Death Valley National Park U

National Park Service Death Valley National Park U. S. Department of the Interior

Visitor Guide Summer 2016

Coyote photo by Neal Nurmi Surviving Summer in Death Valley Every summer, park visitors suffer from the effects of heat and sun exposure. Ill effects range from cramps, headache and nausea to fainting, seizures, and even death. Follow these precautions to ensure your safety during your visit.

Be Prepared and Travel Safely yyHigher elevations are cooler. Visit places like Dantes View, or the Charcoal Kilns in Wildrose Canyon. yy Make sure your vehicle, including the spare tire, is in good condition. Carry a jack and tire-changing tools. yyIf it’s very hot, stay within sight of your vehicle while walking around. yyCarry enough water in your vehicle to survive should you have to wait for help. Rangers recommend one gallon per person per day. Tips for safe hikes yyStay on paved roads. Dirt roads are patrolled infrequently during the yy Carry water & sports drinks. Don’t ration water; drink freely and often. summer. yyWear a loose shirt, sturdy shoes, sunglasses, and a hat. yyCell service is available only in the Furnace Creek area. yyTake advantage of evaporative cooling: wet down your shirt and hair, or yyIf you have car trouble, stay with your vehicle. Flag down another car wear a wet bandanna around your neck. and ask them to send help. Wait in the shade of your vehicle. Recognize signs of trouble Hike early or not at all yy Thirst is an early warning and means you are already dehydrated. It’s time yy Know the predicted high temperature for the day. to drink water. yyOn hot days, finish hikes before 10 am. yyIf you feel dizzy, nauseous, or develop a headache, get out of the sun immediately, wet your clothing, and take small sips of water. yyTour by car and use the air conditiioning.

Danger in the Dunes What’s Inside?

Of the eighteen heat-related Safety & Rules ...... 2 fatalities in Death Valley since 2000, three occurred at Mesquite What To See...... 3 Sand Dunes. Sand hills quickly block views of the parking Park Map...... 4 & 5 area and it’s easy to become disoriented: keep your car in Dark Night Sky...... 6 your line of sight. Although the NPS Centennial...... 7 tallest dunes appear to be close, they are actually over a mile Visitor Services...... 8 (1.6 kilometers) away: do not try walking to the high dunes in the summer heat.

