'
This section updated May 3.
Temps getting warm - over 100+F.
FLOWERS all over the place higher - great in Emigrant Canyon! Brittle bush, paint brush.
Sierra Passes closed due to snow for the winter. Sherman Pass
out of Kennedy Meadows also still closed.
Summer closures in effect = Stovepipe, Texas Springs, and Sunset campgrounds are closed. Furnace Creek is "first come, first served" until October 15. High camps open, but still pretty cold at night...
NO GAS at Scotty's Castle -no eta for fixing, but no time soon. Plan ahead!!- especially if you're thinking Racetrack and into Saline or out to Big Pine and Eureka Valley. Fill up at Stovepipe!
Road report Click here. ( it will pop up as a pdf file which takes your puter just a bit to download) Thanks to DV Natural History Assn. folks for putting it on their page- easier than dealing with Wash DC!! Ranger programs will be there soon too. You can call road report at 786-3200-1-4 is usually updated when conditions change; for special quesitons hit 0- operator has updated info. OR you can call the Maturango Museum - they FAX us one every morning, even if it doesn't show up on-line. 760 375-6900.
Stovepipe has 24 hr. pay at pump, only regular gas. (Price is not "posted" - but it's in a little tiny window on the front of the pump, lower right, under pump number, and often 30-50c cheaper than FC!) Furnace Creek 24 hr. pay at pump and 3 grades of gas + diesel + propane. Panamint Springs also has pay at pump, 87, 91, and diesel (and always the most expensive). Gas is always cheapest at Stovepipe!!
Park Entrance Fees are $20 per vehicle. The Park gets to keep the fees. Makes the $80 Annual "America the Beautiful" Pass still a real deal - get at Visitor Center. Note that the Senior, Disabled, and Volunteer passes have changed - they are now plastic, and all are called "American the Beautiful" passes.
Panamint Springs Resort put in WiFi! bring your own laptop. Also a weak signal at the Ranch Registration office and at the Visitor Center.
** Web Cam view of the Valley right now!!
Not only do we have a web cam to look at, but now the weather station at Cow Creek - when it works.
The "official" government page
on Death Valley is at www.nps.gov/deva
. Do check it out - they have lots of
good info and photos that you won't find here- look under the
blue "in depth" button. Ours, below, has other kinds
of info, and I try to keep it updated...
a href="http://www.dvnha.org/morning_report/Programs.pdf"> Ranger Programs for the week here
**If you're coming from Las Vegas - don't even consider
going via I-15 and Baker!- that's the LONG way! You have 2 choices;
if you're on the Strip or north of it, *Take Hwy 95 from LV
to Beatty, then come to the valley via 374. When you get to
the fork downhill from Daylight Pass - if you want to go to Furnace
Creek, head left: if you want to go to Scotty's Castle, continue
straight down Mud Canyon. 140 miles to FC.
OR - if you're coming from McCarren -
the quickest way is Hwy 160, Blue Diamond, Pahrump (head south
on I-15); At Pahrump go through on main road all the way through
town, then watch for signs for left turn to Bell Vista Rd,
(brown sign, DVNP) and DV via Ash Meadows. (Don't take the first
DV sign you see in town - that's Hwy 178 to Shoshone- much longer)
Bell Vista Rd takes you through Ash Meadows and right to DV Junction
at the Opera House. Turn right one block, then left to Hwy 190.
Boom, you're there. 2.0 - 2.5 hrs. to Furnace Creek Visitor Center
if all goes well. For variety, go to DV one way, return to LV
the other. :-)
Check here
for a list of Museums, Information Centers, and Chamber of Commerce
folk in the areas mentioned - address,
phone, web page, and e-mail contacts. Gee, you can surf the web
forever!! :-)
The area code for Death Valley numbers is 760 and for nearby Nevada
numbers is 775.
The Park's number is 760 786-3200 Yes, it's now automated-
but you can talk to a real person if you hit 0 during "regular
business hours". Emergency Help is always 911.
Barren? no! Just sand? nope!! Awesome? definitely! BIG. No, HUGE!! Trees? not many. Snakes? yup. Is it safe?? yup, if you're careful - see below. Anything to see? nah...just a bunch of colored rocks, sand, other stuff- and on special years like this one, FLOWERS!!
Page of pretty
Sierra photos, starring Mt. Whitney
in white taken 1/14/05.
By all means DO check the Park daily weather and road report here, or by phone before you go anywhere!! and you can talk to a REAL person at 760 786-3200 (touch 0) 8 a.m.-4ish weekdays. There is no one at the Com Center on weekends.
Official DVNP Backcountry roads map, pdf file.
**Titus -OPEN High clearance, but not 4x4 and good tires a must! The road is as good as it gets right now - but don't do it if you're timid. Remember it's ONE WAY from the east side to the west. You'll want high clearance for a rocky bit after Red Pass. Red Pass is a bit of a challenge-- Don't go if you don't like skinny roads hanging on the side of a hillside with a large drop straight below you. Kansas it ain't! Wonderful it IS!!
Saline Valley
South Pass OPEN and dry. High clearance. Washboardy in the valley!
North Pass (8300') OPEN and dry. High clearance.
You can get there via Lippencott from the Racetrack but only if you have
a very narrow 4x4, (ie. no full-sized vehicles - a couple of washouts make the road VERY narrow!-
and over Steel Pass which always requires 4x4 and short wheel
base at the 3 steps in Dedeckera Canyon.
Try this link NOAA
weather for Saline Valley
Snow still happens, though getting more unlikely. You could get "trapped"
for a while - be sure you go in with enough supplies to stick
it out until the roads open- which is "User done", since
Inyo Co. does not plow those roads regularly. Just watch the sky-
storms come in fast and closes the road in a flash and can cause
snow and flash floods which will always wash out Grapevine Canyon
(South Pass), and sometimes make a mess of North Pass. Take way
more supplies than you'll need, cuz you might just need um!! Don't
be in a hurry to leave - let the snow melt, let the rain water
run off. You can get real stuck in mud just as easily as snow,
and it' harder to get out of! Be patient and let the sun do work
on the roads before you try it.
The road is its usual ugly washboard in the valley.
Definitely not ever good for trailers !! (use 4x4 on the valley bottom
to help keep the washboards from forming) Lippencott washouts
in some spots make the usually skinny road VERY skinny in spots.
Try various Chat Boards to see if there are any other reports:
Death Valley Talk - look under Campfire Chat
Death Valley-net
- look under Forums
Don't forget to use 4x4 on the valley washboards! It helps smooth
them a little...; stay on the designated roads - don't try to
drive on the sand dunes!! you'll get fined heavily, if and when
you get out...high clearance and GOOD tires a must for the county
road!! Even without snow and mud, it is not a road for RV's or little low cars, buses, or trailers,
etc. Certainly not now!!
Take an air compressor! Best to have 2 REAL spare tires - the
roads are very rocky, incredibly washboardy on the valley bottom;
clearance a must! Don't go in a regular passenger car!- tires
can't handle it; RV's - ACK! never a good idea!! (too many narrow
spots, sharp turns, and you'll rattle it to death! (Story
on the Chat Board says that the two RV's which got stuck on the
turns and had to be towed to Lone Pine were charged $2100.) Don't
go in there without adequate supplies for both you and your car!!
Cell phones don't work. Satellite phones do.
Flash floods can close the roads in an instant and no one is in
any hurry to fix them. 12/29/04 - snow happened and the first
folk got out (1/10/05) If that looks scary, or if you have
a tight schedule, then don't GO!! Saline is the ultimate of "remote",
yet the springs will be crowded because it is so.... just be careful!.
This year has been very unpredictable - thunderstorms can still
wash out the canyon roads. Watch the skies!! check the chat boards
to see current experiences.
If you think you're going to Saline to be alone in the tubs, think
again. That worked in the 70's, but now it is absolutely crowded-
at least on weekends, and even midweek. Especially in winter and spring.
Sorry! The word is out, and the crowds are in...
If you're looking for a hot soak that's a whole lot easier to
get to - try Keough Hot Springs between Big Pine and Bishop, or
Hot Creek north of Mammoth Airport, or Bridgeport, or Whitmore
Springs also at Mammoth Airport area, or if you insist on birthday
suit bathing, Tecopa Hot Springs (except sexes are separated in
different bath houses and now a fee is charged - but it's cleaner).
All of these are accessible with 2 WD.
Days are very short now, very short cuz it's such a deep valley
- so COLD happens. Good news is that the Lower Springs seem to
have perked up again and are flowing adequately. !! Winter crowds
are happening - There is plenty of water for washing and showers,
but NONE of it is drinkable - so be sure you have lots with you!!
** Chicken Strip "landing strip"
is OPEN.
Eureka Valley/dunes road OK to Eureka Valley, and sort of OK across the dirt part to the dunes road. However, VERY rocky over the Last Chance Range. Washes in upper DV marked with red cones. 4x4 not necessary, but sturdy high-clearance vehicle is - rocky and washboardy! Road down to the dunes is the same- ie. a bit rocky in spots, and washboardy.
