Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is world renowned for its colorful and complex geology. Its extremes of elevation support a great diversity of life, and provide a natural geologic museum that represents a substantial portion of the earth's history. This region is also the ancestral homeland of the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe. The Timbisha took advantage of the natural order of this region, establishing a pattern of life in concert with nature.
At A Glance
In The Park
Superintendent: J T ReynoldsPhone Number: 760-786-3200
Entrance Fees: Vehicle Pass (valid for 7 days): $20; Individual Pass (valid for 7 days): $10
Sights: Scotty's Castle; Rhyolite Ghost Town; Ballarat; Chloride City; Greenwater; Harrisburg; Leadfield; Panamint City; Skidoo
Endangered Species: Devils Hole Pupfish; Eureka Dunes Evening-Primrose; Western Snowy Plover; California Least Turn; Southwestern Willow Flycatcher; San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike
Important Dates
Established as Park: October 31, 1994By The Numbers
Acres: 3,372,400.00Highest Point: Telescope Peak (11048 feet)
Annual Visitation: 744,440 (2006)
Location
Latitude / Longitude :36.560440 / -117.024640 (map it)
State: CA
Nearby Big City: Death Valley, CA
Gateway Communities: Death Valley, CA; Darwin, CA; Amargosa Valley, NV; Beatty, NV; Keeler, CA
Nearby Airports: Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS); Furnace Creek (LO6)
Green Features
Has Recycling? : YesHas Shuttle System? : No
Has Volunteer Program? : Yes
Park Photos
Coyote Prowl
Tom O'Neil
Desert Plant
Igor Karon
Manley Beacon Sunrise
Mike Norton
View More Death Valley Photos
In Detail
Activities & Programs Regardless of the season, there's always a lot to do at Death Valley—not surprising when you consider the park includes a 156-mile stretch between two mountain ranges, numerous archeological and ... read more.
At A Glance Death Valley, the largest national park in the contiguous United States, comprises more than 3.3 million acres of desert wilderness. Bound on the west by the towering 11,049-foot Telescope Peak, and ... read more.
At Your Fingertips General Park Information: (760) 786-3200 www.nps.gov/deva Commercial Permits: (760) 786-3241 Lodging within the Park: Xanterra Parks & Resorts® Furnace Creek (760) 786-2345 Stovepipe We ... read more.
Campgrounds Flush Pit Dump Fee Per Campground Open Closed Elevation (ft) Sites Water Tables Fireplaces Toilets Toilets Station Night Emigrant All Year 2,100 10 Yes Yes No Yes No No None Furnace Al ... read more.
Camping Visitors with a calling to enjoy the great outdoors can experience desert grandeur up close in one of Death Valley National Park's many public campgrounds, or in its backcountry. The park has nine pu ... read more.
Desert Driving Tips We recommend that you remain on paved roads, especially during the summer. However, if you do venture into the backcountry any time of the year, heed these important tips: • Make sure your ca ... read more.
Flora & Fauna Death Valley—one of the hottest and driest places in North America—is surprisingly home to an abundance of uniquely adapted life forms. A total of 1,042 plant species, 51 species of nativ ... read more.
Geology The geologic history of Death Valley is complex: it involves not only fault activity at various times, but also crustal sinking, volcanic activity and erosion. In literal geological terms, Death Vall ... read more.
Hiking Trails Golden Canyon Trail: Moderate, two miles round-trip (two hours). Starts from Badwater Road, three miles south of the visitor center. Gradual uphill through colorful badlands that extends to Zabriskie ... read more.
History Along with its stunning natural splendor, Death Valley can lay claim to a rich and colorful human tale that begins at least 10,000 years ago. This fascinating story features ancient hunters and gathe ... read more.
In A Nutshell Here's a quick rundown of the basics you need to know when planning a visit to Death Valley National Park: Entrance Fees Death Valley National Park is open every day of the year. Entrance fees vary. ... read more.
Just For Kids Death Valley National Park has a host of activities to entice visitors of all ages—including programs just for kids. Visiting the park presents a great opportunity to have fun and learn somethi ... read more.
Lodging & Dining There are a variety of dining and lodging options beyond the boundaries of Death Valley; within the park, however, Xanterra Parks & Resorts® the nation's largest park and resource management ... read more.
Oh, Ranger! The first time I came to Death Valley I was entranced by the color of the rocks, the quiet of the desert, the immense scale of the valley. It made me feel insignificant, yet it seemed inviting to me ... read more.
Only A Day Since Death Valley is so large, packing all your sightseeing into a single day can be a challenge. If you plan carefully and start early, you can get a true flavor of what the park has to offer in a ... read more.
Park Regulations Safety Tips Water: During the heat of summer, drink at least one gallon of water per day to replace loss from perspiration. Carry plenty of extra drinking water in your car and while hiking. Heat and ... read more.
Preserving Death Valley Although the California Desert Protection Act of 1994 formally protected millions of acres in Death Valley, the park's unique biologic and geologic assets continue to face degradation from numerous s ... read more.
Sights To See There is a lot to do and see in Death Valley National Park—just make sure you have access to a car because you will want to cover a lot of ground! The park's long list of attractions includes m ... read more.