Death Valley Visitor Guide 1 Safety & Park Rules ENGLISH DEUTSCH FRANÇAIS ITALIANO Safety Sicherheit Sécurité Sicurezza yy Water: Drink at least one gallon (4 yy Wasser: Trinken Sie mindestens vier yy Boire de l’eau: Buvez du moins yyAcqua: Bevete almeno un gallone liters) of water per day. Carry plenty Liter Wasser pro Tag. Führen Sie im- un gallon (4 litres) d’eau par jour. (4 litri) d’acqua ogni giorno. Portate of extra drinking water in your car. mer noch zusätzliches Trinkwasser im Apportez beaucoup d’eau potable più acqua nella vostra macchina in yyHeat & Dehydration: If you feel Auto mit sich supplémentaire dans votre voiture. modo da averne abbastanza se finite dizzy, nauseous or have a headache, yyHitze & Flüssigkeitsverlust: Wenn Sie yyLa chaleur et la déshydratation: l’acqua che portate con voi. get out of the sun immediately and sich schwindelig fühlen, Ihnen übel ist Si vous ressentez des étourdisse- yyCaldo e Disidatrazione: Se avete drink plenty of water. Dampen your oder Sie Kopfschmerzen bekommen, ments, des nausées, ou des maux de la testa che gira, la nausea o mal di clothing to lower body tempera- gehen Sie sofort aus der Sonne und tête, mettez-vous à l’abri du soleil testa, trovate subito dell’ombra o un ture. Heat and dehydration can kill. trinken Sie reichlich Wasser. Feuchten et buvez beaucoup d’eau. Humectez posto dove non c’è il sole e bevete Sie Ihre Kleidung an, um Ihre Körper- des vêtements afin de baisser votre molta acqua. Inumidite i vestiti per temperatur zu senken. Hitze und Flüs- température corporelle. La chaleur et abbassare la temperatura del corpo. sigkeitsverlust können tödlich sein. la déshydratation peuvent vous tuer. Il caldo e la disidratazione possono yyFahren im Sommer: Bleiben Sie auf yyLa conduite en été: Restez sur les uccidervi. befestigten Straßen. Wenn Ihr Auto routes pavées. Si votre voiture tombe yyGuidare durante l’estate: Rimanete liegenbleibt, bleiben Sie vor Ort und en panne, restez là jusqu’à ce que les sulle strade asfaltate. Se la vostra warten Sie, bis Hilfe kommt. Seien secours arrivent. Soyez prêt; apportez macchina si guasta, rimanete con la Sei vorbereitet: nehmen Sie immer beaucoup d’eau supplémentaire. macchina finché arrivano i soccorsi. reichlich Wasser in Ihrem Auto mit. Siate preparati; portate tanta acqua. yyBleiben Sie wachsam und fahren yyState in allerta e rallentate: La Sie langsam: Die hauptsächliche causa di morte più comune nella Todesursache im Death Valley ist ein Death Valley è un incidente di una einfacher Autounfall. Ein Moment sola macchina. Un momento di disat- der Unachtsamkeit kann Sie, Ihr Auto tenzione può ribaltare la vostra mac- und Ihre Lieben dazu verdammen, in china nel deserto roccioso, con voi e i der steinigen Wüste zu enden. vostri cari dentro. yyVerlassen Sie sich nicht auf die yyNon fate troppo affidamento Technik! Ihr Handy wird im größten sulla tecnologia! Il vostro cellulare y Teil des Parks nicht funktionie- yRester vigilant et freiner la voi- non funziona nella maggior parte ren. GPS Geräte weisen Besucher ture: La principale cause de décès à del parco. I GPS dicono spesso ai des Death Valleys häufig an, die Death Valley est un accident impli- visitatori del parco di prendere una viel befahrenen Straßen zu verlas- quantun seul véhicule. Un moment “scorciatoia” attraverso il deserto d’inattention peut faire se retourner yySummer Driving: Stay on paved sen und “Abkürzungen” durch die e nei canyon, lontano dalle strade Wüste und die Canyons zu nehmen. votre voiture, lançant vous-même et molto trafficate. Il buon senso, una roads in summer. If your car breaks vos proches dans le désert rocailleux. down, stay with it until help comes. Gesunder Menschenverstand, eine mappa della Death Valley e decisioni Be prepared; carry plenty of extra Karte des Death Valley und ein gutes yyNe pas dépendre de la technolo- assennate sono più affidabili della water. Urteilungsvermögen sind sehr viel gie! Votre téléphone cellulaire ne tecnologia. sicherer. marchera pas dans quasiment tout yyStay alert and slow down: The yyEscursionismo: Non fate escur- yy Wandern: Wandern Sie im Som- le parc. Les dispositifs GPS indiquent sionismo a basse altitudini durante most common cause of death in the aux visiteurs de quitter les grands park is single car vehicle accidents. mer NICHT in den tieferen Lagen. l’estate. Le montagne intorno alla Die Berge, welche das Death Valley chemins et de prendre des «raccour- Death Valley sono più fredde e ci A moment of inattention can send cis» à travers le désert et dans les you, your car, and your loved ones umgeben, sind kühler und dort gibt es sono molti sentieri. viele Wege. canyons. Le bon sens, une carte de flipping into the rocky desert. Death Valley, et un jugement éclairé yyAllagamenti: Evitate i canyon yyDo not rely on technology! Your yySturzfluten: Meiden Sie die Can- sont beaucoup plus fiables. durante i temporali e siate pre- yons während eines Sturms mit parati a muovervi verso un punto cell phone will not work in most of y Regen und bereiten Sie sich darauf yLa randonnée: NE faites PAS de la più elevato. Mentre guidate, state the park. GPS devices frequently randonnée dans les zones à basse tell Death Valley visitors to turn vor, jederzeit einen höher gelegenen attenti all’acqua che corre attraverso Ort aufsuchen zu können. Achten Sie altitude en été. Les montagnes qui la strada. off well-traveled roads, and take entourent Death Valley sont plus “shortcuts” over the desert and into während der Fahrt auf Wasser, das in yyAnimali Pericolosi: Non mettere Pfützen und Schlaglöcher läuft. fraîches et il y a beaucoup de sen- canyons. Common sense and good tiers. mai le mani o i piedi dove non potete judgment are far more reliable. vedere. Crotali, scorpioni, o vedove yyLes inondations soudaines: Evitez y nere potrebbero esservi nascosti. yHiking: DO NOT hike in the low les canyons pendant les orages et elevations when temperatures are soyez prêt à vous déplacer en ter- Regole hot. The mountains are cooler in rain plus élevé. En conduisant, soyez yyLe tasse di entrata si applicano a summer. attentif aux puissants débits d’eau et tutti i visitatori! Per favore, control- yyFlash Floods: Avoid canyons dur- aux eaux dans les creux de la route. late a pagina 4 per il costo esatto che ing rain storms and be prepared to yyLes animaux dangereux: Ne placez dovreste pagare. move to higher ground. While driv- yy Gefährliche Tiere: Setzen Sie nie eine jamais vos mains ou vos pieds là où yyCani e Biciclette non sono permessi ing, be alert for water running in Hand oder einen Fuß an eine Stelle, vous ne pouvez pas d’abord voir. Des sui sentieri o nell’area selvatica che washes and across road dips. die Sie vorher nicht sehen konnten. crotales, des scorpions, ou des veuves copre 90% del parco. yyDangerous Animals: Never place Klapperschlangen, Skorpione oder noires peuvent s’y cacher. your hands or feet where you can- Schwarze Witwen (Spinnen) könnten yyNon entrare nei tunnel delle not see. Rattlesnakes, scorpions or dort Unterschlupf gefunden haben. Règles miniere o nei pozzi. Le miniere black widow spiders may be shel- yy Les droits d’entrée s’appliquent à potrebbero essere instabili, avere tered there. Regeln tous les visiteurs! Veuillez consulter pozzi nascosti e sacche di aria o gas yyEintrittsgebühren müssen von alla page 4 pour le montant exact que tossici. Rules len Besuchern gezahlt werden! Bitte vous devez payer. y y Entrance fees apply to all visitors! informieren Sie sich auf Seite 4 über yyLes chiens et les vélos sont inter- Please see page 4 for the exact die genaue Höhe der Gebühren. dits sur les sentiers ou aux milieux amount you should pay. yyHunde und Fahrräder sind nicht er- sauvages, ce qui couvre plus de 90 yyPets and Bicycles are not allowed laubt auf Pfaden oder in der Wildnis, pour cent du parc. on trails or in Wilderness which cov- die 90% des Parks umfasst. yyNe pas entrer dans les tunnels ou ers over 90% of the park. yyBetreten Sie keine Minentunnel les puits de mine. Les mines peuvent yyDo not enter mine tunnels or oder Schächte. Minen können insta- être instables, avoir des puits cachés, shafts. Mines may be unstable, have bil sein, versteckte Schächte haben ou des poches d’air de mauvaise hidden shafts, pockets of bad air und Einschlüssen von schlechter Luft qualité et de gaz toxique. and poisonous gas. oder giftigem Gas enthalten. yyNe pas alimenter les oiseaux ou yyNon dar da mangiare agli uccelli o yyDo not feed birds or animals. This yyFüttern Sie keine Vögel oder wilden les animaux sauvages. C’est pour agli animali selvatici. Questa regola is for your safety and the health of Tiere. Dies dient Ihrer Sicherheit und s’assurer votre sécurité aussi bien que è per la vostra protezione e la salute our wildlife. Plus, it is against the der Gesundheit unserer Tierwelt. la santé de notre faune et flore. della nostra fauna. law! yyFahren abseits der Straßen ist ver- yyLa conduite hors route est interd- yyÈ vietato guidare fuori dalle yyDriving off roads is prohibited. boten. Bleiben Sie auf den ausgewi- ite. Restez sur les routes établies. strade. Rimanete sulle strade segnal- Stay on established roads. esenen Straßen. yyNe rien prendre! Laissez les pierres, ate. yyDo not take anything! Leave yyNehmen Sie nichts mit! Lassen Sie les plantes, et les objets historiques là yyNon portate via niente! Lasciate i rocks, plants and historic objects Steine, Pflanzen oder historische Ob- où vous les trouvez pour que tout le sassi, le piante, e gli oggetti storici where you find them for everyone jekte dort, wo Sie sie finden, damit monde puisse en profiter. dove li avete trovati in modo che to enjoy. jeder sich an Ihnen erfreuen kann. tutti possano goderne.

