Disclaimer: This blog contains information about death valley and not my personal experience. However, I can vouch that this information is all one needs to know to get most out of death valley visit and more so because all this relevant information is aggregated from various sources. This is one stop guide to all information.
Temperature December 3°C - 18°C
Entrance Fee
Pay the park entrance fee at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Scotty’s CastleVisitor Center, Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station or at one of the automated fee machines placed throughout the park.
7-day pass
Vehicle and passengers................ $20
VISITOR CENTERS AND MUSEUMS
Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Open Daily
8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time
Phone (760) 786-3200
Programs
A 20-minute-long park film is shown throughout the day. During the winter season, November to April, rangers present a wide variety of walks, talks, and slide presentations about Death Valley's cultural and natural history. Additional programs may be presented at other times. Inquire at the visitor center for current programs.
Scotty's Castle Visitor Center
Open Daily
Winter 8:45 am to 4:45 pm Pacific Time
Summer 9:30 am to 4:15 pm Pacific Time
(760) 786-2392 ext.231
Special Programs
The highlight of a visit to Scotty's Castle is the 50-55 minute long guided living history tour of the interior of the main house. Tour reservations can be made 24 hours in advance by visiting www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Same-day tour tickets may be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis at the Scotty's Castle Visitor Center. A self-guiding tour of the Castle grounds is also available. Check at the visitor center for more information and guide booklet.
Night Sky Program
Have you ever wondered what that cluster of stars in the western sky is? Or that bright spot just over the horizon at sunset? Are you interested in seeing a lunar eclipse of Jupiter? With several high powered telescopes, Death Valley National Park rangers are opening up the mystery of the dark night skies.
Death Valley has one of the darkest night skies in the nation. Periodically, night sky ranger star programs are offered in various areas of the park. In the past, the park has partnered with other organizations to bring telescopes of all shapes and sizes. From looking through a binoscope to seeing the colors of a nebula on a computer, there is something for everyone. You don’t have to be an aspiring Galileo to enjoy the wonder of the night sky! Come join us!
Tickets may be purchased at least one day in advance from www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. On the day of the tour, tickets may only be purchased in person at the Scotty’s Castle Visitor Center.
About
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it is the lowest and driest area in North America. Death Valley has the highest recorded air temperature in the world.[2] Badwater Basin, located in Death Valley, is the point of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level. This point is only 84.6 miles (136.2 km) ESE of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m). Death Valley holds the record for the highest reliably reported temperature in the world, 134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913. The previously-claimed world record air temperature, 136 °F (57.8 °C) in 'Aziziya, Libya, on September 13, 1922, has been officially deemed invalid by the World Meteorological Organization.
Located near the border of California and Nevada, in the Great Basin, east of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Death Valley constitutes much of Death Valley National Park and is the principal feature of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve. It is located mostly in Inyo County, California. It runs from north to south between the Amargosa Range on the east and the Panamint Range on the west; the Sylvania Mountains and the Owlshead Mountains form its northern and southern boundaries, respectively. It has an area of about 3,000 sq mi (7,800 km2). Death Valley shares many characteristics with other places below sea level.
History
The first non-Native Americans arrived in Death Valley in 1849 looking for a shortcut to the California gold fields. Although only one member of their party died, the name Death Valley was given to the area. Various mining operations used the valley afterwards, most notably for borax mining. When mining prospects went sour, the Pacific Coast Borax Company lobbied for federal protection of Death Valley, in order to develop tourism. President Hoover declared about two million acres of the area a national monument in 1933. In 1994 the monument was expanded by 1.3 million acres and declared a national park.
Landscape
Death Valley National Park is the lowest point in North America and one of the hottest places in the world. It is also a vast geological museum, containing examples of most of the earth's geological eras. Death Valley National Park includes all of Death Valley, a 130-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 and lies only 15 miles from the lowest point in the United States in the Badwater Basin salt pan, 282 feet below sea level. The California Desert Protection Act added most of the Saline, Eureka, northern Panamint, and Greenwater valleys to the Park.
