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Death Valley National Park includes all of Death Valley, a 156-mile-long north/south-trending trough that formed between two major block-faulted mountain ranges: the Amargosa Range on the east and the Panamint Range on the west. Telescope Peak, the highest peak in the Park and in the Panamint Mountains, rises 11,049 feet above sea level. That’s almost 2 miles from peak to floor; sprawling across 3.4 million acres (almost five times larger than Yosemite)! Telescope Peak is only 15 miles from the lowest point, 282 feet below sea level, in the Badwater Basin salt pan. The California Desert Protection Act added most of the Saline, Eureka, northern Panamint, and Greenwater valleys to the Park. President Herbert Hoover proclaimed the area a protected national monument in 1933. More than 3 million acres are now set aside as Death Valley National Park and over 550 of the 3,000 square miles of the park are below sea level.

Death Valley received its name many years ago during the gold rush era of America’s early history when a group of miners escaped into the valley from the harsh environment of the surrounding mountain ranges, only to have one of their party die due to the hot, dry, low elevation climate of the valley floor. Death Valley is cut off from mending rainfall, and cooling Pacific winds, making it one of the driest and hottest places in the world! The hottest recorded ambient temperature occurred in 1913 at Badwater Basin with 134 degrees F, beat globally only by Libya’s 136 degrees in 1936. Badwater, Death Valley is the second hottest place on Earth, with an average rainfall of only 1.96 inches a year!

When it rains in Death Valley it is intense, but sporadic. Very long periods of drought are punctuated with drenching downpours. With so little vegetation and no soil, when water reaches the ground, there is nothing to absorb the rainfall. During Death Valley’s rain showers, water hits the surface and immediately begins to rush down the steep slopes, sweeping along particles of loosened mud. The rate of erosion can be incredible!

In the past, Death Valley received a lot of water. During the Wisconsin Glacial Period of the Pleistocene Epoch, (about 50,000 years ago) a body of water, Lake Manly, filled the valley to a depth of 600 feet. More recently (from 2,000 to 5,000 years ago), a shallow lake occupied the valley floor; however, Lake Manly receded due to increased evaporation and it’s disconnection to the Colorado River system. Over time minerals dissolved, rain declined, the climate became warmer, the lakes slowly evaporated, resulting to salty pools on the lowest areas of Death Valley’s floor. The muddy lakebed disappeared under the three to five inches of thick salt.

In 2004, large amounts of flooding resulted in Lake Manly reappearing on a large scale. Over a hundred square miles were covered by the lake, allowing some tourists and park rangers to most-likely be the only humans to canoe across the valley! The lake was about two feet at its deepest point. As a result, it evaporated quickly, leaving behind a mud-salt mixture.

Despite the harshness and severity of the environment, within the Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve, Death Valley is an active world of contrasts and extremes, much more than its name. Here, plant and animal species, some of which occur nowhere else in the world, have adapted to the harsh desert environment, over 1000 kinds of plants live within the park, those on the valley floor have adapted to a desert life by a variety of means. Some have roots that go down 10 times the height of a person. Some plants have a root system that lies just below the surface but extends out in all directions. Others have leaves and stems that allow very little evaporation and loss of life giving water. With height moisture increases until on the high peaks there are forests of juniper, mountain mahogany, pinyon pine, limber pine, and even bristle-cone pine. Often the peaks surrounding the valley are snow-covered.

Wildlife has also learned to deal with the heat. Animals that live in the desert are mainly nocturnal. Once the sun sets, the temperature usually falls quickly because of the dry night air. Night, the time of seeming vast emptiness, is actually the time of the comings and goings of innumerable small animals. Larger animals, such as the desert bighorn, live in the cooler higher elevations. Rabbits and several other types of rodents, including Antelope Squirrels, Kangaroo Rats and Desert Wood Rats are preyed upon by Coyotes, Kit Foxes and Bobcats. Lizards are numerous, but snakes comparatively are rare. There are 346 species of birds for the bird watching enthusiast at Death Valley. Bitterns, Cormorants, Ducks, Eagles, Falcons, Geese, Grebes, Hawks, Ibises, Loons, Pelicans, Swans, and Vultures are just a few of the many birds you may find on your visit to Death Valley!