Steele Pass
- high clearance 4x4 always necessary, short bed much better.
Best not to go alone. One real skinny/hairy spot near DeDeckera
Canyon. Rest is "real 4x4 driving".
Lippencott- VERY ROUGH; "it's normal self";-
which means hairy...; recommend shortbed 4x4 (tight turns!)
and narrow wheeltrack- it's VERY skinny in some spots and recommended
down travel from the Racetrack- washboards in the valley are
"horrid". Biggest problem is the wash cuts across the
valley - they're really DEEP and 4x4 is needed to get out of them,
sometimes a winch - don't go alone if you don't know the road!!
At least this way out of Saline is low, 4200 ft. so if the passes
get snowed in, you can usually get out this way - BUT - there
is no gas at Scotty's!!
Hunter Mtn OPEN - watch for mud at the spring on the east side.
The Race Track - The Race Track playa is dry. LEAVE THE ROCKS THERE! Someone has been taking them. Geezz! Road from Ubehebe out is very rocky and rutted, extreme washboard, washouts, all 27 miles of it! SHARP ROCKS. High clearance absolutely necessary as are good tires!! Not a good road for a citified rental car!! - and may not be legal to drive your rental car off paved roads - check your contract!! Don't go if all you have is a "fake spare". This road is famous for "eating tires". It's a long hike out. It's a VERY expensive tow out!!!! (as is $2000+) You might want to check the recent talk on DV-us board about the washboards on the road out from Ubehebe. It's eating shocks, tires, etc. Not fun. Some dimwits have been driving out on the lakebed. It's illegal to do that, and darn stupid and inconsiderate- those tracks will be there for eons! Remember that there is NO gas at Scotty's - nearest gas is Stovepipe, 58 miles from Ubehebe. !!
"ROAD CLOSED" If it is an Inyo County Road Dept. sign on Big
Pine Rd, or Saline roads -means if you drive past the sign in
your 4x4 with high clearance, which may be doable, you're on your
own - neither Inyo Co, DV, or AAA will come get you!
If it is a CalTrans or NPS sign, do NOT go past!! You will be
cited $$ and escorted out of the park by the rangers! Don't even
think about it! Problem is that Inyo Co. seems to leave the Road
Closed sign up all the time whether they mean it or not - but
the above rules still apply - so be warned!
Mahogany Flats- road extremely rocky beyond kilns; 4x4 or front-wheel drive best beyond kilns. paved bits are quite nice now, then 2 miles of gravel which can get washboardy, to Charcoal Kilns; then- last mile is very steep and rocky!! Telescope Peak Trail - Snow about gone, but still some on the north-facing ridge. And, at 11,000 ft, it is still COLD!! 7 miles one way to top, but GREAT views when you get to the ridge. Look for Mule Deer and Bighorn Sheep!! - No water in summer except at Eagle Spring, a side trail at the base of the last ridge. Views from top like looking through a Telescope. You can see Whitney from there! And it's still cold at Mahagony camp at night.
Trail to Wildrose Peak starts behind the Kilns. Also nice views in all directions.
Goler Goler is not toooo bad as far as Barker Ranch for now- meaning high clearance and FWD at least, 4x4 still best. The road out in Panamint Valley has some soft spots beyond Briggs. However, Mengle Pass- major washouts and HUGE rock steps on both sides- rocks and ruts; steps particularly difficult; 4x4 etc. absolutely necessary! Top of Pass difficult, big rock steps, holes. OK up Warm Springs Canyon;
Butte Valley Road - OK, but best in 4x4 above Warm Springs to the Geologist's Cabin. Very, very rough up and over Mengle Pass.
Echo and Hole in the Wall OK, but be careful. 4x4 required due to soft sands and gravels.
Lower Wildrose road OPEN. from Trona- -the road is one lane wide for 6 miles- Dirt spots from stage station to intersection, and a few springs in the middle of the road near the willows which make deep holes! Due to holes and rough spots, not recommended for you to do this one at night !! A few very DEEP potholes. holes in road Don't do this at night - you need to see the potholes- they're deep!!
Surprise Canyon
is closed to vehicles permanently; but you can park and walk into
Panamint City, six +miles including a lot of walking in the stream
and scrambling (that's putting it politely - a couple of the spots
are pretty darn hard!) up "waterfalls". The good ole
days of having a road in the lower canyon are long gone - the
gravel has washed out down to bedrock and it's quite difficult
to even hike the lower part of the canyon how! However, Panamint
City is alive (so to speak) and well - the chimney stands, there
are a few cabins you can stay in when you get there. It's just
a long and fairly difficult hike until up above Lime Spring, then
you're on remnents of the old road. Note that the structures at
the end of the road, Chris Wicht Camp burned and the area is very
dangerous - nasty chemicals, etc. but OK to camp there.
Pleasant/Middle Park/South Park
4x4 always. canyon loop is always 4x4, but some of the bad
spots have been fixed a bit;
Chicken spot is "normal"
- ie. creepy!! Weight limit on the bridge - NO HUMMERS!! Much
willow growth near Clair Camp, so expect "desert pinstriping"....water
running down Pleasant at the moment.
Big Pine/Death Valley road-is paved into Eureka Valley, dirt from there to Scotty's road. Next gas is at Furnace Creek, not the Castle! Some stream crossing washouts at the upper end of Death Valley to slow down for especially near Sand Springs. Rocky, washboards, but 4x4 not necessary. This road does get plowed/graded by Inyo Co. when they get all of the other roads opened.
Remember to check with the Rangers about current road conditions-
they post um every morning at 8 a.m. and the recording at 760
786-3200 road, weather gets updated soon there after usually.
Can't talk to a live person on weekends. Also check the Chat Boards
for recent user info. We have had thunderstorms which causes some
washes to flash and dump debris on the roads. DON'T CROSS MOVING
WATER ON THE ROAD! Wait for it to go away. 2 people died trying
to drive through moving water - it didn't work!
Park daily weather and road report by phone along with the weather
guess for the day. THINGS CHANGE FAST HERE IN THE DESERT!! It
rains/snows some places and not others. Lightning means rain somewhere!
- page of pictures of snow and full lakes in DV!! Taken 1/12 and 1/16/05. Nothing short of amazing! :-) Just white salt now. No water in the lake, but the snow now is pretty spectacular!
** Gas at Furnace Creek- all 3 grades ( 24 hr. pay
at pump!) + diesel + propane and Stovepipe Village- (24 hr. pay
at the pump, only 87 regular)- (NO GAS AT SCOTTY'S RIGHT NOW!!)
in the valley itself- Diesel- only available at Furnace
Creek and Panamint Springs. Panamint Springs Resort usually
has gas available 24 hrs with credit card!!- and a MiniMart. The
Resort is under new ownership.
Service great.
This Park is a BIG place, 50+ miles between things sometimes -
watch your gas gauge!!
Gas at Ridgecrest (24 hrs), Trona (Chevron), Olancha (Mobile)
Beatty, Shoshone, Pahrump, and at Johannesburg
on Hwy 395. - that's IT until you get to the valley. Plan accordingly
- it's a LONG way across this hot (or cold now) stinkin'' desert!!
GASP!! IS IT SAFE TO DRIVE THROUGH
DEATH VALLEY IN THE SUMMER? Sure
- just be ready. Be sure your vehicle is in good condition
(like the hoses, a/c, etc.) Rental vehicles are usually new, so
they should be OK! Be sure the radiator is working well, full,
etc. Check engine oil levels as that can also affect how
hot the car runs!! Be sure YOU are in good condition. Be sure
you have LOTS OF WATER both to drink and to spray all over you.
(yes, spray - get one of those fan-sprayer thingies, or any ole
sprayer, and use it as you drive through!!!!). Don't forget to
put some salt in you along with the water - you lose both when
you sweat. Chips or any salty snack work. If something happens
to you or the vehicle - STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE!! It provides shade.
Try 911 on cell phone, even if you don't have regular cell
service - but for emergencies it seems to work!! If your phone
has GPS, turn it ON. However, the place is far from abandoned
- someone will come along sooner or later and help you!! Just
DON'T even think about walking anywhere for help. You won't
make it. Stay put at your vehicle or wherever and make help
signals which can be seen from the air. !!!! Summer 2005-
2 folk DIED from the heat - they were out hiking in 115F sun,
ran out of water, died. !! STAY IN THE SHADE AND WAIT. BE sure
someone knows where you are going.!! Make sure your location can
be seen from the air. Summer 2004 - 2 folks died in Flash Floods!
if it's raining, head for HIGH ground and stay there until the
water goes away! As the speed of the water squares, the load it
can carry cubes; i.e. a river going from 1 mph to 2 mph can now
carry 8 times the load!! Your vehicle hasn't got a chance, nor
have you. Get to HIGH ground (you can see past flood lines in
all the washes!) and STAY there! the lady that survived this past
flood was stranded for 40 minutes, then it went away.