2 Death Valley Visitor Guide What to See & Do: Summer Panamint Mountains

The higher the elevation, the cooler it will be. The Panamint Mountains are the highest in the park and often snow-covered in winter, but summer is the perfect time to visit. While the valley swelters, wildflowers may be blooming on the tallest peaks. This area is accessible only to vehicles less than 25 ft / 7.6 m in length. yy Aguereberry Point: One thou- yy Wildrose Peak Trail (4.2 miles/ sand feet higher than Dante’s View, 6.7 km one-way) A good high peak this viewpoint gives a perspective (9,064 ft/2762 m) to climb in the over Death Valley from the west. summer. Trail begins at north end Along the gravel road are the re- of Charcoal Kilns with an elevation mains of Pete Aguereberry’s camp gain of 2,200 ft/670 m. Spectacular and his Eureka Mine. The last sec- views beyond 2 mile/3.2 km point. Zabriskie Point photo by Robert Jacobs tion to the view point may require a high-clearance vehicle. yy Telescope Peak Trail (7 miles/ Auto Touring 11.2 km one-way) This strenuous yy Wildrose Charcoal Kilns: trail to the highest peak in the park yy Zabriskie Point: Surrounded yy Dante’s View: The most These ten beehive-shaped struc- (11,049 ft/ 3368 m) with a 3000 by a maze of wildly eroded and breathtaking viewpoint in the park, tures are among the best preserved ft/ 914 m elevation gain. Trail is vibrantly colored badlands, this this mountain-top overlook is in the west. Built in 1876 to provide usually snow-free by June. Start spectacular view is one of the more than 5000 ft / 1524 m above fuel to process silver/lead ore, they at Mahogany Flat Campground park’s most famous. Zabriskie the floor of Death Valley. Cooler still smell of smoke today. The last at end of Wildrose Canyon Point is a popular sunrise and temperatures at that elevation al- 2 miles of gravel road to the kilns Road. Steep road after Charcoal sunset viewing location. The view- low for short walks along the ridge. are passable to most vehicles. Kilns; high-clearance vehicle point is a short walk uphill from The paved road is open to vehicles recommended. the parking area. less than 25 ft / 7.6 m in length. yy Twenty Mule Team Canyon: yy Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes: Winding through otherworldly Tawny dunes smoothly rise nearly badlands, this 2.7 mile / 4.3 km, 100 feet / 30 m from Mesquite one-way loop drive is unpaved, but Flat. Late afternoon light accen- accessible to vehicles other than tuates the ripples and patterns buses, RV’s, and trailers. while morning is a good time to view tracks of nocturnal wildlife. yy Artist’s Drive: A scenic loop Moonlight on the dunes can be drive through multi-hued volca- magical, yet night explorers should nic and sedimentary hills. Artist’s be alert for sidewinder rattlesnakes Palette is especially photogenic in during the warm season. late afternoon light. The 9 mile / 14.5 km paved road is one-way and yy Ubehebe Crater: Just a few Panamint Mountains is only drivable with vehicles less hundred years ago a massive vol- than 25 ft / 7.6 m in length. canic explosion caused by steam When is the Best Season to Visit Death Valley ? pressure when hot magma contact- yy Devil’s Golf Course: An im- ed the underground water table, Death Valley National Park is usually considered a winter park, but it is mense area of rock salt eroded by shattered the silence of northern wind and rain into jagged spires. So possible to visit here all year. When is the best time to visit? It all depends Death Valley. When the cinders on what you’re looking for. incredibly serrated that “only the and dust settled, this 600 foot / yySUMMER starts early in Death Valley. By May the valley is too hot for devil could play golf on such rough 183 m deep crater remained. links.” The unpaved road leading most visitors, yet throughout the hottest months, visitors from around the to it is often closed after rain. yy Father Crowley Vista: A land- world still flock to the park. Lodging and camping are available, but only scape of dark lava flows and vol- the most hardy will want to camp in the low elevations in the summer. Most summer visitors tour by car to the main points of interest along the yy Badwater Basin: The lowest canic cinders abruptly gives way to paved roads but do little else due to the extreme heat. Those wanting to point in North America, Badwater the gash of Rainbow Canyon below Basin is a surreal landscape of vast hike will find the trails to Telescope and Wildrose Peaks are at their best in this viewpoint. Wheelchair acces- summer. salt flats. A temporary lake may sible. Walk the dirt track east of the form here after heavy rainstorms. yyAUTUMN arrives in late October, with warm but pleasant temperatures parking lot for a grand overlook of and generally clear skies. The camping season begins in fall and so do the Do not walk on the salt flats in hot the northern Panamint Valley. weather. Wheelchair accessible. Ranger Programs, which continue through spring. Although it is relatively uncrowded at this time of year, the weeks leading up to Death Valley Other Cool Things ‘49ers Encampment (second week in November) and the Thanksgiving holiday are busy. yyWINTER has cool days, chilly nights and rarely, rainstorms. With snow yy Furnace Creek Visitor Center: y y Swimming Pools: Did you capping the high peaks and low angled winter light, this season is espe- The main park visitor center has bring your swimsuit? Stovepipe cially beautiful for exploring the valley. The period after Thanksgiving and new exhibits, park film, bookstore, Wells Resort and Furnace Creek before Christmas is the least crowded time of the entire year. Peak winter and rangers on hand to answer Ranch have pools available to use visitation periods include Christmas to New Year’s, Martin Luther King Day questions. Free WiFi 10 am to 3 pm. for a fee. weekend in January, and Presidents’ Day weekend in February. Reserva- tions will be helpful. yy Borax Museum: A privately- yy Nighttime Walks: After the owned museum located in the yySPRINGTIME is the most popular time to visit Death Valley. Besides warm blazing sun sets, you may see more and sunny days, the possibility of spring wildflowers is a big attraction. If Furnace Creek Ranch. Exhibits in- stars than you ever imagined or the previous winter brought rain, the desert can put on an impressive flo- clude a mineral collection and the the desert bathed in moonlight. ral display, usually February to early April. Check our website for wildflow- history of borax in Death Valley. Although it can still be hot in the er updates. Spring break for schools throughout the west brings families Behind the museum building is an evening, night is when desert wild- and students to the park from the last week of March through the week assembly of mining and transpor- life becomes active. after Easter. Campgrounds and lodging are usually packed at that time, so tation equipment. reservations are recommended.

