The Furnace Creek Inn closes for the summer. Sunday Brunches resume in the fall.

Marta Becket has a program every Saturday night, Nov. - May. Programs will resume in the fall. 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 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!!
The Hotel is open all year. (no food) Her book and several videos of her past performances are on sale at the Motel.

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

Travel Information- to get there from Ridgecrest

Town, Towne, Townes', Towne's or what?? - It's TOWNES. Hardly any map nor the sign at the pass 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.

To get there from other than Ridgecrest:

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 395 = 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!!

Death Valley Sights

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 Oct-end of May. 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 85 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 Information

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- as staff allows. 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, but NO 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 .

Two wheel drive (with clearance) dirt road adventures- when they're open:

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!!

Four wheel drive adventures:

4x4 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

Hikes:

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!

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. On the other hand, early June 09 was unbelieveably COOL, and rain at times!

 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...."

• Death Valley 49ers Encampment at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells (and the entire valley floor), usually second weekend in November, the link has the schedule of events.
• Holiday Festivities at Furnace Creek December 22-31.
• Webpage from Resort folk with lots of Annual Events, golf things, etc.
• Furnace Creek Invitational Golf Tournament - January
  see above web page for other golf things
• Death Valley Conference on History and Prehistory at the Ranch. e-mail to ljohnson@qnet.com for info: February, 2007
• Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Bike Race - May, new route to avoid traffic - 1st day on Eureka Valley Road, 2nd day on Onion Valley road. Contact Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce.
• Badwater Ultramarathon July 2008 , run from Badwater to Whitney Portal. Egad! This one is all at once - no stopping unless you can afford to. See web page for details and how to apply.

If you only have one day from Ridgecrest or Las Vegas

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!!)

If you have at least 2 days...

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. Spring 09 - OK but late. Every year is different!!!!

See frequently updated DV Wildflower sightings page .

Other stuff

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

jwest@ridgenet.net

Maintained by Janet Westbrook
Revised as noted on top

Return to top of this page

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?? :-)

Other Internet Information:

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!

A comprehensive page about fossils in DV Also links to Fossils in Red Rock Canyon State Park

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

a booking agent for hotels in the area, and interesting links to other interesting things

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.