Actually, same cautions apply in winter. Stay with your vehicle
and stay warm. Heard of "hypothermia"? It can kill you
if you try to walk out. Stuck in the snow? Make signals and STAY
PUT - someone will find you, especially if you left word where
you were going! Note: if your car is overheating, slow down, turn
off the A/C obviously, and turn on the heater - yes, the HEAT
- it'll help cool the cooling fluids.
Rental vehicles: Do you need an SUV to explore DV? No, absolutely not, IF you are only stayng on the paved roads and a few short graded dirt roads! Rental vehicles are new cars with working A/C, new belts and hoses, etc. You shouldn't have any of the troubles described above..... Check the tires - do they look sturdy enough?? So, for ordinary visits to the park, you should rent a vehicle that gets good mileage and holds you and all your stuff. Stock up on water and nibbles. Check the rental agreement - most companies don't want you driving on ANY dirt roads - and to get to some of the special places in DV, it'll be necessary to go on up to 3 miles of dirt roads - but they are all graded and if you drive reasonably, you'll be fine. Note: this means you should NOT consider taking a rental vehicle to The Racetrack, or to Saline Valley!!
Renting a SUV to explore back roads: 1) they're hard to get - Las Vegas seems to have some (can you take it to CA??) 2) Check that they really have 4x4 - ie. is there a front differential and appropriate gear shifts inside?? Often there is not!! 3) Check the rental agreement - do they allow you to drive on dirt roads???? I know, it's silly to rent a 4x4 and then not let you drive on dirt, but that's what most companies do!! 4) Be sure it has good tires and a "real" spare, not a donut, and ALL the necessary tools to change said tire!!!! Be sure you know where they are, and how to release the spare. 5) Do your driving skills match the vehicle?? Serious off-road driving is a bit different than graded dirt roads or Interstates... obviously! Don't get in over your head. One rule of having a 4x4 vehicle is to not use the 4x4 until you get stuck in 2x4, then let the 4x4 get you out of trouble. If you get stuck in 4x4, you're pretty darn stuck!! Remember that your cell phone won't be able to call AAA, and anyway, they're a LONG way off and VERY expensive, to say nothing of damage to the vehicle! 4x4 does not make up for lack of skill or common sense. :-) Cell phones should work for calling 911..... especially if they're the newer kind with GPS capability. Turn it on!!
SNOW??
You gotta be kidding?? Well, not usually in the valley bottom,
but it sure does snow on the higher passes and peaks! 2005
photos- snow and full lakes images! There's nothing prettier than snowy Telescope
Peak reflected in Badwater's pond... and during the winter (November
through end of March), snow storms can come rumbling through...
see snow
pictures from winter 2001- 2003 and
Nov. and Dec. 2004, and 2007 did the same thing. Chains were required on
Townes Pass a couple of times!! It gets COLD in the valley bottom
during winter! Short days, cold air sinks. COLD as in near or
below freezing!! Think down parkas! - yes, in DV. :-) snow happens
when it's not supposed to - quite a storm April 15, 2007 !!!!
Weather
- SPRING is here!!-
Days getting longer, valley getting warmer Temps
daytime now 90's-low 100's, night 60's.
It's definitely hot enough you must use sunscreen, wear a hat
(cute ones for sale everywhere- stores and VC), and CARRY (and
drink!!) WATER. (and salt!!)
It's safe if you are VERY CAREFUL- take layers of clothing (think
long sleeves to keep sun OFF), drink lots of water! AND EAT SALTY
THINGS!! Be sure to wear a hat during the day- using an umbrella
for shade works great! - and carry AND DRINK water wherever you
go!! It's DRY, DRY!! (even in rain storms! especially in
wind!!)
The SNAKES are out when the thermometer says 60-90, whether
day or night.- which is mostly evening now. They're out of hibernation!-
If you see lizards, the snakes won't be far behind. Watch out.
Not all of um are poisonous - only the fat ones. (Skinny ones
here are NOT poisonous) Snakes like weather from 60F to 90F- Leave
them alone and they'll leave you alone!! This is their home!! They won't be near
really inhabited places like Furnace Creek.
Are you flexible? Check out the moon's schedule and be here for a FULL MOON. Next one May 19.
My favorite is the October full moon- sleep up on the Eureka dunes! April would work too... Getting pretty cool for that now, but winter full moons are especially brilliant. Go for a walk on the dunes under the moon and don't use your flashlight - let your eyes adjust!
Daily weather and road report or by phone 786-3200 - 1 - 4
Couple of good weather links:
Death Valley Natural History
Assn - look under "weather"
- they have a link to the right stuff in Weather Underground.
NOAA Site
and usually pretty accurate, nice links to other places, automated
rain gauges, etc.
KLAS TV in Las
Vegas has the actual weather data from Furnace Creek! (when all the parts work)
10 day forecast keep playing through the links;
USA
Today's weather
Use 92328 zip and get
a 10 day forecast.
Spring rains come and go!! When there are black clouds in the sky, PLEASE BE CAREFUL where you park, where you walk, where you go - remember that a) it doesn't have to be raining where you are to get a flash flood - the rain can be way, way away and still get downhill to you!! and b) cars don't swim well, not even VW's! You might well get stranded out away from your bed- roads DO wash out so you can't use um at all! If there is water running across the road, DON'T cross it. Just wait. If there is HEAVY rain, and it's forecast to do this, pull over and just wait. It won't last for long, it's pretty spectacular to watch, and you don't want to be washed off the road into who knows where (like a snake-filled ditch! There, did that get you??!!)
If questions, call before you go - 760-786-3200 (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) Just cause it's windy in Ridgecrest or Las Vegas doesn't mean it's windy in Death Valley- unless a front is passing through, then you get to watch geology in action! ASK!! Look UP. Black sky and lightning = rain somewhere!! Go get HIGH and stay put.
Camping Reservation info
Summer Closures in effect = Stovepipe, Texas Springs, and Sunset CLOSED for the summer. Furnace Creekrequires reservations Oct. 15 to Apr. 15, which means now it does not. First grabs gets it. All others first-come, first served.. NEW reservation system - USFS, NPS, BLM sites all done under same system now, recreation.gov, (877) 444-6777 7a.m. to 7 p.m. PST, and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. PDT (March-Oct). It's a "6 month rolling calendar" system.
National Park campground reservation
system is easy on-line; they
will accept reservations for Furnace Creek Campground (only one
reservable in DV) for the next 6 months on a "rolling calendar
system", ie. from the last date of your reservation request.
1 877/444-6777 or http://recreation.gov
Yosemite
is 1-877-444-6777 and same URL, starting on 15th of each month.
National Forest and Recreation campgrounds may be reserved
at National Recreation Reservation Service 8 months in advance,
1 877 444-6777, 7-7 p.m. PST at http://recreation.gov
California State Parks may be viewed at parks.ca.gov and camp sites reserved 7 months ahead at 1
800 444-7275 between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. PST http://www.ReserveAmerica.com (did not move to the government system)
There is further campground and trail wilderness permit info at Exploring the Upper Mojave Desert page
Camping? Stinky?? SHOWERS are available at both Stovepipe Wells Motel and Furnace Creek Ranch pools - but pay ($5) and check in at the Motel's registration desk and get directions (and soap) to the shower facilities.... also gives you access to their lovely warm spring-fed pools! Panamint Springs resort also has nice showers in the campground for a fee.
Flowers! Spring 08 was good - but now the flower show is higher- 3000 ft. and above.
Flowers happen when rains happen at the proper times - which means some in the fall, lots in the spring. Mid Feb - end of March- depending on rain, wind, heat... Flowers up higher now, but cacti are blooming nicely.
See the Park Services Wildflower Update page.
Natural History Assn. brochure which features 60 of the most common wildflowers in the valley with pictures taken during the phenomenal Spring 98 bloom! $1.00 - such a deal!
The Death Valley Natural History Association folk can send out brochures, books, etc. Call them at 800 478-8564 or 760 786-3285
The wildflower updated report page I
use is Cal
Photo
Other stuff
Entrance Fees are $20 per car. Pay at Stovepipe, Grapevine, or Visitor Center,
or at any one of the "Iron Ranager" machines in several
locations. Get a
Visitor Center at Furnace Creek is open 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Books, maps, other great stuff for sale. Ranger to answer your questions. Great displays! A HUGE relief map of the Valley. 12 min. orientation slide show on the half hour. Pay your Entrance Fees here- to a real person or at the new machine out front! There are "fee machines" at other locations in the park too - no excuses now!
Ranger Programs- see Ranger Programs stopped for the summer.
Scotty's Castle gives "living history"
tours every day all year from 9:30a.m. to 4p.m. and special "underground
Mystery Hard Hat tours" of the basement and powerhouse also 5 times
each day. Those are fun, but involve stairs. Grounds open 8-5
p.m. The gas station is CLOSED until they can get some equipment
fixed; also open 9a - 5p-snack bar (sandwiches, chips, no grill), gift shop, etc. Open every
day! Enjoy a picnic on the nice lawn under the trees, wade in
the warm fresh water creeklet, hike Tie Canyon...