Salt Flats photo by Dan Mottaz Death Valley Visitor Guide 3 To

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Las Vegas m

A Tecopa and

S 24mi 39km

Devils Hole 28mi 45km

REFUGE

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WILDLIFE To Pahrump National Park

L S NATIONAL

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and Las Vegas To Pahrump

A 178

H Shoshone

127 E K

ASH MEADOWS

and Las Vegas

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Eagle Mountain 3806ft 1160m H

6mi 9km

e e 10 Miles

n Ibex Dunes i Headquarters

Brown Peak 4947ft 1508m te L te

ta 4mi 6km Lathrop Wells S E Amargosa Opera House Death Valley Junction Amargosa Valley G 23mi 37km

Busted Butte N

373 A 127 10 Kilometers R Deadman Pass 3263ft 994m

Spring I N 3315ft

A 1010m O U N T A M Saratoga C R S 25mi 41km N C Salsberry Pass E Y r U 190 I e v Y T E A i R A L T

L W N T A sa N U go 1 Watch for ﬂooding ar R E V m 1 O A 18mi 29km E

0 0 Lifetime Pass Interagency Senior Pass ...... $10 (for U.S. citizens 62+) Interagency Access Pass ...... $free (for U.S. citizens with disability) Other Passes honored Golden Age & Access Groups Tour Commercial Fee determined by vehicle capacity E M R G

Black Cone

S 20mi 32km R d E Jubilee Pass 1290ft 390m a T o

Big Dune E A

W R 3040ft 927m

N Y

E E e

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Nort h R A C W

Pyramid Peak 6703ft 2043m G V r Jubilee ive y R A rr Mountain Funeral Peak 6384ft 1945m a 29mi 46km L H S S N L I B IL A A H T sa E o Schwaub Peak C N N g N ar S E U AI D T m I N A E F OU D N O M 95 O S L O

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

N Owl Lake

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3mi 5km E

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A E parking

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5912ft

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A O Co n Peak 5503ft 1677m

N Information

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(valid up to 7 days)

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Hole in the Wall

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O a A Smith Mountain H

C W U E View

5475ft Beatty 1669m Winters Peak 5033ft M 1534m d

O 27mi 43km k Dantes

a Indian Pass e Shoreline Butte

e R Mormon Point r o M 10mi 16km ate C Natural Bridge Badw r A R D

Twenty Mule Team Canyon

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

n w Dr r e E R A Nevares Peak u n d F o ay a Artists Palette o

E Zabriskie Point w R

Mine e H

35mi 56km N o Badwater S

t e h

Rhyolite (ghost town)

s s L i d a

U i Lost Lake L t

374 S W

I r F SEE DETAIL MAP ABOVE t L Vehicle & passengers...... $20Vehicle Individual entering on motorcycle, bicycle, or foot...... $10 Annual Pass Annual PassDeath Valley ...... $40 Interagency Annual Pass...... $80 Interagency Military Pass...... $free (for active duty military & dependents)

Single Visit Pass S s 11mi 17km

Entrance Fees Castle Scotty’s Pay the park entrance fee at Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Ranger Station or at one of the automated fee Stovepipe Wells Visitor Center, machines placed throughout the park. We

A H

NELLIS AIR FORCE BOMBING AND GUNNERY RANGE Devils

below sea level

Badwater Basin

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d Lowest elevation in Y

a 6mi

Golf Course Eagle Borax Works (ruins) g

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64km i

Y one way one E North America, 282ft (86m)

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Golden Canyon Y

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Interpretive Trail

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O C Daylight Pass 4316ft 1316m G N

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Sugarloaf Peak

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A Harmony Borax Works O

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Salt Creek Interpretive Trail Q

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7mi N A 7mi H

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Corkscrew Peak U R

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11km N

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Buttes

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Red Pass O

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N Brown Mountain 5125ft 1562m

Stonewall Mountain 8875ft 2705m C N

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Needle Peak Death Valley

T A

R I T

Scottys Junction T

A Aguereberry Point Day use only 6433ft 1961m

Leadﬁeld (ghost town) Y

S Kit Fox Hills E

8133ft 2479m

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Peak N Devils L

Porter Peak A

Corn eld V

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Thimble E Y T N Wingate Pass

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Y M Charcoal Kilns A N

C A

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Mengel Pass N Sentinel Peak 9636ft 2937m

14km Y C

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C Telescope Peak 11049ft 3368m

N Panamint City (ghost town) N N

I Road conditions require experienced four-wheel drivers.

16mi 26km Wahguyhe Peak

H P U ad E Historic 9064ft

o 2763m

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Peak

N O

e 6732ft 2052m

l Eureka Mine

t Striped Butte

s Stovepipe Wells Village

N a Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Y S C O M E

s Flats

y’ Bennett

O t G Mount Palmer 7979ft 2432m t N

L U o Y

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S Emigrant Pass 5318ft 1621m Rogers Peak Dunes Y

A I O

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Harrisburg

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Stovepipe Well

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267 N a A G

Grapevine Peak 8738ft 2663m

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Skidoo (townsite) Day use only

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34km

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To Tonopah and Reno F Manly Peak

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Two-way trafﬁc to mouth of Titus Canyon. P

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O 33mi 53km E B I Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7 meters) not allowed. ANYON E

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CALIFORNIA V E K A Emigrant W R R A CHINA LAKE

Lida Junction IT H

266 E T Y D

Ballarat (ghost town)

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Gold Mountain a D L

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Scotty’s Castle 6411ft

5mi 8km M n

1954m Deep sand

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H N Mount Jackson A

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I White Top Mountain N Visitor Center and Museum B U D M O Grapevine A O O A W 619m

N 2030ft

Ubehebe Crater at Lake Hill L O Fl P Panamint Dunes T and T S Tin Mountain 8953ft 2729m

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Mesquite Spring C

45mi 72km d

a In winter carry chains. Road may be closed.

