Death Valley National Park

Overview

A land of extremes, Death Valley National Park is home to a great diversity of life and scenery. Although this park is known for the steady drought and record summer heat in its below-sea-level basin, visitors can also find towering peaks covered in winter snow, lush oases that are a refuge for local wildlife and tiny fish, and vast fields of wildflowers that bloom after a rare rainstorm. Despite its gloomy and foreboding name, the park is home to colorful badlands, rugged canyons, beautiful sand dunes, the driest and lowest spot in North America, and the hottest spot in the world, making it a unique and interesting park for visitors year round.

To learn more about Death Valley National Park, visit www.nps.gov.

Local Info

Visitor Centers:
The Furnace Creek Visitor Center is open daily from 8 am to 5 pm.

Visiting Tips

Death Valley National Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Peak visitation for the park is during the spring and winter, with fewer visitors during the fall. While visitors can still visit the park during the summer, the opportunities for outdoor recreation and camping are reduced due to the extreme heat.

Fees & Passes:
To learn more about park fees, click here.

• Purchase an annual pass for all national parks sites, $80

Camping & Lodging

Camping:
There are nine campgrounds operated by the park. In addition, privately owned and managed campgrounds are available at Furnace Creek Ranch and Panamint Springs Resort. For more information about camping in the park, click here.

• Furnace Creek: 136 sites. Open year round, reservations accepted from October 15 to April 15. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1 (877) 444-6777.
• Sunset: 270 sites. Open October 15 to April 15. Sites available on a first come, first served basis.
• Texas Spring: 92 sites. Open October 15 to May 10. Sites available on a first come, first served basis.
• Stovepipe Wells: 190 sites. Open October 15 to May 10. Sites available on a first come, first served basis.
• Mesquite Spring: 30 sites. Open year round. Sites available on a first come, first served basis.
• Emigrant: 10 sites (tent only). Open year round. Sites available on a first come, first served basis.
• Wildrose: 23 sites. Open year round. Sites available on a first come, first served basis.
• Thorndike: 6 sites. Open year round. Sites available on a first come, first served basis.
• Mahogany Flat: 10 sites. Open year round. Sites available on a first come, first served basis.

Backcountry Camping:
Backcountry camping is permitted in certain locations throughout the park. Free voluntary permits for backcountry camping may be obtained at the visitor center or any ranger station. Visit the park's website for more information on backcountry camping.

Lodging:
Death Valley National Park offers several choices for accommodations. Reservations are highly recommended especially during the fall through spring.

• Stovepipe Wells Village: Open year round. Resort accommodations and a limited number of RV sites. Reservations can be made online or by calling (760) 786-2387.
• Furnace Creek Inn: Open mid-October through Mother's Day. Resort accommodations. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1 (800) 236-7916.
• Furnace Creek Ranch: Open year round. Motel accommodations. Reservations can be made online or by calling 1 (800) 236-7916.
• Panamint Springs Resort: Open year round. Resort accommodations and camping. Reservations can be made online or by calling (775) 482-7680.

Food & Drink

There are several dining options located within the park. Furnace Creek Inn serves breakfast, Sunday brunch, lunch, and dinner. Reservations are recommended and the inn is closed in the summer. Furnace Creek Ranch offers several different dining options including the Forty-Niner Cafe, the Wrangler Steakhouse, the Corkscrew Saloon, and the 19th Hole. Visitors can grab drinks and appetizers at the Badwater Saloon or a meal at the Toll Road Restaurant both located in the Stovepipe Wells Village. Additionally, the Panamint Springs resort serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner year round.

Outfitters, Tours, & Shuttles

Guided Tours:
Death Valley National Park offers a variety of ranger-led programs that vary by season. All programs, unless otherwise specified, are free and open to the public. Some tours require advance registration. To learn more about these ranger-led programs and to see the current events calendar, click here.

REI Adventures:
REI offers over 30 national park trips led by expert guides capable of taking you off the beaten path to discover hidden gems that many visitors never see.

Check out REI Adventures' national park offerings here.

Other Activities

Death Valley National Park is a vast park with over three million acres of designated wilderness and hundreds of miles of backcountry roads. The park contains an amazing variety of terrain, historic sites, plants, and animals for outdoor adventurers to explore. Whether camping, backpacking, hiking, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, or wildflower viewing, visitors can choose from a variety of ways to explore the park. For other activities outside of the park, check out the many trails for mountain biking in the Bishop and Mono Lake and Las Vegas Metro areas. There are also many great areas for rock climbing in Red Rock and the southern Sierra Nevadas.

Maps & Guidebooks

To download a variety of maps to help plan your visit, click here.