Stargazing at Death Valley is the darkest out of all National Parks. Low light pollution levels and frequently cloudless skies allow professionals and amateurs to see many heavenly bodies after dark. Although the skies are fairly dark compared to skies in more populated areas of the United States, they are affected by noticeable glows from Las Vegas and the central valley. Although the National Park Service has limited influence over the neon glows of Las Vegas, it is trying to reduce the amount of local light pollution.

Furnace Creek Visitor Center & Museum is the main visitor information source for Death Valley. The fully staffed information desk has information on all aspects of the park and its operation. The Death Valley Natural History Association maintains a book sale outlet specifically geared towards the natural and cultural history of the park. The visitor center and museum are open all year round from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Time) and is located in the Furnace Creek resort area on California highway 190. Furnace Creek is 30 miles from Death Valley Junction to the east, and 24 miles from Stovepipe Wells Village to the north and west. A free handout guide is available at the ranger’s station, and the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Furnace Creek offers a 12 minute long introductory slide program, shown every 30 minutes. During the winter season, November through April, rangers present a wide variety of walks, talks, and slide presentations about Death Valley cultural and natural history. The center has displays of: geology, climate, wildlife, and natural history of the park.

The Beatty Information Center is open all year round, and has general information on all aspects of Death Valley. Located in the town of Beatty, Nevada on the U.S. Route 95 approximately 120 miles north of Las Vegas, Beatty is one of the eastern portals to Death Valley National Park. The information center has exhibits about Death Valley’s natural and cultural history, scenic highlights, and there is an outlet of the Death Valley Natural History Association providing a wide range of materials on park history, wildlife, and scenic highlights.

The Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station is open all year round, and located in the center of Death Valley 24 miles from the Furnace Creek resort area to the south, and 80 miles from the town of Lone Pine on Highway 398 to the west. The station provides general information and backcountry camping/hiking information and permits. Park entrance fees are collected here and there is a branch outlet of the Death Valley Natural History Association that provides useful informational books and maps.

Death Valley offers many ways to view the valley, without sitting in your car. Biking trails are present throughout the park at different lengths and skill levels. There are hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulties, but most backcountry areas are accessible only by cross-country hiking. There are literally thousands of hiking possibilities. Only Telescope Peak & Wildrose Peak has maintained hiking trails. These are the only hikes recommended in summer due to the extreme heat at lower elevations. The rest of the overnight hikes are cross-country routes. Mileages can be deceiving, so allow plenty of time for these trips. In the heat of Death Valley, hiking and biking during the spring, summer, and fall months can become dangerous. Remember to bring an abundance of drinking water while hiking; recommended minimum is to carry at least one gallon/per person a day.

Zabriskie Point is an area in Death Valley National Park noted for its beautiful erosional landscape. The area is composed of sediment from Furnace Creek Lake, which dried-up 5 million years ago – long before Death Valley existed. Looking out from Zabriskie Point, you are surrounded by yet another of Death Valley’s forbidding, almost unearthly, desert landscapes. These are badlands. Everywhere you look, you see bone-dry, finely-sculpted, golden brown rock. Only the sparsest vegetation can survive in this intricately carved terrain. The landscape is in danger of being eroded away due to a nearby diversion of a water channel.

The curvy, one-way, one lane Artist’s Drive leads you up to the edge of the Black Mountains. Artist’s Drive rises up to the top of an alluvial fan fed by a deep canyon cut into the mountain. The face of the Black Mountains is made up of the multicolored rock. Aprons of pink, green, purple, brown, and black rock debris drape across the mountain front, leaving behind evidence for one of Death Valley’s most violent, explosive volcanic periods. The Artist Drive formation is made up of cemented gravel, playa deposits, and much volcanic debris, perhaps 5,000 feet thick.

As you make your way up to the mountain face you’ll dip up and down, roller coaster-like as the road dips into ravines carved into the fan by Death Valley’s occasional, but intense flash floods. The narrow road runs high up onto the fan, with views of the strikingly white salty floor of Death Valley in the distance. Portions of Artist Drive Road that were washed out by flash flooding in August of 2004 have been repaired. The scenic drive road has been re-engineered and repaved. The Black Mountains of California are located in the eastern part of the state in the Park. The Black Mountains are essentially a continuation of the Amargosa Range, and lie in a generally north-south direction at the southern end. The range reaches an elevation of 6,384 feet above sea level at Funeral Peak. Death Valley lies to the west of the Black Mountains, with Greenwater Valley to the east. The steep face of the Black Mountains is made up of some of the oldest rocks in Death Valley. These 1.7 billion-year-old Precambrian rocks are the remnants of an ancient volcanic mountain belt with flanking deposits of mud and sand.