Death Valley Recognized as Holding World’s Hottest Temperature
Long known as the hottest, lowest, and driest place in the United States, Death Valley has now been officially recognized as the hottest spot on the planet. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has announced that the official highest recorded surface temperature of 134°F (56.7°C) was measured on July 10, 1913 at Greenland Ranch, now known as Furnace Creek Ranch.
Scotty’s Castle
Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott could be seen as either an entertainer or conman–or both. Scotty left his family’s Kentucky home at a very young age to work as a cowboy in the American West. As a teenager he worked numerous jobs out west, including in Death Valley. A talent scout for William “Buffalo Bill” Cody discovered Scotty in 1890 and hired him to work as a stunt performer in Buffalo Bill’s world famous Wild West show. It was as an actor with the Wild West show that Scotty learned showmanship skills that would later serve him in his next career. In 1902, Scotty began a new profession that would bring him even more fame and riches: talking people out of their money. Scotty convinced several wealthy businessmen that he had a fabulous gold mine claim in Death Valley and agreed to split the profits, provided they first forward investment money to Scotty. One of these investors was Albert Johnson, an insurance executive from Chicago, Illinois.
Hoping to gain full control of Scotty’s mining interests, Johnson traveled to Death Valley in 1906 to see Scotty’s fabled mine. Of course, Scotty never showed Johnson the gold mine. Instead, he took Johnson on an adventure grander than anything the wealthy businessman probably ever expected.
They camped in the desert, and were even involved in a gunfight! Johnson began to make regular trips to Death Valley with Scotty. By 1915, Albert and his wife, Bessie, began acquiring land within Grapevine Canyon, in the northern part of Death Valley. The surprising Spanish-style castlein-the-desert served as the Johnsons’ vacation home. However, Scotty was quick to pretend ownership, and it became known as Scotty’s Castle. Soon the Johnsons and Scotty were enjoying a good laugh at the expense of Death Valley’s early tourists, some of whom actually believed Scotty’s legendary gold mine was located in the tunnels beneath the Castle.
What to See
Furnace Creek Area
• Golden Canyon: Hikers entering the narrows of this canyon are greeted by golden badlands within. An interpretive pamphlet is available. Hiking options include either a two-mile round-trip in Golden Canyon, or a four mile loop that returns via Gower Gulch. Trailhead located on Badwater Road.
• Artist’s Drive: Scenic loop drive through multi-hued volcanic and sedimentary hills. Artist’s Palette is especially photogenic in late afternoon light. The 9-mile paved road is one-way and is only drivable with vehicles less than 25 feet in length. Drive starts from Badwater Road.
• Devil’s Golf Course: Immense area of rock salt eroded by wind and rain into jagged spires. So incredibly serrated that “only the devil could play golf on such rough links.” The unpaved road starts on Badwater Road and is often closed after rain.
• Natural Bridge: Massive rock span across interesting desert canyon. From the trailhead, the natural bridge is a ½ mile walk. The spur road is gravel and often rough. Located off Badwater Road.
• Badwater: Lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is a surreal landscape of vast salt flats. A temporary lake may form here after heavy rainstorms. Do not walk on the salt flats in hot weather.
• Zabriskie Point: Surrounded by a maze of wildly eroded and vibrantly colored badlands, this spectacular view is one of the park’s most famous. Zabriskie Point is a popular sunrise and sunset viewing location. The viewpoint is a short walk uphill from the parking area. Located east of Furnace Creek on Hwy 190.
• Dante’s View: The most breathtaking viewpoint in the park, this mountain-top overlook is more than 5000 feet above the inferno of Death Valley. The paved access road is open to all vehicles less than 25 feet in length and starts east of Furnace Creek on Hwy 190.
• Twenty Mule Team Canyon: Winding through otherworldly badlands, this 2.7 mile, one-way loop drive is unpaved, but accessable to all standard vehicles other than buses, RVs, and trailers. Located off Hwy 190, east of Furnace Creek.
Stovepipe Wells Area
• Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: Tawny dunes smoothly rising nearly 100 feet from Mesquite Flat. Late afternoon light accentuates the ripples and patterns while morning is a good time to view tracks of nocturnal wildlife. Moonlight on the dunes can be magical, yet night explorers should be alert for sidewinder rattlesnakes during the warm season.
