National Park U. S. Department of the Interior

Visitor Guide Fall 2011

Welcome to Death Valley!

Please visit our newly renovated Furnace Creek Visitor Center. This important project, funded by entrance fee income, is leading us to have a lighter footprint in our desert home. Increased insulation, improved air conditioning systems, and solar panels that help us to generate our own power are all part of this project that allows us to be more sustainable in this harsh environment. The Visitor Center renovation, which started in November 2010, was finished earlier than anticipated allowing us to accommodate our growing number of visitors. Our park partner, Death Valley Natural His- tory Association, is quite happy to have a more comfortable space to offer a wider selection of books and items that you can take home with you to remind you of your Death Valley experience. The Visitor Center exhibits are still in production and are expected to be installed in the summer of 2012. In the meantime, take a look at our temporary exhib- its and watch the new park film, narrated by actor Donald Sutherland.

Death Valley seems to get busier each year, with barely a lull between our seasons. In 2010, visitation increased by about 15% and we expect one million visitors for the first time since 2001! We are excited that so many people are visiting our National Parks and hope that while you are here, you will take the time to enjoy a ranger program, gaze at an amaz- ing night sky, and look at the footprints of a tiny lizard left behind in the sand of the Mesquite Dunes. This is your Na- tional Park. Please take care of it and enjoy it. Sarah Craighead, Superintendent Virtual Museum Death Valley National Park

The National Park Service (NPS) has launched a multimedia What’s Inside? “Virtual Museum” exhibit highlighting hundreds of artifacts from Death Valley National Park’s museum collections. These items Park Rules ...... 2 tell the stories of people drawn to this land of startling and stark beauty, scorching valleys, snow-capped peaks, Park Information...... 3 mines, and the grandly furnished Scotty’s Castle. The Virtual Museum showcases artifacts, artwork, documents, photos, What To See...... 4 specimens, and more. There is a virtual tour of Scotty’s Day Hikes & Backroads...... 5 Castle with an organ music clip and “Teaching with Museum Collections,” which includes lesson plans for teachers. Park Map...... 6 & 7

The park’s Virtual Museum Exhibit is on-line at www.nps.gov/ Park Projects...... 8 history/museum/exhibits/deva/index.html. Death Valley Nation- al Park manages nearly one million museum objects, specimens, Ranger Programs...... 9 and archives. The majority of these collections are professionally Scotty’s Castle...... 10 stored and cared for at the Cow Creek Curatorial Facility and at Scotty’s Castle. For more information, please visit our website or Park Partners...... 11 call (760) 786-3200. Visitor Services...... 12

Death Valley Visitor Guide 1 Park Rules Entrance Fees Don’t Steal Our “Silverware” While visiting the White House, would you take a piece of silver- Please stop at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Scotty’s Castle Visitor ware home for a keepsake? How about tearing off a piece of the Center, Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station or at one of the automated fee machines placed throughout the park to pay the park entrance fee. Declaration of Independence? Or spray painting your name on the Statue of Liberty? 7 day pass: Annual pass: Believe it or not these acts of vandalism do happen in our national parks. 1 Vehicle and all passengers $20 Death Valley annual pass $40 Picking wildflowers, taking home stones or arrowheads as keepsakes, and defacing canyon walls with graffiti are all actions that degrade the parks Individual on motorcycle, Interagency annual pass $80 bicycle, or on foot $10 for other visitors. In addition, it’s against the law. Interagency senior pass $10 Commercial vehicle by capacity: (Lifetime pass for U.S. citizens 62+) Visiting any of our national parks is 1-6 $25+$10 per person similar to visiting museums or art Interagency access pass Free galleries. You certainly wouldn’t 7-15 $75 (Lifetime pass for U.S. citizens with disability) think of taking an artifact or paint- 16-25 $100 ing home from such places. Re- 26+ $200 National Park passes honored: moving anything from our national Golden Age & Golden Access parks means that other visitors will not be able to enjoy it. If each of the 275 million visitors took away a Rules to Live by in Your National Park flower or a stone or anything from Many park rangers are federal law enforcement officers. They help pro- the parks they visit, they would tect the park and its visitors by enforcing a wide range of federal, state and leave behind empty landscapes. local regulations. You can help them by observing these laws: Help protect America’s national yy Obey the speed limit and other rules of the road. Helmets and seat- parks by leaving everything in its belts are required in Death Valley National Park. place and not defacing the natural resources. Other park visitors and yy Stay out of closed areas. Mines, service roads, and other areas are future generations will thank you. closed for your safety or the protection of features therein. The Racetrack yy Let wild animals find their own food. They’re good at it and feed- Personal Survival In a Land of Extremes ing them is against the law. yy Rocks, plants, animals, and historic objects in Death Valley are pro- tected just like in a museum. Vandalism and theft are prohibited. LIFE FLIGHT RESCUE FLOOD FLAT TIRE ROLLOVER HEAT yy Keep your car on established yy Water: Drink at least one gallon yy Mine Hazards: Do not enter roads. Unsightly tire tracks in (4 liters) of water per day to mine tunnels or shafts. Mines the desert destroy fragile plants replace loss from perspiration. may be unstable, have hidden and wildlife and scar the land- Carry plenty of extra drinking shafts, pockets of bad air and scape for decades. water in your car. poisonous gas. Stay Out Stay yy Camp only in established Alive. yy Heat & Dehydration: If you campgrounds or in a permit- feel dizzy, nauseous or get a yy Flash Floods: Avoid canyons ted backcountry area. Check headache, get out of the sun during rain storms and be at a Ranger Station or Visitor immediately and drink plenty prepared to move to higher Center for backcountry camp- of water. Dampen clothing to ground. While driving, be alert ing information. lower your body temperature. for water running in washes yy It is illegal to discharge a Heat and dehydration can kill. and across the road. Water can firearm anywhere in Death carry rocks and debris with yy Hiking: Do not hike in the low Valley or to bring one into a it and may suddenly appear elevations when temperatures Federal building. Damage caused by off-road driving around the next curve in the are hot. roadway. yy Keep pets on leash and close to roads or parking lots. Pets are not yy Dangerous Creatures: Never allowed on trails or in wilderness. place your hands or feet yy Put garbage where it belongs. Litter in the desert spoils the land- where you cannot see first. yy In Case of Emergency: Dial scape for each person that follows behind you. Rattlesnakes, scorpions or 911 from any telephone or black widow spiders may be cell phone. Cell phones may yy Campfires are allowed in established firepits only. Gathering fire- sheltered there. not work in many parts of the wood is prohibited. park, do not depend on them.

Cars destroyed by flash flood. The main cause of death in Death Valley is single vehicle accidents.

2 Death Valley Visitor Guide Park Information Backcountry: Read This Before You Go!

IN THE BACKCOUNTRY IT CAN TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO GET HELP! You’ve got two flat tires. Your cell phone doesn’t work. Nobody knows where you are. You’re not sure where you are. You haven’t seen another car since you turned off the highway 12 hours ago. The only thing you can hear is the ringing in your ears. Is this how you thought it would end? Most backcountry emergencies begin in fairly commonplace ways: your car gets a flat tire, you run out of gas, you sprain your ankle while on a hike, or you get disoriented and turned around in the desert landscape. Things that are easy to address in most places quickly become life-threat- ening emergencies in the backcountry as heat, cold, exhaustion, dehydra- tion, isolation, and panic set in.