Another Pipe Organ Concert - June 13, 14, 15. Reserve tickets through Natural History Assn.
Scotty's Castle begins Summer Hours April 27, 2008. First tour will start at 9:30 am, last tour starts at 4:00 pm.
Castle Visitor Center open 9:00 am to 4:30 pm. Castle Grounds open 7:00 am to 5:00 pm
The Furnace Creek Inn is doing their Sunday Brunch again - yummy a always! $19.94 + tax and tip, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations highy rcommended - 76- 786-2345 x385, ask for the Inn Dining Room. LAST ONE IS MOTHER'S DAY. It's absolutely delicious!!!!
Marta Becket is performing again on Saturday nights. Doors
open at 7:45, program at 8:15. $15 adults, $12 Children. Reservations
very much advised - it fills fast! A few rooms are available in
the motel, but no food. Sign says Tours of Opera House given,
but no data- ask at the Hotel desk. Marta injured her back last
year and she can no longer get up "on point" - but she
still makes costumes and has what she calls her "sit down
show" - she sings, tells stories, does all sorts of interesting
things, but she doesn't dance any more. Go see her - she's a treasure!!
There are gray almost odorless (Put the seat DOWN - then it won't smell!!) vault toilets available at most of the prime tourist spots - but still none at the Wildrose picnic area (old stage station). Use the one at Wildrose campground up the road about 3 miles.
Concessionaire news, golf stuff, Inn info, etc. Click here.
Mass-
check at the Ranch, but usually is held the first Sunday of the
month, 8 p.m. Father Francis comes over from Lone Pine.
Interdenominational Christian Worship on Sundays at 9 a.m.
and at 6 p.m. in the Visitor Center Auditorium.
The daily weather/road report posted at all ranger stations. Check!!!! Call!! (760) 786-3200 Especially as thunderstorms change things so fast!!
Looking for something to do on your way to Death Valley? check out Exploring the Northern Mojave Desert page with ideas of things to see in the Ridgecrest area west of DV, and of course, our Maturango Museum .
**Great book with pretty pictures, super
useful info: "A Traveler's Guide to Death Valley National
Park" by Cliff Lawson. Maps, pictures, directions, and
short blurb on all the popular 2-wheel drive attractions in Death
Valley region. Well done.
" Death Valley and the Northern Mojave" Tweed,
Davis, Cachuma Press - overview of popular spots to visit in both
DV and Ridgecrest areas of desert. Maps, great photos!
"Hiking Death Valley" by Michel Digonnet; great
mining history, great maps and a complete list of hikes available
Ranger-guided hikes are usually offered at least once a day to
one of the following locations: Mosaic Canyon, Gower Gulch, Harmony
Borax, Sand Dunes, Salt Creek, Badwater Salt Flats, Keane Wonder
Mine. Check Ranger
Program Schedule
Get both of these are more, of course,
at the Maturango Museum
100 E. Las Flores Ave, in Ridgecrest!!
Open every day (except major holidays), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We're
right on the main drag (China Lake Blvd.), sort of in the middle
of town. 760 375-6900 We sure can answer a bunch of your DV questions
and we have their Newspaper and books, videos, etc.
MOVIES!! Our wonderful photographer Mark Pahuta has been busy
with his digital camera and has made QuickTime movies of our art
shows and the insides of the Museum. They're big files, but download
them and open with QuickTime, place the cursor to one side or
the other and the panorama will start to move around. Use the
+ and - buttons on the player to zoom in and out. These are way
cool high tech stuff that your 'puter does so well!!
Our
Natural History Display area and Children's Corner ,
the exhibit part of our Museum. (file size 400K)
Our
fantastic Museum Store, Gift Shop. Unique
stuff, lots of petroglyph stuff. (file size 964K)
The current art show is on our
web page, and other great stuff...
Got questions that need a real live person's opinion? - after reading all this?? :-)
Little ole Webmistress
Janet can answer some questions if you
don't find it here somewhere. I live in Ridgecrest, 2 hrs and
2 valleys west of DV, but I can see Telescope Peak from my computer...
Try various Chat Boards to see if there are any current road reports:
Death Valley Talklook under Campfire Chat
Death Valley Park
- look under Forums
The
bottom of Death Valley is only two hours from Ridgecrest,
CA ! The Park is open all year and Fall,
Winter, and Spring are all ideal months to visit the valley bottom
while there are cooler places up higher for summer visits. The
Maturango Museum is the home of the Death Valley Tourist Center
and has some guide books and maps of Death Valley and the DV Natural
History Association Newspaper which has all the hours of operation
of facilities, campground lists, accommodations, maps, and everything
else necessary to plan your visit to the Park. Be sure to pick
up Cliff Lawson's "Getting there is half the fun,
" a road guide of what's where on the way. Let us help you
plan your trip!! Open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 100 E.
Las Flores Ave, at China Lake Blvd., about in the center of the
main drag. (760) 375-6900
Town, Towne, Townes', Towne's or what?? - It's TOWNES. Hardly any map has the name of the major pass spelled correctly, but according to LeRoy and Jean Johnson, Death Valley Historians of note, the pass was named for Pachal Townes, a member of the 49er group - so the proper, correct spelling should be Townes Pass. So now YOU know...
The fastest way to reach Death Valley from Southern California is to come to Ridgecrest, stop by the Maturango Museum, 100 E. Las Flores Ave, (in the center of town, sorta) to get your information and books, and continue through Trona on Highway 178 east. North of Searles Lake Valley when you reach the top of the Slate Range Pass, be sure to pause a moment to enjoy a spectacular view north to the Panamint Valley and Telescope Peak, the high point of the Panamint Mountains on the east side of this valley. You will be able to see Telescope Peak from many angles as you travel.
Ten miles after you pass the road east to Ballarat, an interesting "ghost town," you will have the choice to go on to Death Valley either of two ways. They both are the same distance and take about the same amount of time, but Townes Pass is all paved and an easier drive. You must go this way if you are a HUGE rig...Turn left at the signed junction and head for Highway 190. When you reach the T intersection at Hwy 190, turn east (right), pass Panamint Lake and head up the steep pull to the pass at 4956 ft. Watch the temperature gauge of your vehicle, especially if you are pulling a trailer or driving a large motor home. There are several pullouts to let things cool down - brakes on your way down, for example...Then you sail down steeply into Death Valley (use low gears!!). If you need water or something to eat, Panamint Springs resort is a couple of miles west of this intersection.
The other choice, if you are up for more adventure and it's daylight, is to continue straight ahead on the Wildrose Road. Portions of this road wash out regularly, so it may be signed that it is closed. Believe it! There are unpaved stretches for about 5 miles. They are washboard, but NOT rocky and are passable with any car. This route is NOT advised for big vehicles or for trailers as it is very curvy all the way. Commercial vehicles (like tour buses), and rigs over 25 feet long or 9 feet wide are prohibited. That means it's OK for your little family car - just take it easy over the gravel parts and watch the holes where the springs come up in the middle of the road! (actually, DON'T GO THIS WAY AT NIGHT!!!!- you won't see the pretty things, and the pot holes in the paved parts and water from the springs is frozen to several inches of ice! in the road make it treacherous!) Not real good for motorcycles either cuz of the loose gravel...
You will enter the Wildrose wash with its fascinating geology, and pass the one spot where the rare, endangered Panamint Daisies grow-- watch for blooms in March and April. The Wildrose station (ruins on north side) was a stage stop on the way from Ballarat to Skidoo and the gold fields of Nevada. Great picnic spot (but no toilets) Where you see lots of green plants- tall cottonwoods and willows along side the road, that's where springs pop out OF the road!! Be careful!!!!! The dirt patches end at the junction with the Wildrose to Telescope Peak road where you'll find Wildrose campground, water, and a toilet.
If you have time, the Mahogany Flat-Wildrose road leads upward to the east from the stop sign. The pavement ends, but the gravel road takes you to a row of 10 charcoal kilns which provided charcoal for the lead and silver mines back across the Panamint Valley. They are in good shape and fun to photograph. The road is open this far most of the year, snow permitting. Thorndike Camp is just above the kilns. Beyond here, the road gets rough and steep. High clearance or FWD highly recommended. It is a mile to Mahogany Flat and the small campground at 8100 ft. This is the beginning of the seven mile trail up Telescope Peak. This hike is a riot of colorful flowers in June and July. It is a great place to see desert big horn sheep and Mule deer. The view in all directions from the 11,049 ft. peak is as spectacular as the name implies. There are bristlecone pines on the trail near the peak. No water along the trail.
Your road past the Wildrose intersection is now the old stage and freight wagon road. It wiggles around sharp curves. Imagine trying to manage a 20 mule team! All you got to hear were the lead mule's bells. Then more wiggles up to Nemo Pass at 5500 ft. Down onto Harrisburg Flats. If you have time, take the side road out to Pete Aguereberry's Eureka mine (yes, you can do it, sorta), and to Aguereberry Point, a spectacular view of the middle of Death Valley! A bit farther north, a dirt road takes off for nine miles to the town site of Skidoo, and if you venture a bit farther west, you'll find the dilapidated stamp mill.