• Mosaic Canyon: Polished marble walls and odd mosaic patterns of breccia make this small canyon a favorite. The twisting lower canyon is so narrow hikers must walk through it single-file. Some rock scrambling is required. The canyon opens up after ½ mile to reveal the heights of Tucki Mountain, but hikers can continue another 1½ miles. more...
• Salt Creek: This stream of salty water is the only home to a rare pupfish, Cyprinodon salinus. Springtime is best for viewing pupfish; in summer the lower stream dries up and in winter the fish are dormant. The wooden boardwalk loops ½ mile through stands of pickleweed and past pools reflecting badland hills. Wheelchair accessible.
• Titus Canyon: One of the largest and most scenically diverse canyons in the park. Within its lofty walls visitors can find multi-colored volcanic deposits, a ghost town, petroglyphs, bighorn sheep, and deep, winding narrows. Titus Canyon is accessible to high-clearance vehicles via a one-way dirt road beginning outside the park. Standard vehicles may reach the canyon’s mouth from the west. more...
Scotty's Castle Area
• Scotty’s Castle: Prospector “Death Valley Scotty” claimed this elaborate Spanish-style mansion was built by gold from his fictitious mine. In reality, it was the 1920s vacation home of his wealthy friends. Today, living history tours of the castle’s richly furnished interior are given by costumed park rangers.
• Scotty’s Castle Tours. Tours of the home of an eccentric resident of Death Valley are offered daily from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, departing at least once an hour and lasting for fifty minutes. Costs are $11 per person (discounts for seniors and children) and there may be a wait for tickets, so try to purchase them several hours in advance of your preferred tour time. Note that tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Ubehebe Crater: More than 300 years ago the desert silence was shattered by a massive volcanic explosion caused by the violent release of underground steam pressure. When the cinders and dust settled, this 600 feet deep crater remained. Although easily visible from the paved road, hikers may want to circle the crater rim to see smaller craters. more...
• Eureka Dunes: Rising majestically nearly 700 feet, these are the highest dunes in California. Isolated from other dunes, they are an evolutionary island, home to rare and endangered species of plants and animals. To give them extra protection, the dunes are off limits to sandboarding and horseback riding.
Panamint Springs Area
• Darwin Falls: A miracle in the desert, this spring-fed waterfall flows year-round in a narrow gorge. Its lush streamside thickets of wilows ring with the song of migrating birds in springtime. Located just west of Panamint Springs via a 2.5 mile unpaved road. Although there is no formal trail, the mostly level, one-mile walk to the falls involves some rock scrambling and several stream crossings.
• Father Crowley Vista: A landscape of dark lava flows and volcanic cinders abruptly gives way to the gash of Rainbow Canyon below this viewpoint. Walk the dirt track east of the parking lot for a grand overlook of northern Panamint Valley. Vista located west of Panamint Springs on Hwy 190.
• Wildrose Charcoal Kilns: These ten beehive-shaped structures are among the best preserved in the west. Built in 1876 to provide fuel to process silver/lead ore, they still smell of smoke today. The last 2 miles of gravel road to the kilns are passable to most vehicles. Located in upper Wildrose Canyon in the Panamint Mountains.
• Aguereberry Point: 1000 feet higher than Dante’s View, this viewpoint gives a perspective over Death Valley from the west. Along the gravel road is the remains of Pete Aguereberry’s camp and his Eureka Mine. The last climb to the point may require a high-clearance vehicle. Located in the Panamint Mountains off Emigrant Canyon Road.
Gas
Although you can get gas in the park it typically costs up to a dollar more per gallon than outside the park. It is recommended to fuel up right outside the park before coming in. But once in the park, don't try to squeak out with just enough gas as the results can be fatal if you are stuck in the wilderness or just plain costly if you need to get gas brought to you by a tow truck.