No matter what kind of adventure or experience you pursue in Death Valley, a little planning and caution will send you home with happy and fun-filled memories of your desert trip. Have a safe and inspiring visit to Death Valley by following these tips from the rangers: yy Plan your visit: Do you have the yy Bring food, water and other es- appropriate vehicle, tires, tools, sentials for several days, even if Lippincott Road - Are you equipped? camping gear, maps, and skills you’re planning a much shorter for your intended route? Do you visit. yy Call someone at home have enough fuel and water? If and tell them specifically yy Don’t rely on technology! you aren’t sure, ask a ranger. where you are going. Have Your cell phone won’t work them call (888) 233-6518 yy Be prepared: If you’re headed in most of the park. Emer- (Emergency Dispatch) if into the backcountry plan on gency locator beacons have a you do not return when changing a flat tire at least once. high failure rate. GPS devices expected: It takes a long Check your rental car contract frequently tell Death Valley time to search 3.4 million to see if you are covered should visitors to turn off well-traveled acres of wilderness. We can something happen to your car roads, and take “shortcuts” find you faster if we know on an unpaved road. Have over the desert and into iso- where to look and what the necessary tools (rental cars lated canyons. Common sense we’re looking for. Complete often lack the proper tire chang- and good judgment are far a backcountry hiker form at ing tools!) and know how to use more reliable. any visitor center to ensure them. that we have all the infor- mation needed to find you quickly. Do you have the tools to change a tire? Death Valley Mines “The accounts of the abundance In 2009 America’s national parks Death Valley’s last active mine of gold [in ] are of such received $750 million in stimulus closed in 2005 and the park is extraordinary character as would money under the American Recov- in the process of conducting an scarcely command belief were they not ery and Reinvestment Act. Death abandoned mine inventory to see corroborated by the authentic reports Valley was allocated $4.8 million how many mines exist within park of officers in the public service who have visited the mineral district.” for mitigating hazardous mine con- boundaries. Though the inventory ditions in some of the Park’s most is ongoing, the park is estimated to -President James K. Polk’s address to visited locations. During 2010 have 6,000-10,000 mine features, Congress, December 5, 1848 and 2011, this money was used for with 2,000-3,000 of those being po- stabilization of the Keane Wonder tentially hazardous mine openings. Mine tramway, as well as mitigation Death Valley is believed to possess Stories of gold strikes in the newly- of 235 hazardous mine openings at the most abandoned mines of any acquired territory of California had seven sites around the park: single National Park Service unit. been published in the preceding yy Keane Wonder Mine months, but President Polk’s official While Keane Wonder remains notice to Congress in 1848 sparked yy Eureka Mine closed, this past year saw the mitigation of 50 hazardous mine the California Gold Rush, enticing yy Titus Canyon more than 250,000 people to join openings, plus the stabilization the search for riches over the next yy Gem Mine of multiple tram towers, and the upper and lower tram terminals. four years. Mining continued in yy Skidoo Death Valley for over 150 years! The other issue that still needs to yy Gower Gulch be addressed is the environmental contaminants left behind from yy Greenwater Valley milling. The park is actively work- ing towards resolving this issue Abandoned mine sites can pose and making the site suitable for numerous dangers to visitors, visitation once again. including bad air, unstable mine openings, collapsing mine struc- tures and buildings, and con- tamination from heavy metals and chemicals used in the ore milling process. Visitors to Death Valley should be aware of these potential dangers and resist the temptation to enter mine openings or dilapi- STAY OUT STAY ALIVE! Saratoga Springs Mine dated structures. Keane Wonder Mine tramway

Death Valley Visitor Guide 3 What to See Furnace Creek Area yy : The lowest yy Dante’s View: The most point in , breathtaking viewpoint in the Badwater Basin is a surreal park, this mountain-top over- landscape of vast salt flats. A look is more than 5000 feet temporary may form here above the floor of Death Valley. after heavy rainstorms. Do not The paved access road is open walk on the salt flats in hot to all vehicles less than 25 feet weather. in length.

Harmony Borax Works View of Badwater Basin from Dante’s View yy : Fol- yy Devil’s Golf Course: An Scotty’s Castle Area low an easy 1/4 mile walking i mmense area of rock salt trail to learn about this impor- eroded by wind and rain into tant site in Death Valley’s his- jagged spires. So incredibly tory. The Harmony Borax oper- serrated that “only the devil ation became famous through could play golf on such rough the use of 20 mule teams that links.”The unpaved road moved borax from Death Val- leading to it is often closed ley to nearby communities. after rain. yy Artist’s Drive: A scenic loop yy : Surrounded drive through multi-hued by a maze of wildly eroded and volcanic and sedimentary hills. vibrantly colored badlands, this Artist’s Palette is especially spectacular view is one of the photogenic in late afternoon park’s most famous. Zabriskie light. The 9 mile paved road is Point is a popular sunrise and one-way and is only drivable sunset viewing location. The with vehicles less than 25 feet in viewpoint is a short walk uphill length. from the parking area. yy Ubehebe Crater: Just a few yy Scotty’s Castle: Prospector yy Twenty Mule Team Canyon: hundred years ago a massive “Death Valley Scotty” claimed Winding through otherworldly volcanic explosion caused by this elaborate Spanish-style badlands, this 2.7 mile, one- magma mixing with an un- mansion was built by gold from way loop drive is unpaved, but derground , shattered his fictitious mine. In reality, it accessible to vehicles other the silence of northern Death was the 1920s vacation home than buses, RV’s, and trailers. Valley. When the cinders and of his wealthy friends. dust settled, this 600 foot deep Today, living history crater remained. Although tours of the castle’s richly easily visible furnished inte- from the paved rior are given by road, hikers may costumed park Artists Drive 20-mule team want to circle the rangers. crater rim to see Stovepipe Wells Area smaller craters. yy Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: yy Salt Creek: This stream of Tawny dunes smoothly rising salty water is the only home Area nearly 100 feet from Mesquite to a rare pupfish, Cyprinodon yy Father Crowley Vista: A land- Canyon below this viewpoint. Flat. Late afternoon light salinus. Springtime is best scape of dark lava flows and Walk the dirt track east of the accentuates the ripples and pat- for viewing pupfish; in sum- volcanic cinders abruptly gives parking lot for a grand over- terns while morning is a good mer the lower stream dries up way to the gash of Rainbow look of the northern Panamint time to view tracks of noctur- and in winter the fish are not Valley. nal wildlife. Moonlight on the as active in Salt Creek. The dunes can be magical, yet night wooden boardwalk loops ½ explorers should be alert for mile through stands of pick- sidewinder rattlesnakes during leweed and past pools reflect- the warm season. ing badland hills. Wheelchair accessible.

yy 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 Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes passable to most vehicles. Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

4 Death Valley Visitor Guide Day Hikes & Backroads Things to Know Before You Go! Backroads yy Before starting a hike: learn yy Constructed trails are rare in yy Hiking in low elevations can Be prepared before you drive into the backcountry! Read the infor- the current conditions, water this park. Trails are provided be dangerous when it is hot. mation on page 3 and discuss your availability, and weather fore- in places that are heavily used The high peaks can be covered plans with a ranger. Have a safe casts. Backpackers can obtain and sensitive to damage. If a with snow in winter and spring. trip! a free permit from any visitor trail is there, please use it. Most The best time to hike in the center. hiking routes in the park are park is October to April. Eureka Dunes cross-country, up canyons, or yy Always carry water. Two liters along ridges. Footing can be yy Dogs and bicycles are not al- Rising nearly 700 feet, these are the for a short winter day hike; 4 rough and rocky. lowed on trails or in the wilder- highest dunes in California. Iso- liters or more in the summer or ness. lated from other dunes, they are an for longer hikes. evolutionary island, home to rare and endangered species of plants Hiking Trails & Routes and animals. To give them extra protection, the dunes are off limits Golden Canyon Natural Bridge Canyon Titus Canyon Narrows to sandboarding and horseback riding. The drive can be rough and Length: 1 mile, one-way. Length: ½ mile to natural bridge, Length: 1.5 miles, one-way. will take approximately 2.5 hours Difficulty: easy 1 mile to end of canyon. Difficulty: easy from the end of pavement off of Scotty’s Castle Road. Start: Golden Canyon parking Difficulty: easy Start: Titus Canyon parking area, area, 2 miles south of Highway 190 Start: Natural Bridge parking 3 miles off Scotty’s Castle Road on on Badwater Road. area, 1.5 miles off Badwater Rd. graded gravel road. Description: Easy trail through on gravel road, 13 miles south of Description: Easy access to lower colorful canyon. Red Cathedral Highway 190. Titus Canyon. Follow gravel road located ¼ mile up canyon from last Description: Uphill walk through up wash 1.5 miles through narrows numbered marker. Interpretive trail the narrow canyon. Large natural or continue to Klare Springs and guides are available. bridge at ½ mile. Trail ends at dry petroglyphs at 6.5 miles. waterfall. Gower Gulch Loop Fall Canyon Length: 4 miles round-trip. Length: 3 miles, one-way. Eureka Dunes Difficulty: moderate Length: 1 mile, one-way. Difficulty: moderately strenuous Start: Golden Canyon parking Difficulty: moderate Start: Titus Canyon Mouth park- The Racetrack area, 2 miles south of Highway 190 Start: One mile west of Panamint ing area, 3 miles off Scotty’s Castle on Badwater Road. Springs Resort off Highway 190. Road on graded gravel road. Rocks myste- Darwin Falls parking area, 2.4 riously slide Description: Colorful badlands, Description: Spectacular wilder- across the dry canyon narrows, old borax mines. miles up gravel road toward Dar- ness canyon near Titus Canyon. win. lakebed of the Hike up Golden Canyon to marker Follow informal path ½ mile north Racetrack, leav- #10, then follow trail over badlands Description: Year-round waterfalls along base of mountains, drop into ing behind long and down Gower Gulch to finish and lush vegetation tucked into a large wash at canyon’s mouth, then tracks for visi- loop. Two easy dryfalls must be rugged canyon. Can be overgrown hike 2½ miles up canyon to 20 foot tors to ponder. scrambled down. Ask for Gower and has some rough spots. There is dryfall. You can climb around the A high-clear- Gulch handout at a visitor center. a trail to first waterfall but danger- dryfall 300 feet back down canyon ance vehicle ous cliffs beyond. on south side for access to best nar- is needed to rows. Canyon continues another 3 traverse the 27 miles before second dryfall blocks miles of rough passage. No trail in canyon. dirt road; ask at a ranger sta- tion for current road condi- tions. Once you leave pave- Manly Beacon from Gower Gulch Loop ment at Ube- hebe Crater the The Racetrack drive will take Badwater Salt Flats approximately 2.5 hours one-way to the racetrack. Length: As long or short as you like (the salt flats are 5 miles one-way across). Aguereberry Point Difficulty: easy to moderate; One thousand feet higher than sections may be muddy or rough. Dante’s View, this viewpoint gives a perspective over Death Valley from Start: Badwater parking area the west. Along the gravel road are Description: Follow the path out the remains of Pete Aguereberry’s camp and his Eureka Mine. The from Badwater Pool into the purity Fall Canyon of white salt and the nation’s low- last climb to the point may require est elevation at 282 feet below sea a high-clearance vehicle. The level. Avoid hiking here in the hot Mosaic Canyon trip from Stovepipe Wells will take about 1.5 hours to the point. months due to the lack of shade Length: ½ mile, one-way. and extreme temperatures. Difficulty: moderate Titus Canyon Start: Mosaic Canyon Trailhead ¼ mile west of Stovepipe Wells. The largest and most diverse Description: Polished marble canyon in the park. Within its lofty walls and odd mosaic patterns of walls visitors can find volcanic de- breccia make this small canyon a posits, a ghost town, Indian petro- favorite. The twisting lower can- glyphs, bighorn sheep, and deep, yon is so narrow hikers must walk winding narrows. Titus Canyon through it single-file. Some rock is accessible to high-clearance scrambling is required. The canyon vehicles via a 26 mile, one-way dirt opens up after ½ mile to reveal the road beginning outside the park. heights of Tucki Mountain, but hik- The trip will take 3 hours from ers can continue another 1½ miles. Beatty to Scotty’s Castle Road. Badwater Salt Flats Darwin Falls

