography. Is that a good place to take photos? Can you recommend any photographers willing to teach for a few hours to take photos of the night sky? Will it be too hot to hike during the day to take some photos? Will we need to travel out of the park to eat?

Thank you for any help!

Answer

Short answer: yes — The Inn at Death Valley and the Furnace Creek area are excellent places for dark-sky astro photography in late May, and there are several reputable instructors and multi-day workshops that run in/near the park. Daytime temperatures at the end of May are usually warm but not yet the extreme highs of summer; you’ll want to avoid strenuous daytime hikes during the hottest mid-afternoon hours and take standard desert safety precautions. You will not need to leave the park to eat — The Inn and nearby Oasis properties offer dining, plus a few other casual options in the Furnace Creek area.

Is The Inn a good place to take night-sky photos?

Yes — The Inn at Death Valley (part of the Oasis at Death Valley) sits on higher ground overlooking the valley and has very dark night skies, minimal local light pollution, and easy car access to nearby classic astro locations (Zabriskie Point, Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Badwater Basin, Dante’s View). The Inn’s terrace and grounds are a convenient base for night work — you can set up close to your room and return quickly between long exposures. For the absolute darkest skies and widest Milky Way vistas, plan short drives to Zabriskie Point, Dante’s View or the sand dunes.

Recommended photographers / workshops (short lessons to multi-day courses)

Brad Goldpaint — runs Death Valley night-photo workshops and is listed as an astronomy photographer instructor. Good for Milky Way and landscape night shooting.
Mike Shaw / Bryan Peterson / Action Photo Tours / The Image Guild — offer multi-day Death Valley photo workshops that include nightly astro shoots and daytime landscape instruction; these are small-group, professional options if you want intensive, hands-on teaching. (These workshops often run around new-moon dates for darkest skies.)
Creative Photo Academy and other independent instructors — run 2–4 day night-sky workshops in Death Valley (check dates; many run spring and fall). These are great if you want a few hours or a full weekend of guided instruction.

Practical note: many instructors and organized workshops are scheduled to coincide with new-moon windows (best for Milky Way) and run in spring/fall. If you want a private 2–3 hour lesson rather than a workshop, contact local instructors directly (many of the photographers above do private guiding or can recommend a local freelancer). If you’d like, I can look up contact pages and near-term availability for a few of the instructors above for your exact dates.

Will it be too hot to hike / photograph during the day in late May?

Typical end-of-May daytime highs at Furnace Creek are usually warm but often under 90°F — many sources show average highs in the mid-80s to low-90s for May (typical high ~84–87°F), with much cooler nights. However, record and early heat events do occur and daytime conditions in full sun can feel much hotter. That means:

Early morning and late-afternoon are the best times for landscape shooting and hikes (cooler light, lower temperatures, and dramatic golden hour skies).
Avoid strenuous midday hikes between ~11:00–16:00; if you must be out, carry lots of water, sun protection, and know the route and turnaround points.
Desert air is dry — bring electrolytes, sun hat, and layered clothing (cool mornings, warm afternoons). Check the park forecast before each day because anomalous early heat waves do happen.

Where to shoot at night (easy access from The Inn)

Zabriskie Point — classic foregrounds and low horizon for Milky Way rises.
Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes (Stovepipe Wells) — great for star trails and foreground silhouettes (arrive before moonlight drains the sky).
Dante’s View (higher elevation) — panoramic views over the valley and excellent for nightscapes (note: narrow road; check access/vehicle restrictions at night).
Badwater Basin — wide, reflective salt flats can produce dramatic foregrounds for Milky Way work (careful walking surfaces at night and bring a headlamp).

Food / dining — will you need to travel out of the park?

No — Furnace Creek / The Oasis has multiple on-site dining choices so you won’t need to leave the park at night unless you want to. The Inn at Death Valley Dining Room offers sit-down meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and the Ranch/Furnace Creek complex has more casual options (buffet, saloon, coffee & grab-and-go). If you prefer restaurants or groceries outside the park, the closest towns with more choices are Pahrump or Beatty (NV) but both are a 1+ hour drive — unnecessary unless you want varied nightlife.

Safety & logistics tips for astro photographers

Book lodging early — The Inn and Ranch sell out around holidays and spring/fall peak windows (and workshops often reserve blocks).
Park after sunset — bring a good headlamp with a red filter (preserve night vision), warm layers (desert nights can be chilly even after a hot day), and insect repellent (seasonal in some low areas).
Vehicle prep: full tank, spare water, and a charged phone (coverage is limited in places). Let someone know your plan if you head to remote photo sites at night.
Respect park rules and private property — use established pullouts where possible, and avoid driving off-road with lights on that could damage fragile soils. Obtain any commercial permits you need if you are doing paid instruction or workshop activities.

Bottom line / one-paragraph summary

The Inn at Death Valley is an excellent, convenient base for Milky Way and night-sky photography in late May — you’ll have dark skies and easy access to stellar photo locations. Several high-quality instructors and multi-day workshops run in Death Valley if you want hands-on teaching (Brad Goldpaint, Mike Shaw / Bryan Peterson, Action Photo Tours and others). Daytime in late May is warm but generally manageable — shoot and hike early or late, avoid midday heat, carry water, and check the forecast for heat advisories. You’ll also have on-site dining at the Inn/Ranch so you won’t need to leave the park after dark.

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