Furnace Creek Gas Station, 8AM-6PM (24 hours a day by credit card) on SR 190
Stovepipe Wells Gas Station, 7AM-9PM only! On SR 190 (regular gas only, usually cheapest in Death Valley proper)
Scotty's Castle Gas Station, 7AM-6PM on SR 267 (Currently Closed, Call NPS for More Information)
Eat
Furnace Creek Inn Dining Room. The only upscale restaurant in Death Valley, very elegant, with a somewhat laid back dress code. Closed for summer season. Reservations are required for dinner and Sunday brunch. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served. Call 760-786-2345 for reservations.
49'er Cafe. Located in Furnace Creek Ranch, this restaurant is less upscale than the Furnace Creek Inn or the Wrangler Steakhouse, but offers decent food with dinner entrees starting around $10.
Wrangler Buffet. Located in Furnace Creek Ranch at the ranch, the buffet is served daily for breakfast and lunch and offers a variety of hot and cold items.
Wrangler Steakhouse. Located in Furnace Creek Ranch, this upscale restaurant offers steaks and other entrees starting around $25. Open for dinner only.
Stovepipe Wells. Restaurant and convenience store.
Drink
Corkscrew Saloon. Located in Furnace Creek Ranch and providing a cowboy atmosphere, the drink prices are reasonable ($5 for a beer) and the crowd combines retired tourists with Death Valley locals, creating an interesting mix.
Lodging
Within the park
There are 4 in-park lodging facilities in Death Valley National Park.
Furnace Creek Inn. This inn advertises itself as a first class, AAA Four Diamond historic resort with 66 rooms and full amenities. Rates range from $250-$370 per room with $20 per each additional person. Closed during summer season. 760-786-2345
Furnace Creek Ranch. Located in Furnace Creek, this establishment is the ranch style family oriented version of the above Inn with 224 rooms and rates ranging from $105 to $174 depending on the season and type of room. 760-786-2345
Panamint Springs Resort. Located just inside the west entrance, this resort is the most economical lodging option. The rooms are small and very out dated. Rates range from $79 to $149. 775-482-7680
Stovepipe Wells Village. Motel-style lodging in Stovepipe Wells. The rooms are not fancy, and the running water in some rooms is not potable, but it is a perfectly comfortable and convenient place to stay. Rates tend to be cheaper than at Furnace Creek ($111 for a Deluxe room). Beware of the restaurant at Stovepipe Wells, though; it tends to be wannabe fancy and overpriced. Call early for reservations at the lodge. 760-786-2387
Outside of the park
Death Valley Junction is the closest town outside of Death Valley, about thirty minutes away from the visitor's center it has one hotel, and a theatre.
Beatty is a town outside (northeast) of Death Valley. It's a very cheap option.
Lone Pine is two hours west of the park in California.
Shoshone is an hour southeast of the park in California.
Stay safe
Follow Desert Survival guidelines. The name of the park says it all. Unprepared tourists die each year within the borders of the park. Make sure you have plenty of water (at least a gallon (4 liters) per day, per person) for your activities, whether it be on a backcountry trail, or on the main highway. Should you become stranded while driving, stay with your vehicle as it is likely to provide the only shade in the area. Pack plenty of water for your car in case of overheating, especially in summer! Rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widow spiders are present in the park. Never place your hands or feet where you cannot see first!
If you are going a significant distance on any of the unpaved roads, phone a friend and tell them where you are going, when you will be back, when you will phone them again to tell them you are safe, and give them an emergency number to call (760-786-2342) if you don't get back in touch with them by a chosen deadline. Some of the unimproved roads eat tires for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you could lose your spare tire too. In addition, make sure you have more than enough fuel; roads may be impassable and can require unforeseen detours. Don't rely on a GPS routing alone. Figure out where you're going on the official national park map first, then make sure the GPS device precisely follows the same route.
Cell phone service does not exist in most of the park, don't count on being able to use it in an emergency.
Contact
Free Wi-Fi internet access is available at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, but only when it is open.
There is no mobile phone access for most phones. Analog reception for Verizon Wireless customers is available close to Furnace Creek, but most modern phones are not capable of using the old analog system.