Death Valley Visitor Guide 5

To To

To

S N r

I e

T Riv

Baker A

A sa

T go

L ar

m mi km F

N A

mi km

Las Vegas

Las Vegas U

2 4 3 9

S

O Tecopa and 178 2 8 4 5

REFUGE To Pahrump

L

S WILDLIFE

Death Valley

M National Park

L NATIONAL S

I and Las Vegas

To Pahrump

A Shoshone E H

127

K ASH MEADOWS and Las Vegas

N

C

O O Ibex Pass ft m

A To

H C

I J

d

S L

a

Death O Valley

A Refuge

o Eagle Mountain 380 6 116 0

H C 10 Miles

R

Junction S

6mi 9km

e

Ibex Dunes ft m

n

Headquarters i

To L

e Brown Peak 494 7 150 8

t a

4mi 6km t

Lathrop Wells S E Furnace

Artists Drive mi km Texas Death Valley Junction Amargosa Opera House Amargosa Valley

and Badwater G Creek Inn

Spring 2 3 3 7

Busted Butte N

ft 10 Kilometers 127 m 373 A R ft Deadman Pass 326 3 99 4 m 190 Spring

I N 331 5 N T A 101 0 Sunset O U Saratoga

M mi km A S C R 2 5 4 1 N r C Y Salsberry Pass E e U I v 190 i

To Stovepipe Wells Y E R T A m L A T T L W N

A sa R N U go 1

mi km Watch for flooding ar E V Am 1

Picnic area O

1 8 2 9 E E 0 0 M 0.5 Mile Borax Museu R Creek mi km Shoshone Village (private; no visitor services) G ft

Furnace S

m 2 0 3 2

Black Cone d

ft R a

m E E Jubilee Pass 129 0 39 0 o

0.5 Kilometer T A R

Furnace Creek Ranch W

304 0 92 7

Big Dune e

N ft m

t d

D E Y

E E K a

L

No rt h R L W

C Jubilee ft m

Pyramid Peak 670 3 204 3 r G A e ry

iv V r Airpor R Mountain mi km Visitor Center A Furnace Creek a

0 0

Funeral Peak 638 4 194 5 H 2 9 4 6 L S N L I L Furnace Creek Visitor Center Area A B I A a H T os E rg Schwaub Peak C N a S N IN Am E U A ID

ft m NT F E D U O O L N M O S

95 O O C

mi km

Smith Mountain 591 2 180 2 M

G Owl Lake

Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7meters) not allowed.

N G 3 5

Y ft m

mi km E

L G

I Trailer

L (ruins)

1 3 2 1 parking A E

N

V R

Coffin Peak 550 3 167 7

A

A O N

R

B Information Y S

I T

S N Ashford Mill

A A Hole in the Wall

O A h ft

N C s m

ft m a

O A

H W C d U E mi km

Beatty a View 547 5 166 9 M Winters Peak 503 3 153 4 o mi km O 2 7 4 3 Dantes R k Indian Pass

e Shoreline Butte Mormon Point 1 0 1 6 R M re Badwater A C Natural Bridge

D

Twenty Mule Team Canyon

L e A c y Artists Palette A a a Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7meters) not allowed.

n w A r E e

R Nevares Peak e d Fu on iv y a Zabriskie Point r a mi km o

E D w R

Mine s e H

3 5 5 6 n t

s o

N Badwater

S Rhyolite (ghost town) i e

h Lost Lake

S t mi km s

L d r a

374 U i

L S

S 1 1 7 W A I SEE DETAIL MAP ABOVE L

F Devils West

H NELLIS AIR FORCE BOMBING AND GUNNERY RANGE

W

below sea level Badwater Basin e

mi t

km a O d Golf Course

Lowest elevation in Y

mi 6 the U.S., 282ft (86m) g

a km 9

Eagle Borax Works (ruins)

N n

o mi km

4 0 i

R Chloride Cliff O

6 4

one way one E

W 1 2 1 9 Y

s O

s

N

a L

A

P

C N S

t mi km

L

h N O FORT IRWIN MILITARY RESERVATION N

g N

1 9 3 0 O A Y I Golden Canyon

i ft m

l Keane Wonder Mill and Mine (Area temporarily closed because of safety hazards)

N

Y O

y Interpretive Trail A N 190 A

a CANYON E

N Y

D A

L T MUSTARD

N

A N C V A

Daylight Pass 431 6 131 6 N

G C O N A G

G

C Y O U

O

Y N

G Sugarloaf Peak O

Y R ff N

Cuto Interpretive Trail A

mi y E N

t A

km F t C I L

ea M

B C R

L L

T 1 0

1 6 k P L

L N A e H

A re S I Harmony Borax Works O C V A

L U S A P Hells Gate

B R M

F N U U

R

H

A

H A Q

N N

O T

G

mi J

mi A W

km O A

S km N 7

I

7

H Y E

Salt Creek Interpretive Trail

R

U Corkscrew Peak

N 1 N D 1

P

O

N

Y A

T S

O

N C

A

Y Furnace Creek Visitor Center

C A

ft m

N

Buttes

m E D

R

A L U

B E

Information I C

H

A M Information

L T t

Red Pass I

O l A O

ft m V

a R

N Brown Mountain 512 5 156 2

ft m

C N Stonewall Mountain 8875ft 270 5

A S

T

Death Valley A

T Needle Peak

R I

Scottys Junction T

Leadfield (ghost town)

A Aguereberry Point Day use only 643 3 196 1

813 3 247 9

Kit Fox Hills Y S

S E

L

N

Peak

Porter Peak L

A

O V

N Devils E mi T

km T Mahogany Flat U

N Y Wingate Pass Thimble B Thorndike ft m

O I Cornfield 9 N

Y M ft Charcoal Kilns

1 4

A

N m

C A

A

Mengel Pass N

O

Sentinel Peak 963 6 293 7 Y

C N

Y T

A mi km E C

N 1104 9 336 8 ft

Panamint City (ghost town)

N m N Road conditions require experienced four-wheel drivers.