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R L

i A

Lida

20mi 32km V

P k

E O

c D a

r ID

t H e Y

c a

ig R B N

E To L A

Panamint Springs TU N C Death YO Valley S CAN Store Wheelchair-accessible Telephone Airstrip Gas station Food service Lodging Flat N Junction

I Ulida A

T Magruder Mountain 9046ft 2757m Teakettle Junction N W duty tires.

U O

South Pass Falls

Sharp rock; B

O To N

M Y I Darwin

K VALLE A O requires heavy- RACETRAC R T E The G The Grandstand Hunter 7454ft T k N 2272m E ee R A

r Racetrack M C E Mountain L C Furnace N Artists Drive A A 178 Texas

P 8960ft and Badwater Creek Inn 2731m H

S Spring C Dry Mountain 8674ft 2644m LL 7mi HI d T Cottonwoo S 11km A ARWIN Vista Point D N L T 5678ft YO 1731m LA N Crankshaft Junction F

CA Father Crowley h Palmetto Mountain 190

s Steel Pass a E C Ubehebe Peak

Darwin In winter carry chains. Road may be closed. W

N Sunset Deep sand A Shoshone Timbisha trust lands Area below sea level Salt ﬂat H C E E

T L

N A

Ranger station Sanitary disposal station Picnic area Campground

o O L

To Stovepipe Wells t Y

t E 33mi 53km

e N G m A

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

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

8456ft R O F 2577m

N S L k

U G L A e Mountain I

N E N

e M I

Last Chance E r G N

Y N N O G E C A Y T

E R 0.5 Mile

C N

N Creek L E E Borax Museum

U A L L C Timbisha Shoshone Village (private; no visitor services)

C H Furnace A L ER d V W a A LO 13mi 21km

o V To San R E 0.5 Kilometer BR N Furnace Creek Ranch 395 SYLVANIA MOUNTAINS I Cerro Gordo Peak 9184ft 2799m Paved road Unpaved road High clearance recommended Four-wheel-drive Four-wheel-drive road e L Hiking trail

n A

i A Bernardino S

w K o

l 395

l E

i R W g Visitor Center i U Furnace Creek 0 0 B E Furnace Creek Saline Valley Dunes

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

V A

E S

A N

L O

H Y S N S

FI A 178

C T LA N S F ts 190 TU Fla CAC s Keeler 18mi 29km Chocolate Mountain 7703ft 2348m s ka I

Jac E L 14 To

B EY R L

Dyer A AL k 15mi 24km V A

E 42mi 68km e S RO To Los Angeles

M e

r T Y C E A South Haiwee Reservoir

L (dry) A D

y In winter carry chains. Road may be closed.

l l

a N V

n 136 r

o E

h V 395

North Haiwee Reservoir

w N

o N

168 C

s U OWENS LAKE

t O

Y Mount Inyo 11107ft 3385m

u UCT N L

d k h D L

s O E A

o o e A U A J V Q o e A R C

r M ES

w Waucoba Mountain 11123ft 3390m EL C LOS ANG R

n S

o G

E N t I

t n R

Deep Springs Lake I o P 178 S a

C S Owens Peak N O m

P A

y E

E Y M D 21mi 40km W S E

INYO N N E

A R E

G L E

E U

FOREST E

D T U I 395 C F S

O O W L NATIONAL Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center To Manzanar National Historic Site To Lake Isabella To Big Pine Lone Pine To Big Pine

4 Death Valley Visitor Guide To

T N

r To

I e

A iv

A R L

T Las Vegas

F sa

o Baker

arg N

Las Vegas m

A Tecopa and

S 24mi 39km

Devils Hole 28mi 45km

REFUGE

O L

S Death Valley

WILDLIFE To Pahrump National Park

L S NATIONAL

M I

and Las Vegas To Pahrump

A 178

H Shoshone

127 E K

ASH MEADOWS

and Las Vegas

C N

O Ibex Pass

A O

C J

I H

L ad S

A Refuge o O

C R

Eagle Mountain 3806ft 1160m H

6mi 9km

e e 10 Miles

n Ibex Dunes i Headquarters

Brown Peak 4947ft 1508m te L te

ta 4mi 6km Lathrop Wells S E Amargosa Opera House Death Valley Junction Amargosa Valley G 23mi 37km

Busted Butte N

373 A 127 10 Kilometers R Deadman Pass 3263ft 994m

Spring I N 3315ft

A 1010m O U N T A M Saratoga C R S 25mi 41km N C Salsberry Pass E Y r U 190 I e v Y T E A i R A L T

L W N T A sa N U go 1 Watch for ﬂooding ar R E V m 1 O A 18mi 29km E

Black Cone

S 20mi 32km R d E Jubilee Pass 1290ft 390m a T o

Big Dune E A

W R 3040ft 927m

N Y

E E e

L K d D E L a

Nort h R A C W

O C

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

N Owl Lake

Y G

3mi 5km E

L Trailer L G I

(ruins)

A E parking

V N 13mi 21km

5912ft

R 1802m

A O Co n Peak 5503ft 1677m

N Information

B R

I T

S N Ashford Mill

(valid up to 7 days)

A A

Hole in the Wall

O N C h

A s

O a A Smith Mountain H

C W U E View

5475ft Beatty 1669m M Winters Peak 5033ft 1534m d

O 27mi 43km k Dantes

a Indian Pass e Shoreline Butte

e R Mormon Point r o M 10mi 16km ate C Natural Bridge Badw r A R D

Twenty Mule Team Canyon

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

n w Dr r e E R A Nevares Peak u n d F o ay a Artists Palette o

E Zabriskie Point w R

Mine e H

35mi 56km N o Badwater S

t e h

Rhyolite (ghost town)

s s L i d a

U i Lost Lake L t

374 S W

Single Visit Pass S s 11mi 17km

A H

NELLIS AIR FORCE BOMBING AND GUNNERY RANGE Devils

below sea level

Badwater Basin

t O

d Lowest elevation in Y

a 6mi

Golf Course Eagle Borax Works (ruins) g

o 9km O

40mi n

R Chloride Cli

64km i

Y one way one E North America, 282ft (86m)