The Emigrant road winds down into Emigrant Canyon and some more interesting geology - great fault displays -, a modernish (1950's) gold mine, and new road repairs for an attempt to keep the stream from taking the road out so often...
This road and Townes Pass (Hwy 190) join at the 2000 ft. level near Emigrant Station, the only shade for miles around, with water and a restroom. It's six miles downhill to sea level at Stovepipe Wells village. Without many long stops, you can reach Stovepipe in two hours from Ridgecrest, about 100 miles.
We'd love to have you come through our town and stop at our Museum on your way to or from Death Valley. Perhaps your trip can be a loop using one of these other ways to get there too...
From the north - from Highway 395 in Lone Pine, first stop at the Interagency Visitor Center (open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) located just south of the Lone Pine Airport at the intersection with Highway 136. The Visitor Center has maps and books about Death Valley and helpful people who can answer your questions about road and weather conditions, facilities, etc. Continue east on Highway 136 around the east side of Owens Lake and the town of Keeler, to where it meets Highway 190, and continue east on Highway 190 over the hump at Darwin, down steeply to the Panamint Valley and up and over Townes Pass to Death Valley. 2 major up/down passes. Take it easy!! Darwin/Panamint is actually steeper and wigglier by far than Townes Pass!! If you don't like this idea, go to Ridgecrest and come on in via Trona on Hwy 178 - then you only have to deal with Townes Pass. Or go around to Baker to avoid passes entirely. San Francisco to Death Valley via Tioga Pass and Hwy 396 = 550 miles; via I-5 and Bakersfield, Ridgecrest = 524 miles and several hours shorter.
From the south - take Highway 127 north from Baker (get to there on Interstate 15). Be sure to stop at the Info Center under the "World's tallest Thermometer!" Books, maps; open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Shoshone has gas (Charles Brown General Store, Lotto tickets, etc.) 760-852-4242, food (Red Buggy Cafe and Crowbar Lounge 760-852-9908, ), a cute little museum (760-852-4414), and Park info (760-852-4308) and tons of info from Death Valley Chamber of Commerce 760 852-4524. Stop by China Ranch and buy dates! At Shoshone you may take Hwy 178 west and come in over spectacular Salsberry and Jubilee Pass (when it's not raining - this always closes!) through Badwater and get views of the entire valley as you come, or continue north to the Amargosa area. From Death Valley Junction the road is open again and if you're hauling a trailer from LA, this is probably a better way to go - you can avoid any really steep passes (Except Cajon- and it's not all that steep). Hwy 178 from Shoshone - from Jubilee Pass to Badwater the pavement is being repaved right now, but the road is VERY skinny- if you have a BIG RV or a long wide 5th wheel, go to Death Valley Junction and take the NEW Hwy 190 down to Furnace Creek - that road is in good shape and is wider... Los Angeles to Death Valley via Baker (or Lone Pine) is 310 miles; via Ridgecrest and Trona, 285 miles.
From the east - from Tonopah. Hwy 95 through Nevada to Beatty (visit the Ranger Station there), and take Hwy 374 west to the Sand Dunes, or from Hwy 95 take Hwy 267 west to Scotty's Castle.
From Las Vegas - It takes about 2.5 to 3 hours to get to the Valley from Las Vegas and there are several roads which work. Have fun exploring!! Hwy 95 out of Vegas goes past Mercury test site and Yucca Mountain, yes, THE mountain where the DOD wants to bury high level radioactive wastes! - To Beatty, then Hwy 374 into the park. = 140 miles. Allow 3 hrs. Hwy 160, the Blue Diamond (it's a mine) is prettier after you survive getting past Buffalo Rd through all the construction! - , goes through Pahrump, Bell Vista Rd. and Ash Meadows to Death Valley Junction right at the Opera House! - then the new Hwy 190 in. 2.25 hrs. Another route out of Vegas is via Hwy 178 to Shoshone and in Hwy 178 via Badwater. 153 miles, 3.5 hrs. Bottom Line- Hwy 160/Pahrump/Belle Vista Rd/Ash Meadows/DV Junct is fastest.
Or, if you like adventure and dirt
roads, come in the north end
off Hwy 395 via Big Pine, Hwy 168 toward Westgard Pass, but turn
southeast at the base of the hill and take the newly paved road
through Eureka Valley and be sure to visit the beautiful
Eureka sand dunes!! They are the tallest in California.
Primitive camping there. The main road is paved, sorta, to the
mine on the top of the hill. It's dirt, graded sometimes, from
the mine east of Eureka on down into the north end of Death Valley
near Ubehebe Crater and Scotty's Castle. Do call the Ranger station
to see if this part is OK. It's 75 miles between services total.
(Gas at Scotty's)
If you are into 4x4 travel, go out the south west end through
Goler Wash and Warm Springs Valley.
Sometimes it takes 4x4 , always at least an SUV type with strong tires, to do Saline Valley, now a part of the Park. Visit the very inviting, clothing-optional warm springs but check with Rangers about road conditions first! They change with every storm... Sometimes BOTH roads close due to washouts or snow. Never is just a plain ole passenger car a good idea - the roads are NOT good. Plan accordingly! -you might be there longer than you thought. No facilities - bring all food, water, and etc. with you. Primitive camping at the springs, or just about anywhere. It's the middle of nowhere- a VERY DEEP beautiful (if you're a geologist) valley. See more above under "roads."
So how steep are the hills? What are the roads like??
Hwy 190 from Lone Pine/Olancha to Stovepipe goes over 2 major hills;
1) steep drop past Darwin City, from Father Crowley point down into Darwin wash drops 600 ft in 1.6 miles = 7.1% grade; is twisty with sharp corners besides, total drop is 2280 feet, 4.7% grade. Very hard on RV's, going up or down!
2) Panamint Valley to Townes Pass climbs 2800 ft in 7.2 miles, all nice constant radius turns, but relentless 7.6% grade with one section of 9.3%. At least it's not narrow and twisty, but still very hard on RV's, going up or down.
Townes Pass down to Emigrant Station drops 2800 feet in 7.5 miles, 7% grade, with dips and a few sharp corners near the top. RV's or trailers over 25 ft. not allowed because of the tight turns and narrow road just above Wildrose.
If you're pulling a trailer or driving an RV with a wimpy engine, think twice about going this way - it's a lot easier on your vehicle to go around to Baker and come in the east side. It's longer, but your brakes and engine will be happier!! See maps.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO GEAR DOWN WHEN GOING DOWN, ESPECIALLY WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VEHICLES!!. See that "L," or "1, 2" on the gear shift below "D? "You paid for um, USE um!!!! If you're always having to use the brakes, you're not in a low enough gear. Your brakes won't last for all three of these hills!! You can easily build up speeds that your brakes won't handle!
Watch your temperature gauge going up those hills!! If it's approaching RED, slow down!! Gear down. Turn off the A/C!!! Try turning on the HEAT - yes, heat - it'll help cool the cooling fluids. If that doesn't work, STOP. If you stop to let the car cool off at some of the lovely overlooks, leave the engine running and the car pointed into the wind so the radiator can cool the fluids. Spray water on the radiator - but don't take that cap off!! Be sure you have enough water in the vehicle for both you (1 gal per person per day) and your car!(3+ gal more)!
You can avoid the Darwin/Panamint hill deal by going through Ridgecrest but there's still the Townes Pass hills.
You can avoid Townes Pass by going Wildrose/Emigrant, but RV's and trailers aren't allowed and it's steep too! It's a 6% grade in spots, but very narrow with sharp corners in lots of places. Great road, but...
From the east - Hwy 190 from Death Valley Junction is 3000 feet, but fairly even 3.2% grade in and out. This is the easiest way in and out of the valley.
Also on the east - Daylight Pass to Beatty - 4.7% on east side, 6.3% on west side of pass but a bit twisty.
Jubilee and Salsberry Passes from Shoshone - 5.5% and 4.9% and wiggly and dippy and skinny road but resurfaced in 2007.
DRIVE CAREFULLY!! These roads are mostly
just paved wagon roads - there are dips, sharp corners, and the
roads within the park haven't been upgraded since Model T days
- i.e. curves aren't always banked properly, turns aren't constant
radius except on upgraded Townes Pass west, and they're skinnier
than you're used to. Follow posted speed signs - they MEAN
it!! And yes, the park roads are patrolled by California Highway
Patrol. USE LOWER GEARS GOING DOWN ALL HILLS. "D"
for automatic cars works fine in flat places, but not climbing
up and down these mountains! Stay alert!! Motor vehicle accidents
cause way more injuries and deaths in Death Valley than the elements!!
With the passage of the California Desert Protection Act October 31, 1994, Death Valley was converted from a National Monument to a National Park and was greatly enlarged to over three million acres and is now the largest National Park outside Alaska!! It now includes Saline Valley and Warm Springs, Hunter Mountain, Eureka Valley and the beautiful Eureka Sand Dunes, the highest dunes in California -- 700 feet tall, and the lovely surprise, Darwin Falls. It's HUGE.