1 6 2 6 I

Wahguyhe Peak H P U

ft E ad

Historic 906 4

o 276 3

O R ft m

Peak

N

Stovepipe Wells Village

e Eureka Mine

l N

R

t Striped Butte

A s N O

a Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes 673 2 2052m

ft m C S M s O E

y’ Bennett G Y

O tt Sand Flats L U o c Y

Mount Palmer 7979ft 2432m

Dunes

S Emigrant Pass 531 8 162 1

Y ft

Rogers Peak N

T m

I O

N Wildrose Peak

d

N TUCKI MOUNTAIN N A Stovepipe Well T a

267 N Harrisburg

A G

Grapevine Peak 873 8 266 3 o

A

C

O R O

N

C

C

Y Skidoo (townsite) Day use only mi

N

mi km Y

km

N O 719 6

95

T 219 3

A N L

A Y

2 1 L 2 6 4 2 L

C n

3 4

F A

Mosaic

E A o N

Canyon

To Tonopah and Reno

F y O C E S Manly Peak

L A

I

R n I

L T C

A T M

a R

A

A

E Wildrose

L A Two-way traffic to mouth of Titus Canyon. C P

N

C L

W R

N

F A

E

Road conditions require experienced four-wheel drivers.

I U S

mi

D N t

km n S

H a Straw Peak

E 8

N E igr R A

R

O m E mi km

NEVADA 1 3 B N E L

P 3 5 3 E I Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7meters) not allowed. ANYON E

R C S N G CALIFORNIA V KE O A

E Emigrant

AW R R Lida Junction T I H D

266 E T Y

L Ballarat (ghost town)

U

JA I E

E P

Q

S W T

G Rough, narrow, winding road. Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7 meters) not allowed.

Y E

A A WEAPONS CENTER E D

I

E M L CHINA LAKE NAVAL

R R

L

S

L

G G

N sh

A a

O W A

S V Y

Pinto Peak

N mi E D

K km

O C 9

y N E

e Y A G

I l

1 4

l I

J

a N

L

N

V O

O

Y A

T

N

A

C

R M

N C L D

E O M Gold Mountain ft

m O

E

ft O

W

h

m t Y

a L

E e N

Mount Dundee

A L

N

Y

D L

mi

km A O

O V N

T 495 6

91 4 V 151 1

Y S

1 8 A A T

300 0 E

2 9

L

N

C

O

R

D

C E

A

A

I

N

E I

C mi km

Towne Pass

S L

V

D N

E

O E

L P

Y B

T 3 1 5 0 A

N R A

R

A M mi km

G C N Gold Point d mi km

2 4 1 5

oa I 3 5 E R

Panamint Butte

N y

O T le M B l

ft

m a SEARLES LAKE

N V

Y A R I

D

t

mi km E Scotty’s Castle

G in N

190 R

M 641 1

5 8 195 4 Deep sand

O am A

G n

A a P Trona

E P

N

R N S

O I H N

Mount Jackson A

T T Visitor Center and Museum G I White Top Mountain

N ft m

B M O U Grapevine A O O D A W 61 9 ft m N 203 0

at Lake Hill L l P O F Panamint Dunes Ubehebe Crater T Sand

Tin Mountain 895 3 272 9 T

S O mi km C

Mesquite Spring d 4 5 7 2 a mi km

o In winter carry chains. Road may be closed.

R

2 5 4 0

mi km

e d a

N

in o LEY

R L

A

Lida V

P

N O

k 2 0 3 2 E

c D a

r ID ig t H e Y B c a R

E N L A

U Panamint Springs T C YON S ft m CAN Store Wheelchair-accessible Telephone Airstrip Gas station Food service N Lodging

I Flat

A Ulida T Teakettle Junction

N W

Magruder Mountain 904 6 275 7

U O B Falls

O South Pass

ft

m N M I

ALLEY V A Darwin

O K R Sharp rock; requires heavy- duty tires. AC T CETR dots RA E The Hunter The Grandstand T G 745 4 N 227 2 E eek A ft r R m Racetrack M C Mountain L E 178 C ft m A

N ay of Life P A mi 896 0 H 273 1 C km LLS 7 HI

Dry Mountain 867 4 264 4 ft ood T m Cottonw S 1 A DARWIN N L T 567 8 s living permanently imbisha Shoshone O 173 1 A Y L

N Crankshaft Junction h F

s A imbisha Shoshone Home- eserve a W

C s traditional cultural and a

Palmetto Mountain W E Steel Pass C Ubehebe Peak In winter carry chains. Road may be closed. rust lands, located by o Pr N Darwin The T land Act of 2000 provides for the tribe ’ on lands held in trust within their ancestral homeland. T at left, are also shown on the large map. The Act also pro- vides special use areas, includ- ing the T Natural and Cultural Preserva- tion Area, for sustaining the tribe ’ religious activities. Father Crowley Vista T Deep sand Salt flat A Shoshone Timbisha trust lands H C EE L

T

S

N A mi km

Ranger station Sanitary disposal station Picnic area Campground

to O L

t Y E 3 5 3

e N

Mine G m A N

l Road conditions N a C A P O RIDGECREST Y R four-wheel drivers.

m

N K A require experienced 266 C Dunes T O C Eureka N A

O L Death Valley G

8456ft O

R F park boundary

257 7

N S L

k U G L A Mountain I e

N E N M I e Last Chance G E N

r Y N N G E O A Y T C E R C

N N L E E U A L L C C d

H R a A L E mi km o V W R A LO 1 3 2 1

V To

San

ft m

w E

o

l e BR l N 395 i I

in

Paved road Unpaved road High clearance recommended Hiking trail Four-wheel-drive Four-wheel-drive road Preservation Area W L P Cerro Gordo Peak 918 4 279 9

A Timbisha Shoshone Bernardino

A S Natural and Cultural K

E 395 ig R B U E Dunes

E including bicycles, must stay on roads. Vehicles, N EY I LL L VA A

E S

K

A N

L O S

H Y S N

FI 178 A

C N ft m ts AT la FL F mi km US ss I ACT

Chocolate Mountain 770 3 234 8 a C 1 8 2 9

k 190 c

Ja

E Keeler

L 14 B

To Y

A mi km

E R mi km LL T

Dyer A C

k V DU A E

4 2 6 8 U e SE AQ

1 5 2 4 RO GELES

e N

A To Los Angeles

M OS

r T L

y Y

e C l l

a E

V

South Haiwee Reservoir (dry)

L n r

o A

N 136 L

h D

w A In winter carry chains. Road may be closed.

o V A 395

C U North Haiwee Reservoir V N

OWENS LAKE E O

s

168

t Y

Mount Inyo 11107ft 3385m N a Y

l

E

d F

N

k L O a

L

o e u

A A h

s

o e V C o

w r J M A

C

n Owens Peak S R Waucoba Mountain 11123ft 3390m

o G

t N

t I R n

R o P 178

a S E

C Deep Springs Lake

I N

m O

P A

y mi km E

E S

Y M D W E S 2 1 4 0

INYO N N E

E R

S

FOREST A

E N Q

G

L

I E F A

U

E

D

T U C

W To Manzanar National Historic Site S

395 O O L NATIONAL Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center To Big Pine To Lake Isabella To Big Pine Lone Pine Death Valley National Park Death Valley

6 Death Valley Visitor Guide

To To

To

S N r

I e

T Riv

Baker A

A sa

T go

L ar

m mi km F

N A

mi km

Las Vegas

Las Vegas U

2 4 3 9

S

O Tecopa and 178 2 8 4 5

REFUGE To Pahrump

L Devils Hole

S WILDLIFE

Death Valley

M National Park

L NATIONAL S

I and Las Vegas

To Pahrump

A Shoshone E H

127

K ASH MEADOWS and Las Vegas

N

C

O O Ibex Pass ft m

A To

H C

I J

d

S L

a

Death O Valley

A Refuge

o Eagle Mountain 380 6 116 0

H C 10 Miles

R

Junction S

6mi 9km

e

Ibex Dunes ft m

n

Headquarters i

To L

e Brown Peak 494 7 150 8

t a

4mi 6km t

Lathrop Wells S E Furnace

Artists Drive mi km Texas Death Valley Junction Amargosa Opera House Amargosa Valley and Badwater G Creek Inn

Spring 2 3 3 7

Busted Butte N

ft 10 Kilometers 127 m 373 A R ft Deadman Pass 326 3 99 4 m 190 Spring

I N 331 5 N T A 101 0 Sunset O U Saratoga

M mi km A S C R 2 5 4 1 N r C Y Salsberry Pass E e U I v 190 i

To Stovepipe Wells Y E R T A m L A T T L W N

A sa R N U go 1

mi km Watch for flooding ar E V Am 1

Picnic area O

1 8 2 9 E E 0 0 M 0.5 Mile Borax Museu R Creek mi km Timbisha Shoshone Village (private; no visitor services) G ft

Furnace S

m 2 0 3 2

Black Cone d

ft R a

m E E Jubilee Pass 129 0 39 0 o

0.5 Kilometer T A R

Furnace Creek Ranch W

304 0 92 7

Big Dune e

N ft m

t d

D E Y

E E K a

L

No rt h R L W

C Jubilee ft m

Pyramid Peak 670 3 204 3 r G A e ry

iv V r Airpor R Mountain mi km Visitor Center A Furnace Creek a

0 0

Funeral Peak 638 4 194 5 H 2 9 4 6 L S N L I L Furnace Creek Visitor Center Area A B I A a H T os E rg Schwaub Peak C N a S N IN Am E U A ID

ft m NT F E D U O O L N M O S

95 O O C

mi km

Smith Mountain 591 2 180 2 M

G Owl Lake

Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7meters) not allowed.

