Safety - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (2024)
Drink plenty of water: Drink at least one gallon (4 liters) of water per day to replace loss from sweat, more if you are active. Be aware of balancing fluid and electrolyte levels.
Avoid hiking in the heat: Do not hike in the low elevations when temperatures are hot. The mountains are cooler in summer, but can have snow and ice in winter.
Travel prepared to survive: Stay on paved roads in summer. If your car breaks down, stay with it until help comes. Carry extra drinking water in your car in case of emergency.
Watch for signs of trouble: If you feel dizzy, nauseous, or a headache, get out of the sun immediately and drink water or sports drinks. Dampen clothing to lower body temperature. Be alert for symptoms in others.
The main cause of death in Death Valley: More people die in single-car accidents than by any other means. To avoid an accident, follow the speed limits, shift to a lower gear on steep downhill grades, and wear your seatbelt.
Dangerous Animals: Never place your hands or feet where you cannot see first. Rattlesnakes, scorpions, or black widow spiders may be sheltered there.
Hantavirus--a potentially fatal respiratory disease--is spread through contact with infected rodents or their urine and droppings. Although no cases have been reported in Death Valley, the virus has been found in deer mice and cactus mice here. Use caution in rodent infested locations such as cabins and mine structures.
Flash Floods: Avoid canyons during rain storms and be prepared to move to higher ground. While driving, be alert for water running in washes and across road dips.
Mine Hazards: Do not enter mine tunnels or shafts. Mines may be unstable, have hidden shafts, pockets of bad air, and poisonous gas.
Tailings Pile Hazards: Do not touch mine tailings. Tailings often contain high concentrations of toxic metals and other chemicals.
Backcountry Travel: Hikers, backpackers and drivers need to be self reliant and well prepared. Always plan ahead, carry detailed maps, and let someone know your plans. Backpackers should obtain a free backcountry permit online or from any visitor center. Backcountry driving on Death Valley's dirt roads requires a vehicle with high clearance, heavy-duty tires, and often 4-wheel drive. Driving off designated roads is prohibited in the park.
Illegal Marijuana Cultivation Sites have been found in remote backcountry areas of Death Valley National Park. Learn to recognize and avoid these potentially dangerous areas. If you find signs of cultivation:
Get out immediately! Do not linger to take photos or coordinates.
Go back the way you came. You've already established that the route is safe.
Make as little noise as possible. If the garden is occupied, they may not be aware of you.
Get to a safe location. Run, walk, crawl or hide... just make yourself safe.
Notify FICC Dispatch at (760) 786-2330, (909) 383-5651, or (888) 233-6518.
Be prepared to provide your exact location. Coordinates are great but a physical description will do.
Get to your vehicle if possible If you can, drive away.
In Case of Emergency: Dial 911 from any telephone or cell phone. Cell phones may not work in many parts of the park. Do not depend on them.
Avoid hiking in the heat: Do not hike in the low elevations when temperatures are hot. The mountains are cooler in summer, but can have snow and ice in winter. Travel prepared to survive: Stay on paved roads in summer. If your car breaks down, stay with it until help comes.
Death Valley National Monument was created in 1933 after years of effort to protect it from mining and other interests. However, it wasn't until 1994 that Congress designated Death Valley a national park.
Death Valley National Park charges an entrance fee per vehicle. Weekly and Death Valley Annual Passes may be purchased below. Site Passes purchased on Recreation.gov are non-refundable and non-transferable.
With seven deaths recorded due to environmental exposure, however, weather is a distant second to motor vehicle crashes, which accounted for 14 deaths over 10 years; many occurred on CA 190, which traverses the park. Also on the list: four deaths from falls and one from drowning.
The best time to hike in Death Valley is from November through March. Summer temperatures can be dangerous in the park's lower elevations. Even during spring and autumn the heat can be unbearable for most people. Save the low elevation hikes for the cooler winter days.
Death Valley holds the record for the highest air temperature on the planet: On 10 July 1913, temperatures at the aptly named Furnace Creek area in the California desert reached a blistering 56.7°C (134.1°F). Average summer temperatures, meanwhile, often rise above 45°C (113°F).
This 3.3 million-acre is home to more than 1,000 plant species, 51 species of native mammals, 307 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles, three species of amphibians and five species and one subspecies of native fish within Death Valley National Park.
The driest place in North America and the hottest on Earth, Death Valley is a long and narrow basin 282 feet (86 m) below sea level and yet it is walled up with rather steep mountain ranges, according to the park services website. The dry air and plant coverage allows sunlight to heat up the desert surface.
Pets are allowed in the park, but only in developed areas such as campgrounds and along roads. Included in park entry fee. It is difficult to travel with a pet in Death Valley National Park if you plan to spend time away from your vehicle.
[The most recent Native America inhabitants are] the Timbisha [Shoshone people who] have lived in Death Valley for over a thousand years. In 1933 President Herbert Hoover created Death Valley National Monument, an action that subsumed the tribe's homeland within park boundaries.
Yes, you can sleep in your car in Death Valley, but only in designated campgrounds. It is not allowed to sleep in your car outside of these designated areas or along the side of the road.
Death Valley has a variety of campgrounds from primitive to full hook-up. Whether you are looking to stay in a luxury hotel or a simple tent cabin, Death Valley has a range of options available.
Half the park is after dark, so be sure to take advantage of Death Valley's dark skies and stay after sunset. Experiencing night in the park can be as simple as finding a quiet place to look up and enjoy the stars.
By May the valley is too hot for most visitors, yet throughout the hottest months, visitors from around the world still flock to the park. Lodging and camping are available, but only the most hardy will want to camp in the low elevations in the summer.
Overall, the reality of your vehicle breaking down in Death Valley is a stark one. With little chance of getting help and the dangers of the desert environment, it's a situation most would want to avoid.
Death Valley National Park's remote location has allowed it to continue to have dark night skies, but there are multiple developed areas within the park which must be lit to ensure that people can safely navigate around facilities.
Introduction: My name is Arline Emard IV, I am a cheerful, gorgeous, colorful, joyous, excited, super, inquisitive person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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