As of January, 2012, decent coverage was found near Furnace Creek for T-Mobile phones, for text and phone (no data coverage)
Temperature December 3°C - 18°C
Entrance Fee
7-day pass
Vehicle and passengers................ $20
VISITOR CENTERS AND MUSEUMS
Furnace Creek Visitor Center
Open Daily
8:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time
Phone (760) 786-3200
Programs
A 20-minute-long park film is shown throughout the day. During the winter season, November to April, rangers present a wide variety of walks, talks, and slide presentations about Death Valley's cultural and natural history. Additional programs may be presented at other times. Inquire at the visitor center for current programs.
Scotty's Castle Visitor Center
Open Daily
Winter 8:45 am to 4:45 pm Pacific Time
Summer 9:30 am to 4:15 pm Pacific Time
(760) 786-2392 ext.231
Special Programs
The highlight of a visit to Scotty's Castle is the 50-55 minute long guided living history tour of the interior of the main house. Tour reservations can be made 24 hours in advance by visiting www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. Same-day tour tickets may be purchased on a first-come, first-served basis at the Scotty's Castle Visitor Center. A self-guiding tour of the Castle grounds is also available. Check at the visitor center for more information and guide booklet.
Night Sky Program
Have you ever wondered what that cluster of stars in the western sky is? Or that bright spot just over the horizon at sunset? Are you interested in seeing a lunar eclipse of Jupiter? With several high powered telescopes, Death Valley National Park rangers are opening up the mystery of the dark night skies.
Death Valley has one of the darkest night skies in the nation. Periodically, night sky ranger star programs are offered in various areas of the park. In the past, the park has partnered with other organizations to bring telescopes of all shapes and sizes. From looking through a binoscope to seeing the colors of a nebula on a computer, there is something for everyone. You don’t have to be an aspiring Galileo to enjoy the wonder of the night sky! Come join us!
Tickets may be purchased at least one day in advance from www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444-6777. On the day of the tour, tickets may only be purchased in person at the Scotty’s Castle Visitor Center.
About
Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California. Situated within the Mojave Desert, it is the lowest and driest area in North America. Death Valley has the highest recorded air temperature in the world.[2] Badwater Basin, located in Death Valley, is the point of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level. This point is only 84.6 miles (136.2 km) ESE of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m). Death Valley holds the record for the highest reliably reported temperature in the world, 134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913. The previously-claimed world record air temperature, 136 °F (57.8 °C) in 'Aziziya, Libya, on September 13, 1922, has been officially deemed invalid by the World Meteorological Organization.
Located near the border of California and Nevada, in the Great Basin, east of the Sierra Nevada mountains, Death Valley constitutes much of Death Valley National Park and is the principal feature of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve. It is located mostly in Inyo County, California. It runs from north to south between the Amargosa Range on the east and the Panamint Range on the west; the Sylvania Mountains and the Owlshead Mountains form its northern and southern boundaries, respectively. It has an area of about 3,000 sq mi (7,800 km2). Death Valley shares many characteristics with other places below sea level.
History
The first non-Native Americans arrived in Death Valley in 1849 looking for a shortcut to the California gold fields. Although only one member of their party died, the name Death Valley was given to the area. Various mining operations used the valley afterwards, most notably for borax mining. When mining prospects went sour, the Pacific Coast Borax Company lobbied for federal protection of Death Valley, in order to develop tourism. President Hoover declared about two million acres of the area a national monument in 1933. In 1994 the monument was expanded by 1.3 million acres and declared a national park.
Landscape
Death Valley National Park is the lowest point in North America and one of the hottest places in the world. It is also a vast geological museum, containing examples of most of the earth's geological eras. Death Valley National Park includes all of Death Valley, a 130-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 and lies only 15 miles from the lowest point in the United States in the Badwater Basin salt pan, 282 feet below sea level. The California Desert Protection Act added most of the Saline, Eureka, northern Panamint, and Greenwater valleys to the Park.
Death Valley Recognized as Holding World’s Hottest Temperature
Long known as the hottest, lowest, and driest place in the United States, Death Valley has now been officially recognized as the hottest spot on the planet. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has announced that the official highest recorded surface temperature of 134°F (56.7°C) was measured on July 10, 1913 at Greenland Ranch, now known as Furnace Creek Ranch.