N G 3 5

Y ft m

mi km E

L G

I Trailer

L (ruins)

1 3 2 1 parking A E

N

V R

Coffin Peak 550 3 167 7

A

A O N

R

B Information Y S

I T

S N Ashford Mill

A A Hole in the Wall

O A h ft

N C s m

ft m a

O A

H W C d U E mi km

Beatty a View 547 5 166 9 M Winters Peak 503 3 153 4 o mi km O 2 7 4 3 Dantes R k Indian Pass

e Shoreline Butte Mormon Point 1 0 1 6 R M re Badwater A C Natural Bridge

D

Twenty Mule Team Canyon

L e A c y Artists Palette A a a Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7meters) not allowed.

n w A r E e

R Nevares Peak e d Fu on iv y a Zabriskie Point r a mi km o

E D w R

Mine s e H

3 5 5 6 n t

s o

N Badwater

S Rhyolite (ghost town) i e

h Lost Lake

S t mi km s

L d r a

374 U i

L S

S 1 1 7 W A I SEE DETAIL MAP ABOVE L

F Devils West

H NELLIS AIR FORCE BOMBING AND GUNNERY RANGE

W

below sea level Badwater Basin e

mi t

km a O d Golf Course

Lowest elevation in Y

mi 6 the U.S., 282ft (86m) g

a km 9

Eagle Borax Works (ruins)

N n o mi km

4 0 i

R Chloride Cliff O

6 4

one way one E

W 1 2 1 9 Y s O

s

N

a L

A

P

C N S t mi km

L

h N O FORT IRWIN MILITARY RESERVATION N

g N

1 9 3 0 O A Y I Golden Canyon

i ft m

l Keane Wonder Mill and Mine (Area temporarily closed because of safety hazards)

N

Y O

y Interpretive Trail A N 190 A

a CANYON E

N Y

D A

L T MUSTARD

N

A N C V A

Daylight Pass 431 6 131 6 N

G C O N A G

G

C Y O U

O

Y N

G Sugarloaf Peak O

Y R ff N

Cuto Interpretive Trail A mi y E N

t A

km F t C I L

ea M

B C R

L L

T 1 0

1 6 k P L

L N A e H

A re S I Harmony Borax Works O C V A

L U S A P Hells Gate

B R M

F N U U

R

H

A

H A Q

N N

O T

G

mi J mi A W

km O A

S km N 7

I

7

H Y E

Salt Creek Interpretive Trail

R

U Corkscrew Peak

N 1 N D 1

P

O

N

Y A

T S

O

N C

A

Y Furnace Creek Visitor Center

C A

ft m

N

Buttes m E D

R

A L U

B E

Information I C

H

A M Information

L T t

Red Pass I

O l A O

ft m V

a R

N Brown Mountain 512 5 156 2

ft m

C N Stonewall Mountain 8875ft 270 5

A S

T

Death Valley A

T Needle Peak

R I

Scottys Junction T

Leadfield (ghost town)

A Aguereberry Point Day use only 643 3 196 1

813 3 247 9

Kit Fox Hills Y S

S E

L

N

Peak

Porter Peak L

A

O V

N Devils E mi T

km T Mahogany Flat U

N Y Wingate Pass Thimble B Thorndike ft m

O I Cornfield 9 N

Y M ft Charcoal Kilns

1 4

A

N m

C A

A

Mengel Pass N

O

Sentinel Peak 963 6 293 7 Y

C N

Y T

A mi km E C

N Telescope Peak 1104 9 336 8 ft

Panamint City (ghost town)

N m N Road conditions require experienced four-wheel drivers.

1 6 2 6 I

Wahguyhe Peak H P U

ft E ad

Historic 906 4

o 276 3

O R ft m

Peak

N

Stovepipe Wells Village e Eureka Mine

l N

R t Striped Butte

A s N O a Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes 673 2 2052m ft m C S M s O E

y’ Bennett G Y

O tt Sand Flats L U o c Y

Mount Palmer 7979ft 2432m

Dunes

S Emigrant Pass 531 8 162 1

Y ft

Rogers Peak N

T m

I O

N Wildrose Peak

d

N TUCKI MOUNTAIN N A Stovepipe Well T a

267 N Harrisburg

A G

Grapevine Peak 873 8 266 3 o

A

C

O R O

N

C

C

Y Skidoo (townsite) Day use only mi

N

mi km Y

km

N O 719 6

95

T 219 3

A N L

A Y

2 1 L 2 6 4 2 L

C n

3 4

F A

Mosaic

E A o N

Canyon

To Tonopah and Reno

F y O C E S Manly Peak

L A

I

R n I

L T C

A T M

a R

A

A

E Wildrose

L A Two-way traffic to mouth of Titus Canyon. C P

N

C L

W R

N

F A

E

Road conditions require experienced four-wheel drivers.

I U S

mi

D N t

km n S

H a Straw Peak

E 8

N E igr R A

R

O m E mi km

NEVADA 1 3 B N E L

P 3 5 3 E I Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7meters) not allowed. ANYON E

R C S N G CALIFORNIA V KE O A

E Emigrant

AW R R Lida Junction T I H D

266 E T Y

L Ballarat (ghost town)

U

JA I E

E P

Q

S W T

G Rough, narrow, winding road. Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7 meters) not allowed.

Y E

A A WEAPONS CENTER E D

I

E M L CHINA LAKE NAVAL

R R

L

S

L

G G

N sh

A a

O W A

S V Y

Pinto Peak

N mi E D

K km

O C 9

y N E

e Y A G

I l

1 4

l I

J

a N

L

N

V O

O

Y A

T

N

A

C

R M

N C L D

E O M Gold Mountain ft

m O

E ft O

W h

m t Y a L

E e N

Mount Dundee

A L

N

Y

D L

mi

km A O

O V N

T 495 6

91 4 V 151 1

Y S

1 8 A A T

300 0 E

2 9

L

N

C

O

R

D

C E

A

A

I

N

E I

C mi km

Towne Pass

S L

V

D N

E

O E

L P

Y B

T 3 1 5 0 A

N R A

R

A M mi km

G C N Gold Point d mi km

2 4 1 5

oa I 3 5 E R

Panamint Butte

N y

O T le M B l ft m a SEARLES LAKE

N V

Y A R I

D

t

mi km E Scotty’s Castle

G in N

190 R

M 641 1

5 8 195 4 Deep sand

O am A

G n

A a P Trona

E P

N

R N S

O I H N

Mount Jackson A

T T Visitor Center and Museum G I White Top Mountain

N ft m

B M O U Grapevine A O O D A W 61 9 ft m N 203 0

at Lake Hill L l P O F Panamint Dunes Ubehebe Crater T Sand

Tin Mountain 895 3 272 9 T

S O mi km C

Mesquite Spring d 4 5 7 2 a mi km o In winter carry chains. Road may be closed.

R

2 5 4 0

mi km

e d a

N

in o LEY

R L

A

Lida V

P

N O k 2 0 3 2 E

c D a

r ID ig t H e Y B c a R

E N L A

U Panamint Springs T C YON S ft m CAN Store Wheelchair-accessible Telephone Airstrip Gas station Food service N Lodging

I Flat

A Ulida T Teakettle Junction

N W

Magruder Mountain 904 6 275 7

U O B Falls

O South Pass

ft

m N M I

ALLEY V A Darwin

O K R Sharp rock; requires heavy- duty tires. AC T CETR dots RA E The Hunter The Grandstand T G 745 4 N 227 2 E eek A ft r R m Racetrack M C Mountain L E 178 C ft m A

N ay of Life P A mi 896 0 H 273 1 C km LLS 7 HI

Dry Mountain 867 4 264 4 ft ood T m Cottonw S 1 A DARWIN N L T 567 8 s living permanently imbisha Shoshone O 173 1 A Y L

N Crankshaft Junction h F

s A imbisha Shoshone Home- eserve a W

C s traditional cultural and a

Palmetto Mountain W E Steel Pass C Ubehebe Peak In winter carry chains. Road may be closed. rust lands, located by o Pr N Darwin The T land Act of 2000 provides for the tribe ’ on lands held in trust within their ancestral homeland. T at left, are also shown on the large map. The Act also pro- vides special use areas, includ- ing the T Natural and Cultural Preserva- tion Area, for sustaining the tribe ’ religious activities. Father Crowley Vista T Deep sand Salt flat A Shoshone Timbisha trust lands H C EE L