Stovepipe Wells Village has the Stovepipe Wells motel with a heated swimming pool and full service dining room and bar, a small store, gas station, and a large campground (200 spaces, but it's just a parking lot) with some RV hookups. A little Ranger Station has maps and books, the newspaper, and much information, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Nearby are the Death Valley sand dunes. The lighting at sunrise and sunset make for more dramatic pictures, but the soft sand is fun to play on at any time. You can hike to them from the paved road (park well off the pavement). Takes about a half hour to reach the highest dunes - doesn't look that far away, but it IS!!
At the major junction uphill from the sand dunes, you can choose to go north 38 miles to Scotty's Castle; or north, then east 30 miles to Beatty, Nevada; or south another 17 miles to the Furnace Creek Village area. See map.
Furnace Creek Ranch has a large motel complex with heated pool, a general store, coffee shop, restaurant/steak house, and bar, gasoline (Chevron, open 7 to 7, now with pay-at-pump), an 18 hole golf course, (yes, there's the 19th hole too), horses for 1 hr ride ($35) or 2 hour ride ($50), or Moonlight ride ($35), or private ride ($40); hay rides on a wagon for a group of 10 ($8 each), carriage ride at sunset with Champagne ($10), carriage rides (private $50), etc. (760 786-2345 x 230), and many other tourist delights. Be sure to visit the small Borax Museum and the grounds behind it! (Open 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) There are many of the wagons and a train used in the Death Valley area.
Furnace Creek Golf Course
- is open year-round, with Par 70, 6215 yards, -214 ft. elevation,
dog legs, 9 water hazards, and lots of pretty green grass and
ponds and good bird watching in the bottom of Death Valley! Try
it! Where else can you hit balls at 214 feet below sea level and
not get stuck in a water trap??!!. Fees- $30 in summer (May 8-Oct
12), $55 in fall to May 7; Golf Cart $25, Pull Cart $5, club rental
$15. (760) 786-2301. Many Golf Packages with both Inn and Ranch!!
The main Park Service Visitor Center/Death
Valley Museum is located just north of the Ranch. They have
a large selection of books, maps including topographic maps, post
cards, videos, and all sorts of things for sale. Open 8:00 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Slide show is now continuous. Ranger Talks too - Schedule of Programs,
talks, hikes.
The display area features history and natural history of Death
Valley, including tales of the discovery of the valley by the
1849ers (and the "fake trunk") and the mining of many
minerals from the valley. Huge relief map. Pupfish!
A mile to the east is the elegant Furnace Creek Inn, open all year . If you don't stay there, at least sneak a peek into the beautiful grounds with streams, ponds, and the pool. The restaurant is open to all, and is a 5 Star deal! Their Sunday Brunch is famous!! October through Mother's Day in May, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. While dress code ("Casual Elegance" = no jeans, no shorts, no T-shirts) is in place for dinner, anyone wearing clothes and shoes is welcome in for lunch - it's wonderful!! Consider a stop there and a wander around just to marvel!
From Furnace Creek you can head south on paved roads to Badwater, the lowest point in the western hemisphere at -282 feet and continue on to Jubilee Pass with good wildflower displays in the spring. -Or (after Highway 190 has been rebuilt) you can head up the Furnace Creek Wash. Stop at the beautiful Zabriskie Point for the view of Manly Beacon and colorful rocks. Take the dirt 20-Mule-Team Canyon road for an inside look at the colemanite deposits here. Turn south to take the Dante's View road south past the Billie Mine (borax, colemanite) to a breathtaking view of the valley! You will be 5757 feet above Badwater, directly below you. Or you can continue out of the Park to the Amargosa area and Death Valley Junction.
Marta Becket's Amargosa Opera House - she's an artist, ballet dancer, desert lover (and around 83 years old!); unique performances October through Mother's Day on Saturdays only; Call to be sure she's performing and to reserve a seat. Doors open at 7:45 p.m., Curtain is 8:15 p.m. $15 donation for Adults, $12 for Children under 12. 760-852-4441. FAX 760-852-4138. Shut down for the summer, of course.
Consider a visit to Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge out of Death Valley Junction. Head north, and turn right about a mile past the Longstreet Casino. Get a map so you know what's up. There are 21 springs; main visitor area is Crystal Spring - with a lovely boardwalk to a deep blue pool/spring and pupfish! Devil's Hole Pupfish aren't far away. 775 372-5435
Many dirt roads are reached by heading in all directions from Furnace Creek, some passable with ordinary vehicles, some of which require 4 wheel drive. Inquire of the rangers about road conditions before you stray off the paved roads!! The rains can change things quickly. And remember the winds - they can blow tents away!!
Visit Manzanar National Historical Monument between Lone Pine and Independence, Hwy 395 - the site now has foundations labeled and "the gym" building is now the Visitor Center with lots of displays, etc.- learn about the Japanese Internment Camp 1942-1945, and the Eastern Sierra Museum in Independence, CA, Owens Valley, if you're on that side of the Park. Ranger programs on a regular basis all winter. Lots to see there and more every day! See Hwy 395 info .
At the north end of Death Valley are Mesquite Campground and Ubehebe Crater, a volcanic wonder! From there a rough dirt road leads to Teakettle Junction and the "Racetrack," a playa where rocks slide mysteriously... try that in March when it's wet and you'll see why - it's slicker than standing on ice!!
Take the dirt road north from the Ubehebe road to Eureka Valley and visit the Eureka Sand Dunes a lovely dune system in the next valley NW. High clearance and good tires usually needed, 4x4 usually not.
The other Death Valley web pages have
great pictures and descriptions of all the things to see, so I
didn't include many here.
Scotty's Castle is a highlight and
delight to visit. It is an hour
north of Furnace Creek, and at 3000 feet in Grapevine Canyon,
is a pleasant temperature any time of the year! 50 minute tours
of this Spanish style home built in the late 1920's by Albert
Johnson are given from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. every day of the year.
Tours leave every 20 minutes and are limited to 19 people each.
Tours are 50 minutes and cost $11 for adults, $6 for kids and
$9 for seniors and $9 for Golden Age/Access Passports. There is
an elevator available for those who can't do stairs- ask ahead
of time! Rangers dress in period costumes, and your guide may
even look like Death Valley Scotty himself!!
Technology Tours- November to April!! Visit the basement,
peep into pool portals, visit the powerhouse: 10 tours/day - NOT
handicapped accessible - sorry! Same fees as regular tour.
NEW - Combined tours - do both the upstairs history tour and the
downstairs basement tours if timing is right - combined tour prices
are $20 adults, $16 seniors and Golden Age/Access, $10 for kids.
Self guided walking trails around the grounds and canyons, wonderful
grassy lawn for picnics, Museum and bookstore, Snack bar, and
Gasoline. The grounds are open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call them
at 760-786-2392.
This place is NOT like Hearst Castle. It is NOT a castle at all! This is a Spanish/Moorish style home, not a museum, albeit a rather fancy, but comfortable, home. The guy that built it had lots of money and good architects. And it didn't ever belong to Scotty, though he had a room there! His ranch is on the other side of the hill. It's well worth seeing!
See DV's page about Scotty's Castle .
Check with rangers to be sure the roads are open and are OK without 4x4!
Check out their
list of backcountry road suggestions. Also
check out Panamint
Spring's home page with lots of suggestions
on sights to see.
Usually OK for "regular street cars" - involves dirt
roads, but OK dirt roads - Mosaic Canyon, Salt Creek, Natural
Bridge, Devil's Golf Course, Charcoal Kilns;
probably oughta have a sturdier car and higher clearance (actually, sturdier tires!), SUV (but not 4x4) or pickup - Titus Canyon, West Side Road, Saratoga Springs, Keane Wonder Mine, Racetrack - these dirt roads are rockier and full of washboards. Not for the timid or low slung cars or rental cars!!. Treasures await you at the end!!
Map of all dirt roads in the Park4x4 adventures can take you to places
like Hole-in-the-Wall, Warm Springs Valley and Goler Wash, Cottonwood
and Marble Canyons, Hunter Mountain, Echo Canyon, Trail Canyon,
Chloride Cliff and the mines of Bullfrog, Greenwater Valley and
many others. Roger Mitchell just published a great book with all
these roads in it!- ask the Natural History Association to send
you one!! 1 800 478-8564
There are many, many miles of dirt roads to explore!! These roads
would be GREAT for mountain biking adventures as well (maybe better!).
Be sure to check with the rangers to see if the roads are open.
Also check the weather - these narrow canyons are no place to
be caught in a flash flood!! Map, road info at Backcountry
roads
Many hikes besides the seven mile Telescope Peak trail are available. Some lead to springs, to old mines, particularly gold mines, to Indian petroglyphs, etc. Ranger-led hikes usually occur at least one a day to places like Mosaic Canyon, Gower Gulch, Harmony Borax, Sand Dunes, Salt Creek, Badwater, Keane Wonder Mine.