Timbisha Shoshone Few people realize that an American Indian tribe currently lives and thrives in the heart of Death Valley National Park. For thousands of years, the Timbisha Shoshone people have resided in Southeas ... read more.
Visitor Services Despite Death Valley's fearsome reputation and famously barren landscape, the National Park Service and a number of concessioners have taken steps to ensure that your trip is as smooth as it is inspi ... read more.
Recent News
- No human remains found at Manson ranch May 21, 2008, 9:56 pm
- Way cool: Death Valley National Park charms families May 14, 2008, 2:18 pm
Death Valley In Depth
News from the Parks
Alexander Backs New Source of Funding for National Parks
July 3, 2008 - 9:38am
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced he will cosponsor bipartisan legislation to create a new source of funding for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other national parks across the country as part of the “Centennial Challenge” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in 2016. “The Centennial Challenge could bring up to $4 million to the Smokies – the country’s most visited national park – and will go a long way toward improving park facilities, aiding conservation efforts, and helping build upon the excellent visitor services already offered. This 4th of July, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our country’s birthday than backing legislation that will aid efforts to preserve and celebrate our national parks, one of America’s greatest treasures.”
July 3, 2008 - 9:38am
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) today announced he will cosponsor bipartisan legislation to create a new source of funding for the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and other national parks across the country as part of the “Centennial Challenge” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the National Park System in 2016. “The Centennial Challenge could bring up to $4 million to the Smokies – the country’s most visited national park – and will go a long way toward improving park facilities, aiding conservation efforts, and helping build upon the excellent visitor services already offered. This 4th of July, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our country’s birthday than backing legislation that will aid efforts to preserve and celebrate our national parks, one of America’s greatest treasures.”
EPA's Pollution Plan Slammed
July 3, 2008 - 9:35am
City officials and business leaders here Wednesday warned that a federal proposal to relax air quality standards for the nation's national parks will ultimately be bad for business. Simply put, they said during a news conference at the entrance to Zion National Park, lower air standards being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hurt this gateway city economically if fewer tourists visit the park. "Air pollution could damage the stars, vistas and clean air we enjoy," Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff said. "Some places deserve to be preserved and it is my responsibility to preserve [the park] for those who come here."
July 3, 2008 - 9:35am
City officials and business leaders here Wednesday warned that a federal proposal to relax air quality standards for the nation's national parks will ultimately be bad for business. Simply put, they said during a news conference at the entrance to Zion National Park, lower air standards being proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will hurt this gateway city economically if fewer tourists visit the park. "Air pollution could damage the stars, vistas and clean air we enjoy," Springdale Mayor Pat Cluff said. "Some places deserve to be preserved and it is my responsibility to preserve [the park] for those who come here."
Dinosaur Fossils In Utah Inspire 'Jr. Paleontologists'
July 2, 2008 - 9:57am
Millions of years ago, northeastern Utah was a hot spot for dinosaurs. Today, people travel to the Dinosaur National Monument located on the borders of Colorado and Utah to see the leftover dinosaur bones. Visitors can see as many as 1,500 Jurassic-era fossils exposed on the cliff face of the Douglass Quarry.
July 2, 2008 - 9:57am
Millions of years ago, northeastern Utah was a hot spot for dinosaurs. Today, people travel to the Dinosaur National Monument located on the borders of Colorado and Utah to see the leftover dinosaur bones. Visitors can see as many as 1,500 Jurassic-era fossils exposed on the cliff face of the Douglass Quarry.
A Paiute Take On Bryce Canyon's Hoodoos
July 2, 2008 - 9:56am
The red spindly rock formations that make up the views at Bryce Canyon National Park are called hoodoos. Geologists say they were formed by erosion, but Kevin Poe, chief of interpretation at Bryce, shares his take on the Paiute legend about hoodoos.
July 2, 2008 - 9:56am
The red spindly rock formations that make up the views at Bryce Canyon National Park are called hoodoos. Geologists say they were formed by erosion, but Kevin Poe, chief of interpretation at Bryce, shares his take on the Paiute legend about hoodoos.
Can The Everglades Be Saved?
July 2, 2008 - 9:55am
Environmentalists have been issuing dire warnings about the deterioration of the Florida Everglades for years, saying these wetlands have to be restored in order to revive fragile ecosystems and increase scarce fresh water supplies. Over half of the Everglades are gone, irreversibly converted to urban or agricultural development. But this week, in an attempt to save what's left, the state of Florida announced a plan to buy nearly 200,000 acres of former wetlands from a sugar cane producer. Advocates say the plan is the largest restoration project in American history.
July 2, 2008 - 9:55am
Environmentalists have been issuing dire warnings about the deterioration of the Florida Everglades for years, saying these wetlands have to be restored in order to revive fragile ecosystems and increase scarce fresh water supplies. Over half of the Everglades are gone, irreversibly converted to urban or agricultural development. But this week, in an attempt to save what's left, the state of Florida announced a plan to buy nearly 200,000 acres of former wetlands from a sugar cane producer. Advocates say the plan is the largest restoration project in American history.