Scotty’s Castle
Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott could be seen as either an entertainer or conman–or both. Scotty left his family’s Kentucky home at a very young age to work as a cowboy in the American West. As a teenager he worked numerous jobs out west, including in Death Valley. A talent scout for William “Buffalo Bill” Cody discovered Scotty in 1890 and hired him to work as a stunt performer in Buffalo Bill’s world famous Wild West show. It was as an actor with the Wild West show that Scotty learned showmanship skills that would later serve him in his next career. In 1902, Scotty began a new profession that would bring him even more fame and riches: talking people out of their money. Scotty convinced several wealthy businessmen that he had a fabulous gold mine claim in Death Valley and agreed to split the profits, provided they first forward investment money to Scotty. One of these investors was Albert Johnson, an insurance executive from Chicago, Illinois.
Hoping to gain full control of Scotty’s mining interests, Johnson traveled to Death Valley in 1906 to see Scotty’s fabled mine. Of course, Scotty never showed Johnson the gold mine. Instead, he took Johnson on an adventure grander than anything the wealthy businessman probably ever expected.
They camped in the desert, and were even involved in a gunfight! Johnson began to make regular trips to Death Valley with Scotty. By 1915, Albert and his wife, Bessie, began acquiring land within Grapevine Canyon, in the northern part of Death Valley. The surprising Spanish-style castlein-the-desert served as the Johnsons’ vacation home. However, Scotty was quick to pretend ownership, and it became known as Scotty’s Castle. Soon the Johnsons and Scotty were enjoying a good laugh at the expense of Death Valley’s early tourists, some of whom actually believed Scotty’s legendary gold mine was located in the tunnels beneath the Castle.
What to See
Furnace Creek Area
• Golden Canyon: Hikers entering the narrows of this canyon are greeted by golden badlands within. An interpretive pamphlet is available. Hiking options include either a two-mile round-trip in Golden Canyon, or a four mile loop that returns via Gower Gulch. Trailhead located on Badwater Road.
• Artist’s Drive: Scenic loop drive through multi-hued volcanic and sedimentary hills. Artist’s Palette is especially photogenic in late afternoon light. The 9-mile paved road is one-way and is only drivable with vehicles less than 25 feet in length. Drive starts from Badwater Road.
• Devil’s Golf Course: Immense area of rock salt eroded by wind and rain into jagged spires. So incredibly serrated that “only the devil could play golf on such rough links.” The unpaved road starts on Badwater Road and is often closed after rain.
• Natural Bridge: Massive rock span across interesting desert canyon. From the trailhead, the natural bridge is a ½ mile walk. The spur road is gravel and often rough. Located off Badwater Road.
• Badwater: Lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, Badwater Basin is a surreal landscape of vast salt flats. A temporary lake may form here after heavy rainstorms. Do not walk on the salt flats in hot weather.
• Zabriskie Point: Surrounded by a maze of wildly eroded and vibrantly colored badlands, this spectacular view is one of the park’s most famous. Zabriskie Point is a popular sunrise and sunset viewing location. The viewpoint is a short walk uphill from the parking area. Located east of Furnace Creek on Hwy 190.
• Dante’s View: The most breathtaking viewpoint in the park, this mountain-top overlook is more than 5000 feet above the inferno of Death Valley. The paved access road is open to all vehicles less than 25 feet in length and starts east of Furnace Creek on Hwy 190.
• Twenty Mule Team Canyon: Winding through otherworldly badlands, this 2.7 mile, one-way loop drive is unpaved, but accessable to all standard vehicles other than buses, RVs, and trailers. Located off Hwy 190, east of Furnace Creek.
Stovepipe Wells Area
• Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: Tawny dunes smoothly rising nearly 100 feet from Mesquite Flat. Late afternoon light accentuates the ripples and patterns while morning is a good time to view tracks of nocturnal wildlife. Moonlight on the dunes can be magical, yet night explorers should be alert for sidewinder rattlesnakes during the warm season.