The Wildrose Charcoal Kilns were built in 1867 within a landscape dominated with Pinion Pine, Juniper trees, and bushes of Mormon Tea. The charcoal kilns were used to diminish pinion pine and juniper trees into charcoal with a process of slow burning in low oxygen. Each of the 10 kilns stands about 25 feet tall with a circumference of approximately 30 feet. Each kiln held 42 cords of pinion pine logs, and after burning for a week, produce 2,000 bushels of charcoal. This fuel was then transported to mines in Death Valley to feed smelting and ore extraction operations. The kilns were abandoned three years after they were built but were restored in 1971 by Navajo Indians from Arizona.

Dante’s View is the perfect place to see the results of Death Valley’s very active fault system. At this vantage point you can view the highest and lowest points of the valley: Telescope Peak to Badwater. This difference in elevation is a staggering 11,331 feet (3455 m) — the greatest topographic relief in the conterminous U.S.

Badwater Basin is noted as the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, with an elevation of -282 feet (86 m) below sea level! Beneath the dark shadows of the Black Mountains, a great, extraordinarily flat expanse of shimmering white spreads out before you. The site itself consists of a small spring-fed pool of water next to the road. Here at Badwater, significant rainstorms flood the valley bottom periodically, covering the salt pan with a thin sheet of undrinkable standing water; hence it’s name. Each newly-formed lake doesn’t last long though, because the 1.9 inch average rainfall is overwhelmed by a 150-inch annual evaporation rate. While flooded, some of the salt is dissolved, then redeposit as clean, sparkling crystals when the water evaporates. The pool contains active animal and plant life, including pickleweed, aquatic insects, and the Badwater Snail.

At Devil’s Golf Course bring your ears, not your clubs, to hear the tiny pops and pings! You will hear the musical sounds of billions of tiny crystals bursting apart as they expand and contract below the ground. Unlike Badwater’s saltpan of occasional floods that eventually dry up, Devil’s Golf Course is above flood level, leaving the dry, silt-salt to grow into elaborately detailed forms. Pinnacles are formed when salty water rises up from underlying mud, leaving salt residue in its place. The pinnacles grow very slowly, perhaps as little as an inch in 35 years. Wind and rain continually work to erode and sculpt the salty spires into the amazing array of shapes found at Devil’s Gold Course.

Salt Creek is an area where flooding water sometimes flows on parts of the surface leaving it colored with vivid layers of salt after evaporation. Other areas of the Salt Creek run with brackish water all year round. One of the world’s largest aquifers is found below the surface of Death Valley. Salt Creek and the Amargosa River feed into the aquifer that is barely visible at Badwater Basin. Salt Creek accommodates the last survivor of Lake Manly, the pupfish. Salt Creek pupfish usually live one year or less, and have generation times of 2-3 months, enabling them to reproduce several times a year. Thus, large populations are built up during favorable conditions of high water, and colonization of areas beyond the permanent water occurs.

The Mosaic Canyon is a rock-strewn matrix named after angular blocks of dolomite with stream-derived breccias, the Italian meaning of fragments, in the north-western mountain face of the valley. These rock formations began as limestone deposited during Late Precambrian (about 850-700 million years ago) when the area was covered by a warm sea. Later addition of magnesium changed the limestone, a rock made of calcium carbonate, to dolomite, a calcium-magnesium carbonate.

The entrance to Mosaic Canyon appears deceptively ordinary, but just a 1/4 mile walk up the canyon narrows dramatically to a deep slot cut into the face of Tucki Mountain. Smooth, polished marble walls enclose the trail as it follows the canyon’s sinuous curves. Periodic flash floods carry rocky debris (sediment) eroded from Mosaic Canyon and the surrounding hillsides toward the valley below. At the canyon mouth water spreads out and deposits its sediment load, gradually building up a large wedge-shaped alluvial fan that extends down toward Stovepipe Wells.

At the northern end of the valley floor, mostly surrounded by mountains, you will find the Mesquite Sand Dunes. Because of the easy access from Death Valley to Hollywood, these dunes have been used in several movies, including Star Wars. The largest dune is shaped like a starfish, giving its name, Star Dune. The depth of the sand at its crest is 130-140 feet (40-43 m). The dune is relatively stable and stationary because it is at a point where the various winds that shape the dunes converge.