Self guided Trails include Golden Canyon, Harmony Borax Works, Salt Creek Marsh, Sand Dunes, Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, and the back side of Scotty's Castle grounds walking tour including the Windy Point Trail and Tie Canyon.
Other day hike suggestions on DV official page-day hikes . Short day hikes include Zabriski point to Golden Canyon (requires car shuttle unless you do a round trip), Natural Bridge Canyon, Keane Wonder Mine (very steep, but worth it!- great views), Titus Canyon Narrows (from the bottom), Mosaic Canyon.
If you're looking for REAL adventure,
pick up the brochure "Backcountry hikes" and check these
out!! It describes and gives 7.5 topo maps needed for: Indian
Pass, Daylight Pass to Titus Canyon Rd, Titantothere canyon, Fall
Canyon, Bighorn Gorge, Cottonwood to Marble Canyon loop, Jayhawker
Canyon, Hanaupah canyon, Hungry Bill's Ranch, Virgin Springs Canyon,
etc. Lots and lots of neat places to explore!!
Weather is a most important factor when
you want to explore Death Valley. Each season is different and
it pays to be ready. One of the definitions of "desert"
is "extremes." Death Valley isn't always hot!! FC
set a cold record at 24°F. Check out weather links various
places in here...
Winter can bring snow on the passes and the roads north, west,
and south might be closed for a period of time. Carry chains!
Did you look at the snow pictures from winter 2000 yet??
Winter will bring freezing and below freezing temperatures
to the valley bottom! It's hard to imagine that you would
need a down parka in Death Valley, but a warm jacket is a most
necessary item for nights in December and January. Days can be
in the 70's, but nights drop to freezing! All those mountains
send their cold air to the lowest point - that's where YOU are.
Spring can bring sudden downpours. It
doesn't rain very much in Death Valley, but when it does, it usually
comes all at once. This will cause even the paved roads to wash
out, sometimes closing them for some period. There are times when
the valley is isolated and you can't get in or out for short periods.
The dirt roads are especially vulnerable to washouts. If you plan
to travel on one of the dirt roads, be sure to check with rangers
for the weather forecast and road conditions! It can also be very
windy in the winter and spring. Sometimes during infrequent storms
blowing sand and dust can obscure your vision, especially in the
Sand Dunes area on Hwy 190. Drive with caution, or stay put until
the winds slow down and driving conditions improve.
Fall and Spring have the nicest temperatures - days are nice and
warm, in the 80's, nights cool, in the 40's or 50's. However,
storms can blow in with little notice and change "nice"
to threatening! Always be prepared for all kinds of weather conditions.
Might want to check these out; take an
average.... or just believe daily
weather and road report
weather
by Intellicast; I've found it to be
pretty accurate
USA
Today's weather
Weather.com ,
enter zip 92328
Summer is hot, very hot on the valley bottom. Daytime temperatures often go over 120 degrees and it usually doesn't cool off below 100 at night in July and August. Summer killed 2 people in 2001. (they did stupid things like go walking without water)
In 1996, June had 4 days above 120, all but 4 days of July were over 120 and 4 days hit 125, and half of August was over 120.
How HOT is it?? This from Ranger
Charlie on 8/5/1998 (and it's hotter this summer, 2007!!)
July average is usually 115; 1998 (the last very hot year before
2006) it was 119F, 48.3C;
30 days at 110F, 43.3C and above
24 days at 115F, 46.1C or above
11 days at 120F, 48.8C or above; high of 129F, 53.8C on July 17,
and 127F, 52.8C on the 16th, 128F, 53.3C on the 18th of July.
Now that's HOT!!
The summer of 1999 is one of the "coolest" on record
- it's relative, but it really wasn't over 120 much at all- maybe
3 days! The Summer of 2001 was one of the hottest on record!!
Record temp of 134F on 6/1/2000 in the shade at Furnace Creek.
Yet the Valley and most of the tourist facilities are open. Foreign
tourists abound in the summer. Some come because it is
so hot... Be sure to carry enough water so you can deal with the
heat, and have extra water in case your car needs cooling down
as well!! Wear a hat, use an umbrella, or do something to keep
the sun off your body!! Stay indoors during the day, venture out
at night, like the desert animals do! Telescope Peak is always
cool in the summer, and the green lawn and trees at Scotty's Castle
remain in the 90's even when the valley floor is baking.
Just to give you an idea - these are
from the Visitor's Guide that you get when you pay your entrance
fee: remember that averages are averages - the desert is a land
of extremes!!!
Jan 65F(18C) high, 39(4) low; Feb. 72F(22)high, 46(18C) low; March
80(27) high, 53(12C) low; and very windy; April 90(32C)/ 62(17C);
May 99(37) high with several days over 100, 71(22C) low; June
109 (43C) high, 80(27C) low; July 115(46C) high, but see above,
88(31C) low - nights just don't cool off, and it's sort of humid,
for a desert - blah!; August 113(45C), 85(29C) low, and blah!;
September 106(41), 75(24C); October 92(33), 62(16C)- lovely!;
November 76(24C), 48(9); December 65(19C), 39(4C) low and very
short days - it gets cold FAST!! Can freeze. Can snow. Does snow
at Scotty's.
THE DESERT IS A LAND OF EXTREMES!! It's too hot or too cold, too wet- it floods, or too dry; stark, or covered with flowers! "Everything in the desert either stings, sticks, or stinks...."
Furnace Creek Chevron 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.-
now 24 hr pay-at-the-pump with credit card, of course. 3 grades
+ diesel
Stovepipe Wells 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. , now 24 hr. pay-at-the-pump,
regular 87 only;
Scotty's Castle closed at this time for repairs.
Panamint Springs Resort - Shell gas available 24 hrs. with credit
card! 87 and 91 and diesel
Airports!! Yes, there are two airstrips: see AirNav.com
General Information 760-786-3200 (8 a.m.
to 4 p.m. for real person- dial 0)
Park Rangers, emergencies 911, of course, and 760-786-3200
Death Valley is HUGE. There is so much to see! You'll have to pick and choose and remember that sights are very far apart in this desert! Good luck!! Come back when you have more time... but even a one day trip is enough to give you an idea of the immensity and grandeur of this desert! Be sure to stop at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. It's 2.5 hrs. from Ridgecrest to the Visitor Center, and 3 hours from Las Vegas. Start early, stay late!! (and come back!!)
Start at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center and get maps and information about the sites and then choose. You might do things in the north end of the valley one day and in the south end of the valley another. Remember that Scotty's Castle tours are given on the hour and are limited to only 19 people on each tour, so if you want to see the castle, you will have to devote the better part of a day to that adventure. It's well worth it!! Good luck!! Plan to come back again and again! It's always different and there are millions of acres to explore!!
Spring wildflowers:
The timing of the flower show in all parts of our desert depends entirely on the timing and amounts of the winter rains. Usually flowers start showing around early March in the valley bottoms of Death Valley, Panamint Valley and the Indian Wells Valley, but each year is different!! April flower shows are on the alluvial fans and passes. By July the flower show is on the Telescope Peak trail. Call the valley and our Museum for current information! Mid March to mid April are usually prime wildflower times. When it's good, it's /VERY good!! Spring 1995 was incredible, Spring 1996 had nothing. !! Spring 97 wasn't real spectacular cause it stopped raining after Christmas. We had good fall rains in 97, and Spring 1998 is the best anyone around these parts has EVER seen, but 2005 was a close second!! It was literally the "show of the century" - there are no pictures in our books with THIS many flowers!!!! Spring 99 had almost nothing. Spring 2000 was OK and late. Spring 2002 a big nothing - can't make flowers without water! Spring 2003 was late again - rains came in March, flowers in April. Ya never know!! Spring 2005 is another one to write home about - tons of fall and winter rains!! undoubtedly the "best ever"!! Spring 06 turned out OK here and there - great along roadsides, great up Hwy 190 wash, not so great rest of the places. Spring 07 did not happen - just no rains when we needed them. Spring 08 is OK, "about a 5", fall rains were pretty good. Every year is different!!!!
See frequently updated DV Wildflower sightings page .
Backcountry Camping - see above just after the list of developed campgrounds. Yes, you can camp in the backcountry, with certain provisions. Click here for the NPS map of backcountry roads and where you can camp. Get one at the VC. Please get a Backcountry Permit before you go from the Rangers. Death Valley does not have maintained trails (except the ones listed above) or established backcountry campgrounds. There is a pretty complete set of 7.5 minute topo maps for sale at the visitor center. Don't go wandering off without one!! See DV page info
Think about where you're walking and where you're camping. Pick surfaces that aren't easily disturbed so that there will be no trace that you were ever there. Walking in the water of the canyons disturbs the stream itself. Don't make more trails - spread out and "leave no trace".
"The more popular backcountry use becomes, the more important backcountry ethics become." Take care of this wonderful place!! Enjoy!!!