• Mosaic Canyon: Polished marble walls and odd mosaic patterns of breccia make this small canyon a favorite. The twisting lower canyon is so narrow hikers must walk through it single-file. Some rock scrambling is required. The canyon opens up after ½ mile to reveal the heights of Tucki Mountain, but hikers can continue another 1½ miles. more...
• Salt Creek: This stream of salty water is the only home to a rare pupfish, Cyprinodon salinus. Springtime is best for viewing pupfish; in summer the lower stream dries up and in winter the fish are dormant. The wooden boardwalk loops ½ mile through stands of pickleweed and past pools reflecting badland hills. Wheelchair accessible.
• Titus Canyon: One of the largest and most scenically diverse canyons in the park. Within its lofty walls visitors can find multi-colored volcanic deposits, a ghost town, petroglyphs, bighorn sheep, and deep, winding narrows. Titus Canyon is accessible to high-clearance vehicles via a one-way dirt road beginning outside the park. Standard vehicles may reach the canyon’s mouth from the west. more...
Scotty's Castle Area
• Scotty’s Castle: Prospector “Death Valley Scotty” claimed this elaborate Spanish-style mansion was built by gold from his fictitious mine. In reality, it was the 1920s vacation home of his wealthy friends. Today, living history tours of the castle’s richly furnished interior are given by costumed park rangers.
• Scotty’s Castle Tours. Tours of the home of an eccentric resident of Death Valley are offered daily from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, departing at least once an hour and lasting for fifty minutes. Costs are $11 per person (discounts for seniors and children) and there may be a wait for tickets, so try to purchase them several hours in advance of your preferred tour time. Note that tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Ubehebe Crater: More than 300 years ago the desert silence was shattered by a massive volcanic explosion caused by the violent release of underground steam pressure. When the cinders and dust settled, this 600 feet deep crater remained. Although easily visible from the paved road, hikers may want to circle the crater rim to see smaller craters. more...
• Eureka Dunes: Rising majestically nearly 700 feet, these are the highest dunes in California. Isolated from other dunes, they are an evolutionary island, home to rare and endangered species of plants and animals. To give them extra protection, the dunes are off limits to sandboarding and horseback riding.
Panamint Springs Area
• Darwin Falls: A miracle in the desert, this spring-fed waterfall flows year-round in a narrow gorge. Its lush streamside thickets of wilows ring with the song of migrating birds in springtime. Located just west of Panamint Springs via a 2.5 mile unpaved road. Although there is no formal trail, the mostly level, one-mile walk to the falls involves some rock scrambling and several stream crossings.
• Father Crowley Vista: A landscape of dark lava flows and volcanic cinders abruptly gives way to the gash of Rainbow Canyon below this viewpoint. Walk the dirt track east of the parking lot for a grand overlook of northern Panamint Valley. Vista located west of Panamint Springs on Hwy 190.
• Wildrose Charcoal Kilns: These ten beehive-shaped structures are among the best preserved in the west. Built in 1876 to provide fuel to process silver/lead ore, they still smell of smoke today. The last 2 miles of gravel road to the kilns are passable to most vehicles. Located in upper Wildrose Canyon in the Panamint Mountains.
• Aguereberry Point: 1000 feet higher than Dante’s View, this viewpoint gives a perspective over Death Valley from the west. Along the gravel road is the remains of Pete Aguereberry’s camp and his Eureka Mine. The last climb to the point may require a high-clearance vehicle. Located in the Panamint Mountains off Emigrant Canyon Road.
Gas
Although you can get gas in the park it typically costs up to a dollar more per gallon than outside the park. It is recommended to fuel up right outside the park before coming in. But once in the park, don't try to squeak out with just enough gas as the results can be fatal if you are stuck in the wilderness or just plain costly if you need to get gas brought to you by a tow truck.