12mi 19km s

W N

s O

a L A

P C

S t

h L

N FORT IRWIN MILITARY RESERVATION

A N

g N I

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

Golden Canyon Y

19mi 30km

O y

A Y E

Interpretive Trail a CANYON N L

N Y

D T N MUSTARD

A A

190 N

V A

O C Daylight Pass 4316ft 1316m G N

C A N G

G Y

C U O

Sugarloaf Peak

N O

Y O

A G

R Y

f Interpretive Trail N

f C

Cuto E N F

y I A M tt L

a C

L e L

T 10mi B

16km k

P L e N L e H

A Cr A S I

A Harmony Borax Works O

U V

S A L P Hells Gate

B M U F N R U

A H

Salt Creek Interpretive Trail Q

A H N

N O

G T

J A W

S O

7mi N A 7mi H

Y I E

Corkscrew Peak U R

N 11km

11km N

O P

T Y A S

N C A

Y Furnace Creek

C A

Buttes

R A

B E

C H Information

M L

T Information t

A I l L

O I

Red Pass O

a A V

N Brown Mountain 5125ft 1562m

Stonewall Mountain 8875ft 2705m C N

A S

Needle Peak Death Valley

T A

R I T

Scottys Junction T

A Aguereberry Point Day use only 6433ft 1961m

Leadﬁeld (ghost town) Y

S Kit Fox Hills E

8133ft 2479m

S L

Peak N Devils L

Porter Peak A

Corn eld V

O N

Thimble E Y T N Wingate Pass

T U

I Mahogany Flat B Thorndike N

Y M Charcoal Kilns A N

C A

9mi

Mengel Pass N Sentinel Peak 9636ft 2937m

14km Y C

Y T

A E

C Telescope Peak 11049ft 3368m

N Panamint City (ghost town) N N

I Road conditions require experienced four-wheel drivers.

16mi 26km Wahguyhe Peak

H P U ad E Historic 9064ft

o 2763m

O R

Peak

N O

e 6732ft 2052m

l Eureka Mine

t Striped Butte

s Stovepipe Wells Village

N a Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Y S C O M E

s Flats

y’ Bennett

O t G Mount Palmer 7979ft 2432m t N

L U o Y

c Sand

S Emigrant Pass 5318ft 1621m Rogers Peak Dunes Y

A I O

N Wildrose Peak

Harrisburg

N TUCKI MOUNTAIN N

Stovepipe Well

d C T

267 N a A G

Grapevine Peak 8738ft 2663m

A O o

N O

R C C Y

Skidoo (townsite) Day use only

N Y 7196ft

N O 2193m

A N

L Y 21mi

L 26mi 42km C

34km

n E

A N

To Tonopah and Reno F Manly Peak

T o C

L A

A y Mosaic

L O

L C

Canyon n A T

F T R

Wildrose

Two-way trafﬁc to mouth of Titus Canyon. P

E A C N

W E R

I L

N U

L S

C S

Straw Peak Road conditions require experienced four-wheel drivers. t

E E H 8mi n A

E a R

I r

R ig E

N NEVADA 13km

m L

N N E

O 33mi 53km E B I Vehicles longer than 25 feet (7.7 meters) not allowed. ANYON E

R C S N G E O

CALIFORNIA V E K A Emigrant W R R A CHINA LAKE

Lida Junction IT H

266 E T Y D

Ballarat (ghost town)

JA I E

E P Q

W T

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

Y A E A E D

E M L

R R

G G

N h

A s

O a A

V W

Pinto Peak Y

N D K

ey O 9mi E G A

l Y

I l I NAVAL AIR WEAPONS STATION 14km

J a

O N

O L

T N A

N h

t C

M E

Gold Mountain a D L

N E

e O

O O

O W

Mount Dunfee E

Y L

A L

Y A

N V

4956ft

1511m S

A T 18mi

A V

A 29km

914m L

C C

3000ft R

I E C N

E I

B Towne Pass L S

V N

D R E

O A

Y M

A N T

31mi 50km

Gold Point R A

G C N

d 15mi 24km

a I

3mi 5km E Ro

Panamint Butte

O T ey M

B l l

SEARLES LAKE N a

Y V A

R I D

G t N 190

Scotty’s Castle 6411ft

5mi 8km M n

1954m Deep sand

O i A G m

a P Trona A n

E a

N P

R N S

O I

H N Mount Jackson A

T T G

I White Top Mountain N Visitor Center and Museum B U D M O Grapevine A O O A W 619m

N 2030ft

Ubehebe Crater at Lake Hill L O Fl P Panamint Dunes T and T S Tin Mountain 8953ft 2729m

S O

Mesquite Spring C

45mi 72km d a In winter carry chains. Road may be closed.

Ro 25mi 40km

e a

o Y

n LE N

R L i A

Lida

20mi 32km V

P k

E O c D a

r ID t H e Y

c a ig R B N

E To L A

Panamint Springs TU N C Death YO Valley S CAN Store Wheelchair-accessible Telephone Airstrip Gas station Food service Lodging Flat N Junction

I Ulida A

T Magruder Mountain 9046ft 2757m Teakettle Junction N W duty tires.