On the northern edge of the Mojave Desert you’ll find the short rugged fault-block mountain range of the Panamint Range. The range forms the western wall of Death Valley, running north-south for approximately 100 mi (160km) through Inyo Country. Located to the east of the Argus Range and Slate Range, and west of the Panamint Range, you will find the very long Panamint Valley. The valley lies in a north-south direction, and stretches from the Panamint Dunes in the north to the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in San Bernardino County in the south. The valley is approximately 65 miles in length, and is more than 10 miles wide in the Hall Canyon area. You will find the ghost town of Ballarat about three miles east of Trona Road, near Happy Canyon.

Death Valley, California, home of the legendary Racetrack Playa. This Racetrack Playa is well-known for the mystifying moving stones. There have been numerous scientific studies conducted for many years yet there is no sure evidence on why and how these stones move about. Could it be the climate, gravity or just some supernatural phenomenon created by nature or some other existence?

Death Valley, California is recognized to be the driest, hottest and to some, the deadliest spot located in the Untied States. The Racetrack Playa is located at 300 feet beneath sea level. The Playa is a three mile long dried up lakebed. This lakebed is by far one of the flattest points in the U.S. It is surrounded by large jagged mountains that help control the high winds that affect the Playa. The Racetrack Playa is made up of dry parched mud in the shape of small displays of pentagons and octagons. This Playa is dry almost year-around except for the rainy season which occurs in the summer and winter. When heavy droughts of rain fall the water rushes off the slopes of the surrounding mountains which then form a shallow lake. This water then evaporates from the scorching sun which then leaves a slippery layer of soft mud that eventually dries, shrinks and cracks off into an array of polygon statures. During the winter season there is much more precipitation which then covers the old formations and forms new ones come spring time. Due to high winds it helps keep the dried mud shapes curved to form unusual shapes.

The legendary moving stones are what grab the attention of many spectators that visit the Racetrack. These stones vary in size from small pebbles to large boulders that can weigh up to 700 pounds. The tracks fluctuate in length, which at times have been noted to be hundreds of yards long. These tracks form zigzags, straight lines, loops or are formed in opposite directions. No one has yet to witness these stones move. The stones shift about every two to four years. Some stones have been known to have smooth bottoms and rough jagged bottoms, which makes for fascinating track formations. Some of these stones have been recorded to flip over leaving different sizes in width with the tracks. Dr. Robert P. Sharp conducted a seven year study marking 30 stones and recording their process over a period of one year. He also documented the weather conditions during this time period. In Sharp’s findings two of the stones had shifted in the same direction of the wind. These two stones shifted 860 feet in one direction and the other 690 feet in another course. Another study was done by a geologist, John Reid in which he came up with a different speculation. On a field trip with a group of students in 1991 the Racetrack was slick from melting snow which caused a student to slide on the track. When trying to shift the stones on the track, it was impossible to accomplish. So Reid believed the wind is incapable to move the stones, although an individual can easily slide with no help from Mother Nature. Reid advocated that the water on the lakebed forms a thin layer of ice. This water freezes to the rocks surface so when the wind blows it moves the layers of ice and the stones at the same time.

Death Valley is a desert, so it rarely rains except for the summer season. So, how do we explain how rocks move all year long on a dry surface? There have been many theories as to why these rocks move; whether it is the strong gusts of wind, the wet thin layers of clay, magnetic fields underground. Or, could it be some form of paranormal activity? We may never know what keeps these stones racing. Many visitors find it amusing to initiate there own ideas on why these stones move.

The bubbling waters of Saratoga Springs rise near the southern boundary of the Park. Several springs feed three large open water ponds measuring 6.6 acres in size, the third largest marsh habitat in the park behind the Saline Valley marsh in the western portion of the park and Cottonball Marsh in central Death Valley. This rare desert wetland supports a rich community of plants and animals. Common reeds, bulrush, and salt grass provide food and shelter for many of the animals living here. Some of the species present, such as the Saratoga Springs pupfish, are found nowhere else in the world. Five rare invertebrate species also occur at Saratoga Springs and include: Amargosa tryonia snail, Amargosa spring snail, Saratoga Springs belostoma bug, Amargosa naucorid bug, and the Death Valley June beetle.