Furnace Creek Gas Station, 8AM-6PM (24 hours a day by credit card) on SR 190
Stovepipe Wells Gas Station, 7AM-9PM only! On SR 190 (regular gas only, usually cheapest in Death Valley proper)
Scotty's Castle Gas Station, 7AM-6PM on SR 267 (Currently Closed, Call NPS for More Information)
Eat
Furnace Creek Inn Dining Room. The only upscale restaurant in Death Valley, very elegant, with a somewhat laid back dress code. Closed for summer season. Reservations are required for dinner and Sunday brunch. Breakfast, lunch and dinner is served. Call 760-786-2345 for reservations.
49'er Cafe. Located in Furnace Creek Ranch, this restaurant is less upscale than the Furnace Creek Inn or the Wrangler Steakhouse, but offers decent food with dinner entrees starting around $10.
Wrangler Buffet. Located in Furnace Creek Ranch at the ranch, the buffet is served daily for breakfast and lunch and offers a variety of hot and cold items.
Wrangler Steakhouse. Located in Furnace Creek Ranch, this upscale restaurant offers steaks and other entrees starting around $25. Open for dinner only.
Stovepipe Wells. Restaurant and convenience store.
Drink
Corkscrew Saloon. Located in Furnace Creek Ranch and providing a cowboy atmosphere, the drink prices are reasonable ($5 for a beer) and the crowd combines retired tourists with Death Valley locals, creating an interesting mix.
Lodging
Within the park
There are 4 in-park lodging facilities in Death Valley National Park.
Furnace Creek Inn. This inn advertises itself as a first class, AAA Four Diamond historic resort with 66 rooms and full amenities. Rates range from $250-$370 per room with $20 per each additional person. Closed during summer season. 760-786-2345
Furnace Creek Ranch. Located in Furnace Creek, this establishment is the ranch style family oriented version of the above Inn with 224 rooms and rates ranging from $105 to $174 depending on the season and type of room. 760-786-2345
Panamint Springs Resort. Located just inside the west entrance, this resort is the most economical lodging option. The rooms are small and very out dated. Rates range from $79 to $149. 775-482-7680
Stovepipe Wells Village. Motel-style lodging in Stovepipe Wells. The rooms are not fancy, and the running water in some rooms is not potable, but it is a perfectly comfortable and convenient place to stay. Rates tend to be cheaper than at Furnace Creek ($111 for a Deluxe room). Beware of the restaurant at Stovepipe Wells, though; it tends to be wannabe fancy and overpriced. Call early for reservations at the lodge. 760-786-2387
Outside of the park
Death Valley Junction is the closest town outside of Death Valley, about thirty minutes away from the visitor's center it has one hotel, and a theatre.
Beatty is a town outside (northeast) of Death Valley. It's a very cheap option.
Lone Pine is two hours west of the park in California.
Shoshone is an hour southeast of the park in California.
Stay safe
Follow Desert Survival guidelines. The name of the park says it all. Unprepared tourists die each year within the borders of the park. Make sure you have plenty of water (at least a gallon (4 liters) per day, per person) for your activities, whether it be on a backcountry trail, or on the main highway. Should you become stranded while driving, stay with your vehicle as it is likely to provide the only shade in the area. Pack plenty of water for your car in case of overheating, especially in summer! Rattlesnakes, scorpions, and black widow spiders are present in the park. Never place your hands or feet where you cannot see first!
If you are going a significant distance on any of the unpaved roads, phone a friend and tell them where you are going, when you will be back, when you will phone them again to tell them you are safe, and give them an emergency number to call (760-786-2342) if you don't get back in touch with them by a chosen deadline. Some of the unimproved roads eat tires for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and you could lose your spare tire too. In addition, make sure you have more than enough fuel; roads may be impassable and can require unforeseen detours. Don't rely on a GPS routing alone. Figure out where you're going on the official national park map first, then make sure the GPS device precisely follows the same route.
Cell phone service does not exist in most of the park, don't count on being able to use it in an emergency.
Contact
Free Wi-Fi internet access is available at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, but only when it is open.
There is no mobile phone access for most phones. Analog reception for Verizon Wireless customers is available close to Furnace Creek, but most modern phones are not capable of using the old analog system.
As of January, 2012, decent coverage was found near Furnace Creek for T-Mobile phones, for text and phone (no data coverage)