U O

South Pass Falls

Sharp rock; B

O To N

M Y I Darwin

K VALLE A O requires heavy- RACETRAC R T E The G The Grandstand Hunter 7454ft T k N 2272m E ee R A r Racetrack M C E Mountain L C Furnace N Artists Drive A A 178 Texas

P 8960ft and Badwater Creek Inn 2731m H

S Spring C Dry Mountain 8674ft 2644m LL 7mi HI d T Cottonwoo S 11km A ARWIN Vista Point D N L T 5678ft YO 1731m LA N Crankshaft Junction F

CA Father Crowley h Palmetto Mountain 190 s Steel Pass a E C Ubehebe Peak

Darwin In winter carry chains. Road may be closed. W

N Sunset Deep sand A Shoshone Timbisha trust lands Area below sea level Salt ﬂat H C E E

T L

N A

Ranger station Sanitary disposal station Picnic area Campground

o O L

To Stovepipe Wells t Y

t E 33mi 53km

e N G m A

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

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

8456ft R O F 2577m

N S L k

U G L A e Mountain I

N E N

e M I

Last Chance E r G N

Y N N O G E C A Y T

E R 0.5 Mile

C N

N Creek L E E Borax Museum

U A L L C Timbisha Shoshone Village (private; no visitor services)

C H Furnace A L ER d V W a A LO 13mi 21km o V To San R E 0.5 Kilometer BR N Furnace Creek Ranch 395 SYLVANIA MOUNTAINS I Cerro Gordo Peak 9184ft 2799m Paved road Unpaved road High clearance recommended Hiking trail e L Four-wheel-drive road n A

i A Bernardino S

w K o l 395

l E

i R W g Visitor Center i U Furnace Creek 0 0 B E Furnace Creek Saline Valley Dunes

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

V A

E S

A N

L O

H Y S N S

FI A 178

C T LA N S F ts 190 TU Fla CAC s Keeler 18mi 29km Chocolate Mountain 7703ft 2348m s ka I

Jac E L 14 To

B EY R L

Dyer A AL k 15mi 24km V A

E 42mi 68km e S RO To Los Angeles

M e r T Y C E A South Haiwee Reservoir

L (dry) A D

L y In winter carry chains. Road may be closed.

e l l

a N V

n 136 r o E

h V 395

North Haiwee Reservoir w N

o N

168 C

s U OWENS LAKE t O

a l

Y Mount Inyo 11107ft 3385m

u UCT N L

d k h D L

s O E A o o e A U A J V Q o e A R C

r M ES

w Waucoba Mountain 11123ft 3390m EL C LOS ANG R n S

o G

E N t I

t n R

Deep Springs Lake I o P 178 S a

C S Owens Peak N O m

P A y E

E Y M D 21mi 40km W S E

INYO N N E

A R E

G L E

E U

FOREST E

D T U I 395 C F S

O O W L NATIONAL Eastern Sierra Interagency Visitor Center To Manzanar National Historic Site To Lake Isabella To Big Pine Lone Pine To Big Pine

Death Valley Visitor Guide 5 Dark Night Sky

Night Sky Almanac MAY 2016 Planets Visible ËËMars: SE after 10 pm, all night ËËJupiter: High in South after sunset ËËSaturn: SE after 10 pm, all night ËËThe Moon ËËNew Moon: May 6 ËËFull Moon: May 21 Eta Aquarids Meteor Shower photo by Dan Duriscoe ËËMay 7, Midnight to dawn Ë “You have never really seen the stars till you have seen them in Death Valley. The clear, limpid atmosphere brings ËNo Moon; excellent viewing them very close. You feel you could reach up and pull them down.” – Bessie Johnson JUNE 2016 Very little has changed about the Planets Visible Death Valley sky since Bessie John- ËË Mercury: June 5; low in East before son wrote these words. In February dawn 2013, the International Dark Sky ËËMars: SE after sunset Association certified Death Valley ËËJupiter: High in SW after sunset National Park as a “Gold Tier” Inter- ËËSaturn: SE after sunset national Dark Sky Park. This means The Moon the night skies in Death Valley are very dark and minimally impacted ËËNew Moon: June 4 by city lights. ËËFull Moon: June 20 Summer Solstice The modern world is losing its ËËJune 20 dark skies. Due to growing cities, a vast majority of Americans can- JULY 2016 not see the Milky Way from their Planets Visible homes, and many children born Ë today will never see a truly dark ËMars: South after sunset sky. Death Valley is an oasis of dark ËËJupiter: West after sunset nights in a bright world. Ninety-one ËËSaturn: South after sunset percent of Death Valley National The Moon Park is designated wilderness. Per- ËËNew Moon: July 4 manent developments are prohib- ËËFull Moon: July 19 ited within wilderness, and the few Delta Aquarids Meteor Shower park developments outside wilder- ËËMidnight to dawn of July 29 ness are small and isolated. ËËCrescent Moon after 2:30 am could Thanks to reduced lighting inside interfere with viewing the park, and limited city lights outside the park, our eyes can see many AUGUST 2016 wonders in the dark the night skies. Planets Visible On moonless nights, bright planets ËË Mercury: Mid-August; Very low in like Jupiter and Venus dominate west after sunset the view. You can also see the Milky ËËVenus: Very low in West after sunset Way, star clusters like the Pleiades, ËËMars: South after sunset and even the distant Andromeda Galaxy – 2.5 million light years away ËËJupiter: Very low in west after sunset – all with the naked eye. Conversely, ËËSaturn: South after sunset when the moon is full, it outshines The Moon all but the brightest stars. Explor- ËËNew Moon: August 2 ing Death Valley by the light of the ËËFull Moon: August 18 full moon is like seeing a completely Perseids Meteor Shower: different place as the moon casts ËËMidnight to dawn of August 13 dramatic shadows on a once-famil- ËËNo Moon; excellent viewing iar landscape. SEPTEMBER 2016 Planets Visible Image by Dr. Tyler Nordgren ËË Mercury: Very low in East just be- Death Valley: International Dark Sky Park fore dawn ËËMars: SW after sunset Death Valley National Park designation requires the park to look up at night from our southern ËËSaturn: SW after sunset harbors some of the darkest night sustain its efforts to protect night California campus, we can usually The Moon skies in the United States. That sky resources and visitor educa- count 12 stars in the sky. However, ËËNew Moon: Sept 1; Sept 30 dark sky led the International tion. Implementation of the park’s less than a five hour drive from ËËFull Moon: Sept 16 Dark-Sky Association to designate lighting guidelines will improve the Los Angeles there’s a place where Fall Equinox the park as the third and largest natural character of the night and anyone can look up and see the ËËSept 22 International Dark Sky Park. leave the stars untarnished in other universe the way everyone could OCTOBER 2015 areas of the park. 100 years ago.” “The Dark Sky Park designa- Planets Visible tion represents not only the efforts Park rangers offer monthly night The park’s actions to reduce ËË Venus: Low in SW after sunset of the park and its partners, but sky programs and hold stargazing unnecessary lighting also tie in ËËMars: South after sunset the dedication of avid amateur events with astronomy organiza- with “Starry, Starry Night,” one of ËËJupiter: SW after sunset astronomers who have sought the tions. Using high-powered tele- the goals in A Call to Action—the The Moon park’s world-class starry skies for scopes, visitors can explore the National Park Service’s steward- ËËFull Moon: Oct 16 decades,” said Dan Duriscoe, of mysteries of Death Valley’s dark, ship and engagement priorities for ËËNew Moon: Oct 30 the National Park Service’s Natural night skies. its second century. Draconids Meteor Shower: Sounds and Night Skies Division. “At Death Valley the sky liter- For more information about the ËËEarly evening Oct 7 To qualify for the dark sky des- ally begins at your feet,” said Tyler National Park Service’s Night Skies ËËQuarter Moon, difficult viewing ignation, the park improved ex- Nordgren, Associate Professor Program, visit www.nature.nps. Orionids Meteor Shower: ternal lighting at facilities in the of Physics at the University of gov/night/. ËËMidnight to dawn of Oct 22 Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells Redlands (Calif.) and International The International Dark-Sky ËËQuarter Moon, difficult viewing areas, reducing energy consump- Dark-Sky Association board Association is online at www.dark- tion, sky glow, and glare. The member. “When my students and I sky.org.