Nestled deep in Northern Death Valley National Park is Death Valley Ranch, or as it is better known as, Scotty’s Castle. This historical house museum showcases technological innovation and unequaled craftsmanship in a remote desert location. A place full of the mystery, surrounding an incomparable friendship, resulted in the creation of a $2 million dollar vacation home. Today the site is owned and operated by the National Park Service. Guided living history tours of the main house interior are conducted daily 365 days a year, 7 days a week. The interior of the house is a working museum. The first tour begins at 9:00 am and the last tour begins at 5:00 pm PST. The Castle grounds close at 6:00 pm PST every evening. Tours last approximately 50 minutes and are given at least once every hour. Parents and children may be asked to leave if their actions disturb others. Limited to 19 people per tour, the guided tour is the only way to get inside the main house. Tour tickets are sold on a first come, first serve basis. If you have a group of 15 or more it is possible to reserve tours one year in advance.

Peak season is November through April. During this time visitation is high so be prepared for up to a two-hour wait. Make sure to buy your tickets as soon as you arrive by visiting the ticket office. The tour is ADA accessible. There is one flight of 22 stairs; a chairlift is available upon request for those who have difficulty with stairs. Several wheelchairs are also available on site. Motorized wheelchairs or scooters are not allowed in the interior of the house. Camcorders and cameras with flash are permitted on tour. However, large camera bags, tripods of any size, backpacks and strollers are not allowed. Food, gum and water are not allowed in the interior of the house. The interior is regulated by a Heating and Air Conditioning system.

Scotty’s Castle Underground Mysteries Tour focuses on the technology that Mr. Johnson used in building and living in his castle. The tour does not follow the route of the main house tour. If you have not visited Scotty’s Castle before, we recommend going on the main house tour first. The Underground Mysteries Tour takes you into the basement underneath the Castle for a look at the technology, which based on the remote desert location and the time-period, was very advanced. You will also be able to see modern technology that the National Park Service is using to help preserve the Castle. The tour will lead you down through the 1/4 mile tunnel system that runs beneath the Castle. The tour will culminate at a Pelton Water Wheel that Mr. Johnson used to furnish his Castle with electricity. Unlike the main house tour, this tour is led by a uniformed Park Ranger but may be visited by a character from the past. Tours are available daily November through April. During summer season, the Mystery Tours will be given as requested and as staffing allows. Please call in advance for summer tour information. Tours are limited to 15 people and children under the age of 5 are not permitted for safety concerns. This tour is not ADA assessable.

Scotty’s Castle has an exhibit area, bookstore, gift shop, snack bar, and gas (petrol) station open during the business hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Castle grounds and picnic areas are free and open to the public from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Contact Scotty’s Castle at 760-786-2395 x226 (or dial 760-786-2392) for more information. Reservations can be made for small groups one week prior to arrival from November through April.

The deep, narrow gorge of Titus Canyon cuts into the steep face of the Grapevine Mountains. Although the mountain range was uplifted quite recently, geologically-speaking, most of the rocks that make up the range are over half a billion years old. The gray rocks lining the walls of the western end of Titus Canyon are 570-505 million year old limestone. These ancient Paleozoic rocks formed at a time when Death Valley was submerged beneath tropical seas. The rise and fall of the Cambrian seas periodically shifted the shoreline eastward, flooding the continent, then regressed westward, exposing the limestone layers to erosion. Although some of the limestone exposed in the walls of Titus Canyon originated from thick mats of algae (stromatolites) that thrived in the warm, shallow Death Valley seas, most of the gray limestone shows little structure. Thousands of feet of this limey goop were deposited in the Death Valley region. You’ll see similar limestone layers if you visit Lake Mead National Recreation Area or hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

At the north tip of the Cottonwood Mountains, you will see the Ubehebe (pronounced YOU-bee-HEE-bee) Crater. These large volcanic craters are between four to seven thousand years old, half a mile wide, 500 to 777 feet deep, and up to 150 feet of rock debris mantles the countryside near the site of the explosion. Over a dozen other explosion craters and tuff rings in the Ubehebe Crater field are the result of this type of hydro volcanic eruption. Magma worked its way through the fault-weakened rock where it met water-soaked bedrock and alluvial fan sediments. In an instant, water flashed to steam. A sudden, violent release of steam-powered energy blasted away the confining rock above. A dense, ground-hugging cloud of rocky debris surged out from the base at up to 100 miles/hour, decimating the landscape.