T

S

N A mi km

Ranger station Sanitary disposal station Picnic area Campground

to O L

t Y E 3 5 3 e N

Mine G m A N

l Road conditions N a C A P O RIDGECREST Y R four-wheel drivers. m

N K A require experienced 266 C Dunes T O C Eureka N A

O L Death Valley G

8456ft O

R F park boundary

257 7

N S L

k U G L A Mountain I e

N E N M I e Last Chance G E N

r Y N N G E O A Y T C E R C

N N L E E U A L L C C d

H R a A L E mi km o V W R A LO 1 3 2 1

V To

San

ft m

w E o

l e BR SYLVANIA MOUNTAINS l N 395 i I in

Paved road Unpaved road High clearance recommended Hiking trail Four-wheel-drive Four-wheel-drive road Preservation Area W L P Cerro Gordo Peak 918 4 279 9

A Timbisha Shoshone Bernardino

A S Natural and Cultural K

E 395 ig R B U E Saline Valley Dunes

E including bicycles, must stay on roads. Vehicles, N EY I LL L VA A

E S

K

A N

L O S

H Y S N

FI 178 A

C N ft m ts AT la FL F mi km US ss I ACT

Chocolate Mountain 770 3 234 8 a C 1 8 2 9

k 190 c

Ja

E Keeler

L 14 B

To Y

A mi km

E R mi km LL T

Dyer A C

k V DU A E

4 2 6 8 U e SE AQ

1 5 2 4 RO GELES e N

A To Los Angeles

M OS

r T L

y Y e C l l

a E

V

South Haiwee Reservoir (dry)

L n r

o A

N 136 L

h D w A In winter carry chains. Road may be closed.

o V A 395

C U North Haiwee Reservoir V N

OWENS LAKE E O

s

168

t Y

Mount Inyo 11107ft 3385m N a Y l

E

d F

N k L O a

L

o e u

A A h

s o e V C o

w r J M A

C n Owens Peak S R Waucoba Mountain 11123ft 3390m

o G

t N

t I R n

R o P 178 a S E

C Deep Springs Lake

I N m O

P A y mi km E

E S

Y M D W E S 2 1 4 0

INYO N N E

E R

S

FOREST A

E N Q

G

L

I E F A

U

E

D

T U C

W To Manzanar National Historic Site S

395 O O L NATIONAL Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center To Big Pine To Lake Isabella To Big Pine Lone Pine

Death Valley Visitor Guide 7 Park Projects Furnace Creek “Historic Mission 66” Visitor Center Is It LEED Gold?

View of the restored Furnace Creek Visitor Center The visitor center complex was The Furnace Creek Visitor Center complex in Death Valley National Park consists of two buildings and a cen- designed to meet the Leadership tral courtyard that were built in 1959 as part of the Mission 66 program to prepare the nation’s parks for the 50 in Energy and Environmental year anniversary of the National Park Service in 1966. A collaborative effort between the State of California, the Design (LEED) Gold standard for not-for-profit Death Valley ‘49ers, and the National Park Service made construction of this complex possible. an existing building. LEED is an With age and the rising cost of energy over the last 50 years, the visitor center complex became Death Valley’s internationally-recognized “green” most costly buildings to operate. The electricity alone was $45,000 annually. In 2009, the American Recovery building certification system and and Reinvestment Act allowed the park to begin designing the rehabilitation of this facility, and Federal Lands provides building owners and op- Recreation Enhancement Act fee dollars paid for its reconstruction. Our goal was to make the structure more erators with a framework for iden- sustainable and energy efficient, while retaining the regionally significant, mid-century modern appearance of tifying and implementing practical this Mission 66 structure. and measurable “green” building Returning visitors will notice: design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. yy A lobby expansion of 1,500 square feet LEED certification provides inde- pendent, third-party verification yy Modification of the theater that a building was adapted using where we will show a new park strategies aimed at achieving high film performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: yy A redesigned parking lot to im- prove traffic flow and provide yy Sustainable site development shade yy Water savings yy New restroom facilities yy Energy efficiency yy Shade structures in the court- y yard y Materials selection Energy saving changes include: yy Indoor environmental quality yy Triple-pane insulated windows Death Valley National Park de- cided to participate in the LEED yy A new roof with increased process because we are committed insulation to utilizing the taxpayers’ money in Furnace Creek Visitor Center courtyard the most efficient and sustainable yy Air-lock entries to limit the way. cooling loss LEED documentation follows a yy A modern, more efficient heating and cooling system stringent process to document ev- yy Insulation between the old brick and a new inner wall erything that goes into the project. yy A water station for visitors to fill their own water bottles The project examination process will be completed in 2013, at which time the park will be awarded a Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Death Valley LEED certification. As you drive through Death Valley National Park you may see a number of photo-voltaic or solar panel systems and you may wonder….how much is that saving the park? Though the solar panels are installed, they have not been put into service yet. The National Park Service and Southern California Edison are hammering out legal documents for a net metering agreement between our agencies. When the agreements are finally signed the park expects to see 258.4 kilowatts or $71,000 in savings. The following facilities are awaiting final agreements: yy Furnace Creek Visitor Center yy Cow Creek Administrative yy Employee Dormitories Complex yy Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station yy Stovepipe Wells Water System

New energy saving air-lock entry to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center solar panel system Furnace Creek Visitor Center

8 Death Valley Visitor Guide Ranger Programs Exploring with a Park Ranger You Can Be a Junior Ranger! Death Valley National Park is vast and diverse; it Want to have fun while exploring Death Valley? takes years to truly understand and explore it. At- Pick up your free junior ranger book at any visi- tending a ranger program takes only a few minutes tor center. After you finish the activities and re- to a few hours and makes understanding Death cite the junior ranger pledge, a park ranger will sign Valley fun and easy. Park Rangers can introduce you your book and give you an official junior ranger badge. to a new canyon or reintroduce you to a familiar site with Present your completed junior ranger book at any Death Valley Natural a new twist. Programs include guided tours of historic sites, discussions on History Association bookstore and you can purchase a special junior the visitor center patio, walks on the salt flats and dark night sky programs. ranger patch for a small fee. What a great way to explore Death Valley! Pick up a weekly ranger program schedule at any visitor center or find it online at www.nps.gov/deva to see the programs offered during your visit. Fees are charged for Scotty’s Castle and Lower Vine tours; all other tours are Death Valley - An Oasis for Education free. Join us, and discover what this place is really all about! Imagine a classroom 3.4 million acres in size, full of plants, animals, wa- ter, weather, rocks, historic buildings and starry night skies. Death Valley Death Valley Night Sky Program National Park provides just such a learning venue to hundreds of stu- dents, teachers, and chaperones every year through the many education programs offered by our staff. If you are a teacher interested in planning a field trip to Death Valley, arranging for a ranger to visit your classroom, or having our traveling trunk shipped to you, visit our website www.nps.gov/deva/forteachers or contact our Education Specialist at 760-786-3226. These opportunities are made possible through grants and generous pri- vate donations. If you want to support the future of our National Parks by supporting these education programs, contact Death Valley Natural Night sky panoramic photo taken at the Racetrack History Association at dvnha.org/death-valley-rocks.html or call 760- Have you ever wondered what that cluster of stars in the western sky is? Or 786-2146. 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 ROCKS

