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Visitation: |
Visitation is highest from February through mid April. The month of November is also busy. Visitation is lowest in December and January. |
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Location & Address: |
Death Valley National Park P.O. Box 579 Death Valley, CA 92328 |
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Telephones: |
(760) 786-2331 Voice |
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Climate & Clothing: | Death Valley is generally sunny, dry, and clear throughout the year. The winters are mild with occasional winter storms, but summers are extremely hot and dry. Summer high temperatures commonly run above 120 degrees fahrenheit. Comfortable clothing providing sun protection and a broad brimmed hat are recommended in summer. Winter requires warmer clothing and light to medium jackets. Sturdy walking shoes are important year round. |
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Directions: |
The park is transected from east to west by California Highway 190. On the east in Nevada, Highway 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 (State Route 178) and Death Valley Junction (Highway 190). West of the park, State Route 178 passes through Ridgecrest and Trona on its way north to a junction with 190. Also to the west, Highway 395 parallels the park from north to south with connections to Highway 190 at Olancha and Lone Pine. |
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Transportation: |
Major airlines and bus lines serve Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a two and a half hour drive from Las Vegas by automobile. A 4-wheel drive vehicle is recommended for backcountry travel. Check at the park visitor center or with a park ranger for current back country road conditions. |
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Fees & Rates: |
A $10.00 Vehicle Entrance Fee is valid for seven days. The Golden Eagle annual pass and the Golden Age Passport lifetime pass are both valid for waiver of the vehicle entrance fee. Campground Fees range from $10.00 to $16.00 per night. |
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Visitor Centers & Exhibits: |
Located in the center of the park, the Furnace Creek Visitor Center houses museum exhibits, a visitor information desk, and the Death Valley Natural History Association book store. The Furnace Creek Visitor Center is open daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is a contact and fee collection station at Stovepipe Wells Village with a Natural History Association book sales outlet. The tour ticket office at Scotty's Castle also has a book sales outlet and a small museum with displays from the Castle collection. |
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Roads & Trails: |
California Highway 190, the Badwater Road, the Scotty's Castle Road, and paved roads to Dante's View and Wildrose provide access to major scenic viewpoints and historic points of interest. More than 350 miles of unpaved and 4-wheel drive roads provide access to wilderness hiking, camping, scenery, and historical sites. There are hiking trails of varying lengths and difficulties, but most backcountry areas are accessible only by crosscountry hiking. There are literally thousands of hiking possibilities. |
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Ranger Programs: |
During the peak season, November through April, ranger guided hikes, talks, and evening programs are presented. Pick up a weekly schedule of programs at the visitor center. Costumed living history tours of Scotty's Castle are available every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Limited to a maximum of 19 people per tour, tickets are available on the day of the tour on a first come first served basis at the Castle ticket office. The tour is $8.00 per adult. Golden Age Card and childrens discounts apply. |
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Lodging: |
The Furnace Creek Inn (760) 786-2361 and the Furnace Creek Ranch (760) 786-2345 provide motel accomodations in the Furnace Creek area. Further on-line information and reservations are available at www.furnacecreekresort.com The Stovepipe Wells Village provides motel accomodations and limited recreational vehicle camping facilities. (760) 786-2387.
The Panamint Springs Resort offers resort accomodations and camping. |
| Camping: | Texas Springs campground ($12.00 per night) is located in the Furnace Creek area and is open from October through April. It is first come first served with self registration. During the spring months, February through April, Texas Springs is designated for Tent Camping Only. Sunset campground (October through April) is also located in the Furnace Creek area and is first come first served with self registration. ($10.00 per night) The Stovepipe Wells campground (October through April) is also first come first served as is the Mesquite Spring campground (open all year) at the north end of the park near Scotty's Castle. Both campgrounds are $10.00 per night. For the summer, reservations for the two Texas Springs campground group sites are available by calling (760) 786-3247. |
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Food & Supplies: |
The Furnace Creek Ranch and the Stovepipe Wells Village both provide small camper stores with staple goods and limited supplies. |
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Other Concessions: |
The Fred Harvey Company, out of the Furnace Creek Ranch, offers seasonal horseback riding. |
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Recommended Activities: |
Sightseeing by personal auto and 4-wheel drive (established roadways only), hiking, biking and mountain biking (established roadways only), and camping. Join a ranger November through April for a talk, walk, guided hike, or evening progam. Join a ranger for a living history costumed tour of the historic Scotty's Castle. |
| Reservations: |
Reservations for special tours or guides for groups are available if staff is available. Make requests as far in advance as possible by telephone or in writing. Organized tour groups including school groups and bus tours may make reservations for Scotty's Castle tours. Call (760) 786-2392 for further information. |
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Basic Visit: |
The basic road tour of scenic sights in the Furnace Creek area takes one full day. The tour of Scotty's Castle requires a half day. Allow one full lifetime to explore all of this huge desert park! |
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Special Events: |
The Death Valley '49ers Encampment takes place in early November every year. The encampment draws thousands of campers to programs, singalongs, art shows, desert trail rides, and backcountry tours.
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Park Conditions: |
Current information on weather, construction, road closures, and other conditions impacting the visitor is available at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. |
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Nearby Attractions: |
Amargosa Opera House: Each week during the winter season, Marta Becket dances two different programs of original Ballet-Mimes. Call (760) 852-4441 for program dates and times. Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge: The 12,736 acre spring-fed wetland and alkaline desert provides habitat for at least 26 types of plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Four endemic fishes are currently listed as endangered. Manzanar National Historic Site: Manzanar Relocation Center was one of ten camps at which Japanese-American citizens and Japanese aliens were interned during World War II. Maturango Museum: The Maturango Museum specializes in the cultural and natural history of the northern Mojave Desert. Mojave National Preserve: The 1.4 million acre Mojave National Preserve is the geological, ecological, cultural, historical, recreational, and scenic heart of the Mojave Desert. |
| Rhyolite Ghost Town: Rhyolite was the largest town in the Death Valley area during the mining boom of the early 1900's. Included among the ruins are a house built completely of bottles, a train depot, jail, two story schoolhouse, and the ruins of a three story bank building. | |
| Additional Information: | Superintendent, Death Valley National Park, P.O. 579, Death Valley, CA, 92328 or call (760) 786-2331 |
| Last Updated: Tuesday, 31-August-99 Send webpage recommendations and comments to: DEVA Web site performance http://www.nps.gov/deva/ | |
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