22 Unforgettable Adventures in National Parks Across America

20. Swimming in a Hidden Oasis in Death Valley National Park, California

Death Valley is famous for being the hottest place on Earth, where temperatures can soar above 130°F in summer and the landscape appears lifeless and unforgiving. But tucked away within this extreme desert environment is an unexpected secret—Darwin Falls, a lush, spring-fed oasis where water cascades into a shimmering pool, surrounded by vibrant green ferns and willows. It feels like a mirage, a stark contrast to the cracked salt flats and barren dunes that define the rest of the park. The 2-mile round-trip hike to Darwin Falls begins in a dry, rocky canyon, where you’d never expect to find water. But as you continue, the landscape transforms—desert scrub gives way to thick vegetation, and soon you’re following a small trickling stream. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a 25-foot waterfall appears, tumbling into a serene pool, shaded by cottonwoods and lush plants. This hidden paradise is one of the only year-round waterfalls in Death Valley, fed by an underground spring.