Off-road Driving: is PROHIBITED. The desert environment is extremely fragile and it takes very long for it to recover from vehicle damage. There are plenty of fun roads to explore - one up just about every canyon. Stay on established roads and don't be tempted to wander off into the wild desert.
Mountain Bikes: are allowed on all paved and open dirt roads and the bike path near the Furnace Creek Visitor Center - goes from there to the campground and to Harmony Borax Works. Bikes of any kind are not allowed off roads, on trails, or in the wilderness areas or on CLOSED roads.
Horseback: Horse use is allowed except in developed campgrounds or paved roads; not on Telescope Peak trail. Take your own water and feed.
Campfires are prohibited, except in fire pits in developed campgrounds. Gathering wood is not permitted, (heck, there isn't any! ) and burning of wood, either dead or alive, is not allowed in the backcountry. Use a camping stove.
Pack out all garbage - don't bury it. It's too dry here for anything to decay. DO bury human waste at least 6 inches deep or more.
Don't even think about feeding the cute coyotes and kit foxes that will wander up and look at you with sorrowful eyes. It's prohibited and it's not good for the animals. They have plenty of natural foods! Goes also for ravens and roadrunners. Don't feed the wildlife!!! Several pesky coyotes have had to be shot because they just wouldn't stay away from people because they learned that people feed cute critters. Don't cause the death of these wonderful animals. Shoo them away!! And keep your pets INSIDE AT NIGHT! Coyotes prowl the campgrounds and RV's looking for a furry dinner (NOT people).
Pets are permitted in developed areas and on park roads. They must be leashed and restrained at all times. Pets are not allowed off roads, on trails, or in the wilderness areas of the Park. Be a friend to your pet and leave him home - he can't go with you most places, and if you leave him in the car, it will get too hot! Coyotes will eat him. Think about it...
Weapons are strictly prohibited. This includes firearms, air guns, bow and arrow, slingshots. There is NO hunting, season or not, in this Park.
Private Property - there is quite a bit within the park boundaries. If you see a sign, respect it! There are patent mining claims in the park which are private.
This is a National Park. You may examine but NOT remove any historic artifact, rock, plant, or animal. The use of metal detectors is NOT allowed. Leave the stuff for others to enjoy!!
Water - some of it is salty, some of it is fresh. Suspect girardia and don't drink any water that you haven't treated unless it comes gushing out of a spring in the rocks- and there ARE many springs! Carry enough water when you hike. There are about 300 springs in the park - it's far from a dry barren place, but it's also a big park and springs are hidden in canyons usually. Don't count on there being water - springs come and go. Birds, big horn sheep, burros, and all the other critters depend upon these springs... that's why you aren't supposed to camp near them. Share, and be considerate.
Wildlife.
LOTS of it! Though most animals are active at night in the summer.
(no wonder!) Many hibernate or migrate away in the winter. Take
an evening walk on the sand dunes! You'll hear coyotes howl around
Furnace Creek and Stovepipe. They won't bother you IF you don't
try to feed them! People are not on their list of things to eat,
just fingers. Coyotes are everywhere, especially around the campgrounds.
Their favorite food, easier to catch than bunnies, are little
dogs tied by RV's. Keep your pets INSIDE at all times! Coyotes
are active day and night and they hear little yipping from far
away!!
Spiders - yup- Tarantulas are all over, but in the fall - October-
the males migrate looking for 'the girls' one last time before
winter hibernation. If you see one, watch it, wonder, but don't
disturb him...they won't hurt you!
Birds all over the place, but especially around springs, of course. LOTS of birds - and they are diurnal. Owls in the trees at the Ranch. (The ONLY trees are at the ranch!- more or less) Great birding on the golf course! Wild horses- no. Wild burros - well... aren't supposed to be - they keep trying to round them up because they aren't native and they cause enormous damage around the springs, but... you'll still see droppings in more remote areas.
Snakes? Of course, they live here! Will they bother you - not if you don't bother them. They hibernate when it gets cold at night (like below 45). They hate heat, so in the summer they come out at night. If it's nice weather for humans, it's nice weather for snakes. Poisonous snakes in DV are FAT with big head, nonpoisonous snakes are skinny, skinny head. Plenty of both.
Earthquakes. Interesting topic. How do you think Death Valley got here!! It's a huge down-drop valley with huge faults on both sides. Little faults all over the place. Volcanic rocks indicate faults and the stuff is everywhere! Will there be one when you're here? Probably not- at least not a big one. BUT - the quakes and aftershocks near Joshua Tree/Landers/Baker are sometimes felt here. No problem - it's a good ride! No rocks come tumbling down or anything like that, usually. There aren't many buildings, and they're all low - no problems there. There's nothing much here to hurt! Enjoy the ride!
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To continue: does anyone live there? yup - Rangers, Concessionaire people, and their families. All year most of um! Does anyone die there? Yup, sometimes. The 49ers (who named the valley) didn't, but their animals did. A few miners did. A few tourists who think they can hike without water do. But it's not necessary any more. Just be careful!!
The desert is awesome - all of it. (all of them, around the world! each is unique) And it isn't all "SAND". This park is particularly awesome - that's why it was made a Monument in 1933 and a park in 1994. Your first thoughts are "barren - ugh" - but take a close look. The only places where there are NO plants are out on the dry lake playas and on the tops of the sand dunes. There are plants everywhere else, even if they're little and not very green most of the year. Where there are plants, there are animals, though they hide when the weather isn't nice (which is a lot!- too hot, too cold, too windy) There are even some animals out on those playas! Check the sand dunes in the morning and see who had parties last night - lizards, mice, bugs! Then take a BIG look. Where else can you see so much geology all in one place!! Death Valley is over 11,300 feet deep at Badwater. Panamint Valley is 9000 feet deep. Saline Valley is 9000 feet deep. WOW! Visit the sand dunes in Eureka Valley - they're the tallest in California. Don't let the name scare you. Let it teach you a lesson about deserts. It's awesome.
Death Valley has it's own official web page at http://www.nps.gov/deva/ Check it out- tons of GREAT photos, info on all topics, etc.
Active Death Valley Chat Board great place to find out road conditions on the remote roads.
Another Death Valley Park Info chat is under Forums, but there is also a ton of info about the park, activities, people, etc. A great resource!
Note: I try to keep the data correct. The explanations herein are entirely my opinions. If you have suggestions for things to update or add, or want to ask a question, please e-mail to
Maintained by Janet Westbrook
Revised a bunch 1/19/08
Turn to Trips File A list of day trips from Ridgecrest by 1/2, 1, 2, 3 hours driving time to exciting places in the Northern Mojave Desert, the Southern Sierra, and Owens Valley.
See Maturango Museum Home Page Have you seen our Museum Home Page? We're a small
but mighty fine Natural History Museum in beautiful downtown Ridgecrest,
CA. Open daily 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; lots of books for sale, lots of
Tourist info, great displays. Check us out!!! 100 E. Las Flores
Ave, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 (760) 375-6900
You gotta come past us on your way from Los Angeles to Death Valley
anyway, and you can detour to visit us if you're not exactly headed
that way - maybe you should be?? :-)
The following are other sites on the World Wide Web which feature information about Death Valley. These links do not provide access back to this page or to the Maturango Museum Home page, but you can get back to us using the "back" command in most web browsers. You can do your own web search if you are reading this anyway - enjoy! :-)
Death Valley Natural History Association pages - still under construction, but right now they have the road report, Underground weather, DV news, lots of cool stuff; soon they'll have their book order pages up and running. Check often!!
Lots of you may be interested in a trip to Cerro Gordo, a private in-tact mining town up above Owens Lake, scene of incredible silver and lead mining, some still active. Road best in 4x4 (darn steep and rocky), but yo can actually stay up there in the restored hotel. Reservations required. Informative web site!
USA
Today's weather for DV
Weather Channel weather - closest you can come to DV is China Lake,
CA, Bishop, CA, and Las Vegas, NV.
Parks Geology neat stuff about DV geology, lots of pictures, etc.
A whole page full of amazing links from the folks at Mono Lake Committee
Tons of info about all sorts of places
to visit from Sierra
Web folk
Going on Hwy 395?
Here's tons of info about the towns,
sights, etc.
Panamint Springs Resort, over in Panamint Valley, west of Death Valley proper, but in the Park, has a neat home page with lots of suggestions on things to go see;
Desert USA is an on-line magazine with tourist into about parks and neat places to see and do in CA, AZ, CO, NV, NM, TX, UT! Check out their Death Valley info page Lots of nice stuff, info, pictures, maps
New page developed for exploring in an RV, but it'll do for the rest of us too. Great links to other National Parks, Monuments, National Forests in the U.S. RVn 4 Fun
Have your own rig but need a guide to DV backcountry? or want to hike - here's a commercial way to do that - http://www.deathvalleybackcountrysafaris.com/
Death Valley National Park home page through GORP is good, links to other parks and lots of interesting places
keep hitting that "search" button!!
All comments entirely mine.... send updates
and mail to Janet Westbrook
updated as posted at the top.