Death Valley has one of the darkest night skies in the nation. Periodically ROCKS (the Recreational Outdoor Cam- paign for Kids through Study) is a three-day, night sky ranger star programs are offered in various areas of the park. In the two-night environmental education camp past, the park has partnered with other organizations to bring telescopes of program. Students engage in hands-on, out- all shapes and sizes. From looking through a binoscope to seeing the colors door, inquiry-based learning activities that of a nebula on a computer, there is something for everyone. You don’t have enhance science, language art, visual art, to be an aspiring Galileo to enjoy the wonder of the night sky! Come join us! history, mathematics, and physical educa- tion skills by exploring the essential ques- tion, “How does geology influence human, Do You Want to Be a Scientist? plant, and animal life?” Students also learn Around the world visitors to remote camping and desert survival skills. The curriculum-based program is de- locations are providing valuable data signed for California 5th grade students and Nevada 7th grade students, to researchers by their observations. but can be adapted for older or younger audiences. Las Vegas and Los Your personal observations of wild- Angeles public schools with under-served populations, and local rural life can be very valuable. Death Val- schools are invited to apply for full or partial transportation scholarships. ley National Park is currently design- ing a database that will hold visitor Customized Education Programs data and allow us to develop distribu- tion maps of wildlife throughout the The Death Valley education staff is happy to provide short, on-topic pro- park. Two species of special inter- grams for visiting classes, whether you are a local school coming out for a day est are the Nelson’s bighorn sheep trip, or a distant group planning your own itinerary but interested in a little Desert tortoise and the desert tortoise. bit of ranger support. Scout troops and other community organizations are Bighorn sheep spend much of their time in rugged and inaccessible loca- welcome to request these programs. See our website at www.nps.gov/deva/ tions. It can be challenging and expensive to collect population data. forteachers/ranger-guided-day-and-night-programs.htm for a complete list of topics, times, and grade levels. The desert tortoise population has severly declined across the in the past few decades. Surveying for a cryptic, low-density spe- Desert Invaders cies can mean hours/days of searching with limited results. Tortoises in Death Valley are generally active during mild weather retreating into their To preserve the desert landscape in Death Valley burrows to escape extreme heat or cold. National Park, we must actively manage non-native species and quickly identify new invaders. In Death The Desert Managers Group has developed a free app for Valley we currently enjoy a wild landscape that is Smartphones so you can provide information on tortoise largely unimpaired but we need your help to keep it sightings to the National Park Service staff. Go to www.dmg. that way. gov/announcements.php?id=120 for more information. A Smart phone application is now avail- Other wildlife species malcolmia able for free from whatsinvasive.com (Malcolmia africana) observations are wel- to help you report non-native species come also. Please be as to National Park Service staff. Don’t accurate as possible and worry if you don’t have cell reception, your report will include your contact be uploaded as soon as you are within service. In the information. Photos springtime, during wildflower season, Death Valley is provide great informa- on high alert for Saharan mustard (Brassica tournefortii) tion and are always ap- Saharan mustard and malcolmia (Malcolmia africana). You don’t need an (Brassica tournefortii) preciated. Thank you app to report sightings of these plants. Just let someone for participating as a at the visitor center know. Photos and maps are helpful! visitor scientist! Another way to help preserve the desert landscape is to ensure there are no un- Please fill out a wildlife wanted hitchhikers on your car or your clothes. Before you enter a park, check sighting form available underneath your vehicle and inside the grill for weeds that might have tumbled at any visitor center. into your car. Also check your clothes and shoelaces for seeds before setting out Nelson’s bighorn sheep herd for a hike. If you do find seeds, seal them in a plastic bag and throw them away.

Death Valley Visitor Guide 9 Scotty’s Castle A History of Adventure, Eccentricity, and Legendary Cunning... Touring the Castle Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott House Tour could be seen as either an enter- tainer 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 “Buf- falo Bill” Cody discovered Scotty in 1890 and hired him to work as a stunt performer in Buffalo Bill’s Best tour for first-time visitors. world famous Wild West show. It Tours are led by National Park was as an actor with the Wild West Service Rangers, dressed in 1939 show that Scotty learned show- clothing. The guide will share sto- manship skills that would later ries about the heyday of the Castle serve him in his next career. in the late ‘30s, the construction in the 1920s, and the curious relation- In 1902, Scotty began a new pro- ship between the Johnsons and fession that would bring him even Scotty. The house is fully furnished more fame and riches: talking with the Johnsons’ original decora- people out of their money. Scotty tions. Some of their clothing even convinced several wealthy busi- hangs in the closets! A highlight nessmen that he had a fabulous of the program is listening to the gold mine claim in Death Valley Welte Mignon theater organ. Tours and agreed to split the profits, offered daily, times vary. One hour. provided they first forward invest- Wheelchair lift may be available. ment money to Scotty. One of these investors was Albert Johnson, an insurance executive from Chicago, Underground Tour 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 John- son on an adventure grander than anything the wealthy business- Bessie’s pool, an oasis in the desert man probably ever expected. They camped in the desert, and were even involved in a gunfight! Scotty’s Castle was very remote Johnson began to make regular when it was built in the 1920s. The trips to Death Valley with Scotty. underground tour focuses on how By 1915, Albert and his wife, Bes- the Johnsons built a comfortable sie, began acquiring land within vacation home in Death Valley. Grapevine Canyon, in the northern The tour sees the basement, un- part of Death Valley. The surprising derground tunnels, heating system, Spanish-style castle-in-the-desert served as the Johnsons’ vacation original pipes, original power gen- home. eration and power storage systems. A highlight is the demonstration of However, Scotty was quick to electrical generation using an origi- pretend ownership, and it became nal Pelton water wheel. Offered known as Scotty’s Castle. Soon the most days from November through Johnsons and Scotty were enjoy- April, times vary. One hour. Tour ing a good laugh at the expense of Death Valley’s early tourists, some involves stairs, no lift available. of whom actually believed Scotty’s legendary gold mine was located in Lower Vine Hiking Tour the tunnels beneath the Castle. Death Valley Scotty & Albert Johnson share a joke

Tickets These prices are effective through December 31, 2011

House Tour or Underground Tour: Lower Vine Hiking Tour: Adult ...... $11 Adult ...... $15 Yo u t h (ages 6-15) ...... $6 Yo u t h (ages 6-15)...... $8 Children 5 and younger...... Free Children 5 and younger...... Free Scotty’s Castle was not Scotty’s Access pass holders ...... $6 Access pass holders ...... $8 home. Albert and Bessie Johnson (U.S. citizens with disability) (U.S. citizens with disability) had the structures at Lower Vine Seniors (U.S. citizens 62+)...... $9 Seniors (U.S. citizens 62+)...... $11 Ranch built partly as a residence for Scotty and partly to lock up wa- yy Combination discount offered to people that go on House and Underground tours in same day. ter rights near the Castle. Scotty’s yy Reservations are not necessary for House and Underground Tours, but can reduce wait time once you modest cabin, garage, small black- arrive. Reservations are strongly recommended for Lower Vine Hiking Tours. smith shed, grain shed, and corrals are seen on this 2-mile, 2½ hour Tickets may be purchased at least one day in advance from www.recreation.gov or by calling 1-877-444- round trip ranger-guided hike over 6777. On the day of the tour, tickets may only be purchased in person at the Scotty’s Castle Visitor Center. uneven surfaces. Offered occasion- yy Visitors are encouraged to enjoy the picnic area and to walk outside the buildings freely during business hours. ally. Reservations strongly recom- Pre-packaged sandwiches, soft drinks, snacks, books and souvenirs are available. No gasoline or lodging. mended.