The number one reason for visiting Death Valley National Park is sightseeing. Since most of the land is treeless and since it encompasses a great range of elevations, the park has an abundance of striking and easily accessible views. Dante’s View, Aguereberry Point, and Father Crowley Point are popular viewpoints. From Dante’s View one can observe Telescope Peak at 11,049 feet and Badwater at -282 feet, as well as Mount Whitney and Mount Charleston, which are 87 miles and 56 miles away, respectively.

Unfortunately, the view across the valley is often hazy, especially in the late spring and summer. On bad days, Telescope Peak is not visible from the visitor’s center, even though it is only 23 miles away. Winds from the south bring in pollutants from metropolitan and industrial areas, and high temperatures accelerate the conversion of these pollutants into visibility-reducing particles. These pollutants come from cars, power plants, and industrial processes. Nature also contributes to the haziness by blowing dust into the air. But humans increase the amount of dust available to be blown by the wind when they drive on unpaved roads or break up the salt crust by walking on it.

The park has an air quality monitoring station near Furnace Creek that measures ozone, wet and dry acid deposition, visibility-reducing particles, and meteorological data. The monitoring station is part of a nationwide network. Collecting long-term data on air pollutants allows the National Park Service to take action if they exceed certain standards. Also, this information allows us to predict bad air pollution days and inform visitors about how to reduce negative health effects on these days. Death Valley National Park currently measures ozone levels that are unhealthy for sensitive groups a few times a year. A system for forecasting high ozone days is in the works.

Summer temperatures on the South Rim, at 7,000 feet (2134m), are a relatively pleasant 50s-80s°F (10°-20°C). Thunderstorms frequently occur during July, August, and early September. Inner canyon temperatures are extreme. Daytime highs at the river, 5,000 feet (1500m) below the rim, often exceed 105°F (40°C).

Winter conditions on the South Rim can be extreme. Be prepared for snow, icy roads and trails, and possible road closures. Roads on the South Rim are plowed when needed. Canyon views may be temporarily obscured by fog during passing storms. Entrance fees are not refundable because of weather conditions.

Spring and fall weather is unpredictable. Be prepared for sudden changes in the weather at those times of year. May and October can be some of the driest months, although snowstorms may occur. Late April and May can be windy. Spring and fall can be the best times to be hiking in the canyon.

Hiking at low elevations during the summer is not recommended! Check with a park ranger at the Visitor Center or at a Ranger Station to fill out a voluntary Backcountry Camping Permit before departing on the following trips. In temperatures over 90 F, hiking can be especially hazardous. Because Death Valley is such a culture shock from normal everyday human habitats, you should plan on carrying extra water, especially in summer. Each individual should have access to one to two gallons of water daily, depending on how much strenuous activity is involved. And one doesn’t drink only when thirsty. Feeling light headed, or developing cold and clammy skin can be signs of dehydration long before thirst is a factor. Many of the springs in Death Valley are dry or have been contaminated by burros, so do not rely on them. Do not camp in drainages or washes. Camp at least two miles from a maintained road and 200 yards from water sources. Solo Hikers: Be sure to let a family member or friend know where you are going and your estimated time of return. Your contact will be responsible for initiating a search if you do not return on time. To assist rangers in case a search is necessary, you can provide more detailed information on a Backcountry Hiker Form.

And, don’t forget about your car. Even though there are radiator water sources posted at critical points around the park, it wouldn’t be considered going overboard to carry a few extra gallons just in case your car, truck or van experiences overheating on one of the many hills in the park. If this occurs, consider turning off your air conditioner, turning on the heat, and opening the windows until the engine temperature returns to normal. Remember to never open a hot radiator’s main cap.

Protective clothing, hiking boots, and sunscreen are essential; including sun glasses and a wide brim hat. Use this backpacking checklist for backcountry travel. Tent, sleeping bag and mat, water, food, camp stove, fuel, matches, candle or other fire starter, first aid kit, repair kit, insect repellent, sunburn medication, flashlight with extra batteries and bulb, topographical map, compass, GPS, multipurpose tool or knife, and extra medications.

