Death Valley National Park: A Guide to Star Wars Film Locations & More
The temperature in Death Valley National Park can be extremely high.
At almost 57 degrees Celsius, it broke the record for the highest temperature ever recorded in North America. In North America, it is the lowest point at 86 meters below sea level. Not only is it the driest place on the continent, but it also receives an average of 6 cm of rainfall annually.
Relatively Soon in a Galaxy Not too far away…
The California-Nevada border region, known as Death Valley is unlike any other place in the United States. It almost seems as though it belongs on a different world. For precisely this reason, Star Wars director George Lucas felt it was the ideal location.
Mother Nature’s creation, located about 150 kilometers west of Las Vegas, Nevada, is far larger and more expansive than anything George Lucas could have imagined when he worked with his creative team at Industrial Light and Magic to construct many of the locations for his science fiction series.
The Pleistocene Epoch saw Death Valley drowned beneath an inland sea, according to the U.S. National Park Service. Eventually, the sea vanished, leaving behind a country that is massive, enigmatic, stark, and surreal—in other words, a perfect place to film.
You might not have realized that you were staring at Death Valley if you’ve ever seen any of the Star Wars movies, particularly Episodes IV: A New Hope and VI: Return of the Jedi. The locations of filming, from the vibrant hills of Artist’s Palette to the constantly shifting Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, can be found by following superfan Steve Hall’s self-guided Star Wars in Death Valley tour, even though you could spend years watching every episode and looking for the spots featured on screen.
“Death Valley offered the ideal arid setting with eroded hills, sand dunes, and canyons to capture the essential shots,” Hall remarked. We opted to record these sites due to our passion for both Death Valley and Star Wars. I frequently receive emails of gratitude from other Star Wars enthusiasts who have celebrated a special Star Wars day in Death Valley by using our information.
In Death Valley, you too may enjoy a Star Wars-themed event. These are only a handful of places that will transport you to another realm, many of which can be located along California Highway 190.
Death Valley National Park’s sand dunes.
The Sandcrawler Station From A New Hope (Episode IV): Park immediately before the bend that
leads to the Artist’s Palette parking area, then stroll along the south bank to witness the location of the filming of the “Sandcrawler Station” sequence. You may see an arroyo overlook from the Artist’s Palette parking area by walking up the little hill to the north. This region is known as the dry riverbed that R2-D2 crossed in A New Hope.
A Sandcrawler is being shot by members of the Lucas film crew for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
In Episode IV: A New Hope, Jawa Canyon
Follow the trail that leads from the Golden Canyon parking lot, located 2 miles south of Highway 190 on Badwater Road, to get a closer look at the location where Jawas zapped R2-D2. What Hall refers to as “Jawa Canyon,” which is situated at the bottom of Golden Canyon, served as the backdrop for several scenes that established the tone for the Jawas’ attack in A New Hope.
In Episode IV – A New Hope, R2-D2 was captured by Jawas at the mouth of what is actually Golden Canyon in Death Valley National Park.
The Path to Jabba’s Palace in Return of the Jedi, Episode VI
The “Road to Jabba’s Palace” may be found from Return of the Jedi by taking the Twenty Mule Team Canyon loop route and going beyond the parking spot that Hall refers to as the “Lightsaber Construction Cave.” This pullout is located just past the entrance gate and has a sign warning of a mining hazard. Luke’s plan to save Han Solo included sending Jabba a special gift—C-3P0 and R2-D2—in order to gain entry to the palace. You might observe that Lucas fired the droids as they were going to and from Jabba’s if you locate the spot.
Episode IV: A New Hope
The Droid Dunes R2-D2 and C-3P0 were lost in the Tatooine sand dunes in A New Hope. But because of Hall’s instructions, you won’t. The location where the droids got lost is referred to as “Droid Dunes” by the tour. It’s in the vicinity of Stovepipe Wells, among the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
Getting Ready for Your Mission in Death Valley
Watching Han, Luke, and Leia from the air-conditioned luxury of your home or a movie theater is one thing, but experiencing the same landscape up close in Death Valley is a very different experience. First of all, this national park is bigger than the state of Connecticut, covering more than 13,500 square kilometers, making it the largest in the contiguous United States. Secondly, Death Valley’s mountain ranges retain heat.
Thus, before starting this self-guided tour, make sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. In the summer, the National Park Service does not recommend hiking. Take into consideration going from October to April to avoid the oppressive heat. In those months, Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Museum offers backcountry hikes, nighttime activities, and guided walks and presentations. Recall that there is minimal cell phone service, so provide your itinerary to a buddy.
Not only is Death Valley one of the most amazing places on Earth, but even visitors from distant galaxies would be in awe. Thus, remember to pack a camera. I hope the Force is with you too.
Temperatures in Death Valley can get extremely hot, so be sure to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.
Where to Stay
The AAA-rated four-diamond Inn at The Oasis, which has 66 rooms and amenities like golf, dining, and horseback riding, Stovepipe Wells, which has 83 hotel rooms with amenities like a gas station, general store, pool, and saloon, and Panamint Springs Resort, which has 14 motel rooms and one cottage with dining, bar, and gas. The town of Pahrump, Nevada, is about 56 kilometers from the park’s eastern entrance and has a number of lodging options and dining establishments.
Similar services are available in Lone Pine, California, about 80 kilometers northwest of Panamint Springs. In addition, the town is home to the Lone Pine Film Festival and Lone Pine Film History Museum. It was the shooting location for hundreds of movies, including Gladiator, Django Unchained, and a few westerns starring Roy Rogers.