10 Death Valley Visitor Guide Park Partners Death Valley Natural History Association Timbisha Shoshone Tribe Since 1954 the Death Valley Natural History Association (DVNHA) has For millennia the Timbisha Sho- been assisting Death Valley National Park as a cooperating association. shone have been a people inextrica- DVNHA is a non-profit association dedicated to the preservation and in- bly tied to the beautiful but austere terpretation of the natural and cultural history of the Death Valley region. desert landscape. They have a strong To date, the DVNHA has contributed more than $3 million to the park! sense of responsibility for it. Over the ages, the Timbisha Shoshone have DVNHA operates bookstores in four locations: devised ingenious methods for man- yy Furnace Creek Visitor Center aging the natural resources of their yy Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station Homeland. One such innovation was the Tribe’s use of fire to control veg- yy Scotty’s Castle Visitor Center etation in marshes and to encourage yy Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge Office seeds and other plants known to be fire followers. Rich harvests and lush DVNHA contributes 100% of its profit to benefit education and research plant growth resulted from the time in Death Valley National Park and Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. and effort the people traditionally Some of the projects DVNHA supports include the Death Valley ROCKS Tribe members Pauline Esteves and Barbara spent clearing and pruning plants education program, Youth Conservation Corps program, summer intern- Durham while “spring cleaning” and transplanting and cultivating ships program, and printing of the park’s Visitor Guide each year. native domesticated plants. Tribal knowledge also included the location of water sources which they regularly cleaned and kept clear of debris to ensure DVNHA also sponsors the Death Valley Conference on History and Prehis- a continued supply of clean, potable water. Some springs are choked with tory -- scheduled for November 4-6, 2011 in Beatty, Nevada. Twenty-four vegetation because the Tribe has not been allowed to continue its traditional presenters are on the schedule to impart new research on the region across a care-taking activities. range of topics. If you have never attended this event which takes place every two years, put it on your calendar. You will not be disappointed! Today, working in concert with the staff at Death Valley National Park, mem- bers of the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe are involved in the co-management DVNHA is a member-supported organization. Membership not only of some of the spring sites by using traditional methods. Using hand tools increases support to the park, but also increases visitor awareness and the pruning and clearing out the overgrowth of vegetation at the springs education—something you can feel good about now and in the future. will provide access to surface water, enhance water flow, and will maintain In addition to supporting projects that might not otherwise be funded, and enhance the growth of desirable grasses and other herbaceous species. benefits of membership include: yy 15% discount on all purchases at four locations. VIPs Sighted at Death Valley National Park yy 15% discount at most National Park Service Visitor Center book- Everyone knows what a VIP is, but stores nationwide. we have our own meaning for them yy Subscription to Telescope, our membership newsletter. here in Death Valley—Volunteers in Parks. These folks are truly VIPs yy Advance notice of special events and sales. in every sense of the word. Our yy A free membership patch. VIPs work in every park division doing all kinds of work, from inter- For more information, see dvnha.org pretive programs to the auto shop. Death Valley Conservancy Volunteers are an integral part of nearly every park within the Na- Volunteer Mike Wehmeyer drives & repairs tional Park system. In Death Valley the fire engine, is an EMT and leads tours The Death Valley Conservancy (DVC), a California non-profit public National Park, volunteers contrib- at Scotty’s Castle benefit corporation, was established in 2008 to provide support and de- uted more than 36,000 labor-hours velop broad-based private funding for significant projects in Death Valley National Park and the surrounding communities. in 2011, the equivalent of more than 17 person-years of work! Its special “Death Valley Fund” was created to provide for Park-specific Volunteers come to the park for all different types of work and for various projects that preserve, protect or enhance Death Valley National Park’s lengths of time. Some, like campground hosts, are here all winter long, natural, cultural and historic resources and the visitor experience. while others for shorter stays. Most live in their RVs near the employee housing area. We also have “virtual volunteers;” those that work at home The DVC has already raised and provided considerable support. Note- and only come to the park on a periodic basis. worthy is a $100,000 grant from the Offield Family Foundation for re- search for the endangered Devil’s Hole Pupfish. This grant purchased In addition to those coming from afar, we have volunteers from our custom, specialized, state-of-the-art stereo video equipment and software local gateway communities that contribute their expertise to our opera- and is funding a researcher from Ball State University to focus on Devils tions. This is a great opportunity for the park and our neighbors to make Hole’s unique habitat along with the needed scientific equipment. a connection. College and universities come in small groups to tackle The DVC also secured a donation of $10,000 and 900 sleeping bags for wilderness restoration projects or help with debris clean up. We nearly students in the Death Valley ROCKS program through the Coleman always have Americorps or Student Conservation Association volunteers Company. in the park at any given time. Scouts and conservation groups like to lend a hand for a weekend or a day. We can welcome most groups if we have The DVC is in the process of acquiring the historic Ryan mining camp adequate advance notice. from Rio Tinto Corporation (previously US Borax) along with providing significant funds to pay for restoration and future maintenance. There We’re often looking for a particular skill set, and recruit for specific posi- are plans to restore the camp as much as possible to its historic flavor, and tions at volunteer.gov/gov. The nps.gov site also provides a searchable DVC is currently exploring the use of Ryan mining camp as an educa- tional and research center in the future. database where you can search by park or by state. You can read more about DVC at dvconservancy.org/ For more info on Death Valley’s volunteer program, call Cheryl Chipman at 760-786-3207.

Volunteers Jim & Gladyce Neves have been hosts at Texas Springs Campground for Volunteer Jim “Chickenwire” Klassen keeps Historic Ryan Camp thirteen years. Park radios in good repair.

Death Valley Visitor Guide 11 Visitor Services in Death Valley Name Telephone Services

Furnace Creek Visitor Center The Furnace Creek Visitor Center is operated by the National Park Service. Park 760-786-3200 rangers provide information, ranger talks, and park information. Pay park entrance (www.nps.gov/deva) fees and purchase passes.

Death Valley Natural History Association The Death Valley Natural History Association operates the bookstores inside of the 800-478-8564 visitor centers at Furnace Creek and Scotty’s Castle as well as the Stovepipe Wells (dvnha.org/) ranger station and Ash Meadows.

Scotty’s Castle Scotty’s Castle is operated by the National Park Service. Park rangers provide daily 760-786-2392 tours (fee charged), visitor information and assistance. Soft drinks, sandwiches and (www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/scottys-castle.htm) snacks are also available.

Recreation.gov provides reservations at some government campgrounds within www.recreation.gov Death Valley between October 15 to April 15. Furnace Creek campground reserva- 877-444-6777 tions can be made up to six months in advance. Group campsite reservations can be (www.recreation.gov) made eleven months in advance. Scotty’s Castle tour reservations can be made up to 24 hours prior to the visit.

Stovepipe Wells Village is a park concession operated and managed by the Death Stovepipe Wells Village Valley Lodge Company. The company provides the following services: motel, 760-786-2387 (escapetodeathvalley.com) restaurant, bar, ATM, gift shop, convenience store, gas station, showers, swimming pool, paved airstrip, RV hookups, campground, and ranger station

Panamint Springs Resort Panamint Springs Resort is privately owned and operated. The resort provides the 775-482-7680 following services: Motel, restaurant, bar, gas station, campground, RV hookups, (www.deathvalley.com/psr) showers.

Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch are private inholdings within the National Park. Managed by Xanterra Parks and Resorts, the Inn and Ranch have the following Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resorts services available: historic hotel, motel, camping, restaurants, bars, general store, gift 760-786-2345 (www.furnacecreekresort.com) shops, ATM, gas station, diesel, propane, tire repair, post office, showers, laundro- mat, swimming, bike rentals, horse rides, carriage rides, borax museum, golf course, tennis courts, paved airstrip, jeep rentals and tours.

Farabee’s Jeep Rentals & Towing Farabee’s is located across from the Inn at Furnace Creek and offers jeep rentals, 877-970-5337 (www.Death ValleyJeepRentals.com) including trail maps, driving tips and ice chests. Also provide towing services.

Number of RV Dump CAMPGROUND Open Season Elevation Fee Sites Water Tables Firepits Toilets Hookups Station

Furnace Creek (NPS) all year -196´ $18** 136 yes yes yes flush no yes

Sunset (NPS) mid-Oct to mid-Apr -196´ $12 270 yes no no flush no yes

Texas Spring (NPS) mid-Oct to mid-Apr sea level $14 106 yes yes yes flush no yes

Stovepipe Wells (NPS) mid-Oct to mid-Apr sea level $12 190 yes some some flush no yes

Stovepipe Wells Resort (RV only) all year sea level $31 14 yes some no flush 50 amp yes

Furnace Creek Ranch (RV only) all year -218’ $32 12 yes no no flush yes yes

Mesquite Spring (NPS - 30’) all year 1,800’ $12 40 yes yes yes flush no yes

Panamint Springs Resort all year 2,000’ $7.50-$30 50 yes yes some flush yes yes

Emigrant (NPS - tent only) all year 2100´ free 10 yes yes no flush no no

Wildrose (NPS - 25’) all year 4100´ free 23 yes yes yes pit no no

Thorndike* (NPS) Mar-Nov 7400´ free 6 no yes yes pit no no

Mahogany Flat* (NPS) Mar-Nov 8200´ free 10 no yes yes pit no no * Accessible to high clearance vehicles only. 4-wheel drive may be necessary. ** Furnace Creek Campground fee changes to $12 per night from mid-April to mid-October. Temperatures New Concessionaire

Max Min Death Valley National Park is pleased to welcome a Jan. 65°F / 18°C 39°F / 4°C new concessionaire at Stovepipe Wells Village. The Feb. 72°F / 22°C 46°F / 8°C Death Valley Lodging Company, run by the Ortega Family Enterprises, was selected to run the opera- March 80°F / 27°C 53°F / 12°C tion in January 2011 for a term of 10 years. April 90°F / 32°C 62°F / 17°C May 99°F / 37°C 71°F / 22°C “We will be leading the charge to operate as respon- sible partners in all phases of business operations. June 109°F / 43°C 80°F / 27°C Our environmentally conscious efforts are prior- July 115°F / 46°C 88°F / 31°C ity one with any project and our goal is to be the August 113°F / 45°C 85°F / 29°C template for the future of National Park concession Sept. 106°F / 41°C 75°F / 24°C operations.” says Shane Ortega, who holds an MBA from Stanford with an emphasis on environmental Oct. 92°F / 33°C 62°F / 16°C stewardship. Nov. 76°F / 24°C 48°F / 9°C Dec. 65°F / 19°C 39°F / 4°C The Ortega family is from Sante Fe, New Mexico, and well known as successful entrepreneurs throughout the Southwest. They operate other National Park concessions at Bandelier, White Sands, Carlsbad Caverns, and Official weather station at Furnace Creek Muir Woods, and they manage the historic El Rancho Hotel in Gallup, New Mexico. They also manage galler- ies in the southwest featuring Native American jewelry. Record High: 134°F / 57°C July 1913 Record Low: 15°F / -9°C January 1913 The Death Valley Lodging Company has updated several aspects of the property, including complimentary Wi-Fi in all rooms and they have revised the menu with year-round lunches served in the Saloon.

12 Death Valley Visitor Guide