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Always be on the lookout for wildlife on the roads. Driving too fast or being inattentive is never safe, but doubly so in the park as humans invade the natural resident’s space. Thousands of people visit Death Valley every year, and do so safely; enjoying the wildlife from a safe distance as they respect one of Nature’s most beautiful regions. Enjoy the wildlife from a safe distance. If the animal obviously knows you are there, you are too close. Seemingly tame squirrels, ravens, coyotes, and deer accustomed to human handouts, can turn aggressive without warning. You could be harmed! If wildlife approaches you, back slowly away and give them space.
It is unlawful to approach, feed, or harass wildlife in any way. Violators may be subject to fines or imprisonment.

Pets must be on a leash at all times. Loose or feral pets often disturb or kill wildlife or their newborns. Protective wildlife parents can be aggressive and could harm you or you pet. Keep wildlife and your pets’ safe by observing the leash law.

Entrance fees are $20 per car for 7 days.
$10 is charged per person on foot, bicycle or motor cycle.
Keep the receipt handy for checkpoints.

Death Valley has ten different camping facilities. Fees range from free to up to $23/per night. Not all camp sites are open all year round so please plan your outdoor vacation accordingly.

Emigrant is free, open all year, and located at 2,100 feet. Emigrant is designated for tents only and has 10 campsites with water, tables, and flush toilets. No fires are allowed.

Furnace Creek costs $12 per night in the summer season, $18 in the winter season, is open all year round, and located at 196 feet below sea level. Furnace Creek has 136 sites with water, tables, fireplaces, flush toilets, and dump station. There are two group sites available for reservations. Reservations for sites in Furnace Creek Campground are only taken for the winter season. Call 1-800-365-CAMP. The campground is first come first served in the summer.

Mahogany Flat is free, open from March 1st through November 30th, is located at 8,200 feet in the Panamint Mountains, and accessible to high clearance vehicles only. Depending upon road conditions, 4-wheel drive may be necessary. The campground has 10 campsites, tables, fireplaces, and pit toilets.

Mesquite Spring costs $12 per night, is open all year round, and located at 1,800 feet, 3 miles from Scotty’s Castle. Mesquite Spring has 30 sites with water, tables, fireplaces, flush toilets, and a dump station.

Stovepipe Wells costs $12 per night, is open October through April, and located at sea level. Stovepipe Wells has 190 sites with water, some tables, and some tent sites with fireplace, flush toilets, and dump station.

Sunset costs $12 per night, is open from October to April, and located at 190 feet below sea level. Sunset has 1000 campsites with water, flush toilets, and dump station. No fires allowed.

Texas Spring costs $14 per night, is open from October through April, and located at sea level. Texas Spring has 92 sites with water, tables, fireplaces, flush toilets, and dump station for RV camping. It is first come first served with self registration. No generators are allowed.

Thorndike is free, open March 1st through November 30th, and located at 7,400 feet in the Panamint Mountains. It is accessible to high clearance vehicles only. Depending on road conditions, 4-wheel drive may be necessary. The campground has 6 sites, tables, fireplaces, and pit toilets.

Wildrose Campground is free, open all year round, and located at 4,100 feet in the Panamint Mountains. Wildrose is not assessable to vehicles longer than 25 feet in length. There are 23 campsites with tables, fireplaces, and pit toilets. Drinking water is available during the spring, summer, and fall seasons.

Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Mojave National Preserve, Spring Mountains National Rec Area, Desert National Wildlife Range, Inyo National Forest and Sequoia National Park are all nearby.

There is a small public airport at Furnace Creek. Fuel is available at the airport. There is also a rough paved strip at Stovepipe Wells.

Death Valley National Park is transected from east to west by California Highway 190. On the east in Nevada, U.S. Route 95 parallels the park from north to south with connecting highways at Scotty’s Junction (State Route 267), Beatty (State Route 374), and Lathrop Wells (State Route 373). South of the park, Interstate 15 passes through Baker, California on its way from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. State Route 127 travels north from Baker to Shoshone and Death Valley Junction with connections to the park on State Route 178 from Shoshone and connection with California Highway 190 at Death Valley Junction.

Approximate Mileage from the following major cities to Death Valley National Park:

By Car:

Bakersfield, Ca – 228.96 miles

Los Angeles, CA – 308.08 miles

Sacramento, CA – 442.61 miles

Reno, NV – 348.94 miles

Fresno, CA – 338.95 miles

Las Vegas,NV – 144.17 miles

Death Valley National Park, P.O. Box 579, Death Valley, CA 92328
Visitor Information (760) 786-3200
Commercial Permits (760) 786-3241
By Fax (760) 786-3200

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