6 Death Valley Visitor Guide National Park Service Centennial 1916 - 2016 Death Valley’s First Decade With the National Park Service

Seventeen years after the start of the National Park Service (NPS,) Death Valley National Monument was established by Presidential Proclamation and was immediately one of the largest sites in the national park system at 1.7 million acres (second to Yellowstone.) After several boundary changes over the years, Death Valley was “upgraded” by Congress to National Park status in 1994, and enlarged to become the largest national park outside Alaska at 3.4 million acres. With that came an increase in visitation, from less than 1000 people the first year to a million visitors annually now. The monument’s first decade began in the depths of the Great Depression and ended with the start of the Second World War. As a national monument, the park budget was not adequate or even guaranteed. Only a skeleton crew of NPS employes managed a vast area. Fortunately, President Frank- lin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal program created the Civilian Conservation Corp—the CCC—which not only employeed otherwise out-of-work young men, but was the driving force behind the development of the new Death Valley National Monument. Necessary infrastructure, improved roads, and campgrounds were all built with CCC funding and manpower. The National Park Service has changed and grown over the years. Death Valley has also changed since its recognition as a monument, however it still contends with many of the same issues that challenged the park in the first decade. These issues includes mining, invasive species, off-road damage, and visitor safety in an extreme environment. Below read excerpts from the 1930s about these issues and compare it with the 2016 response.

Excerpt from NOVEMBER 1933 - Monument was established, but other natural bridges and arches are Superintendent John R. White’s letter to NPS Director still being discovered even now. Tucked deep in slot canyons or high on canyon walls, adventurous hikers have found several of these natural rock “Perhaps the most interesting thing in Death Valley was the establish- spans over the last few years, but this one is the largest known in the park. ment of a feeding station for wild animals at the Furnace Creek garbage incinerator. I note that in another report from Mr. Gilman he saw 10 magpies, 7 ravens, and 6 burros among other visitors. Fox tracks were Excerpt from JULY 1942 - NPS Monthly Report numerous and it is expected that in time both foxes and coyotes will be- “Gold and silver mining is now practically at a standstill, but develop- come tame enough to make a show for visitors. ment of strategic minerals in and about the Monument is increasing rap- 2016: As you may have guessed, the National Park Service no longer idly. The bill introduced by Congressman Harry L. Engelbright to permit feeds wild animals for the entertainment of tourists. But at the time, this leasing of Monument lands for the purpose of development of strategic was a popular activity in many parks, including Sequoia which shared minerals is a source of considerable concern to the Superintendent as its Superintendent Col. John R. White also managed. Feeding wild animals passage would undoubtedly lead to a flood of unsightly development at- in parks is not allowed. Coyotes especially become habituated to hand- tempt all over the floor of the Valley.” outs, turning them into dangerous pests that beg on the roadside and 2016: Once the U.S. got involved in World War II, the NPS was caught often are hit by cars. between the preservation mandate of National Parks and the need for resources for the war effort. Mining shifted from precious metals to Excerpt from NOVEMBER 1934 - NPS Monthly Report “strategic minerals” such as tungsten, lead, antimony, talc, and even salt, so previously undisturbed areas were developed to access minerals that “The dynamiting of the Salt Pools, an annual Death Valley event, was were unprofitable to mine before the war. Although there are still valid carried out on the last day of the month to the great interest of a number mining claims in Death Valley, the Mining in National Parks Act of 1976 of holiday visitors.” added protections that make the development of mines unlikely. 2016: The Devils Golf Course is where the Salt Pools were located and in the ‘30s they were the big attraction. Salt Pools are naturally forming sinkholes where underlying pockets of water have dissolved the thick Excerpt from JULY 1939 - NPS Monthly Report crust of rock salt, creating crystal-lined pools of extremely briny water. “Almost two weeks were spent in a survey of the desert bighorn sheep When the easiest access pools crusted over (as they tend to do) the NPS (Ovis Nellsonii). Accomplishment did not reach expectation but it was would blast them open again. Needless to say, this is not something we satisfying to note that the bighorn are more numerous than our estimates would do today. The Salt Pools eventually stopped forming and the jag- heretofore.” ged spires of the Devils Golf Course became the main attraction in that “During the above survey, burros were noted with increasing frequen- area. In the last decade, a few salt pools have been discovered, but now cy in most regions of the monument visited, and in one locality cattle and we let nature take its course. horses were found. It has been the experience of all wildlife observers that the bighorn and the burro and cattle are incompatible. With Excerpt from NOVEMBER 1934 - NPS Monthly Report the notable success that has attended the protection of the bighorn to date, it is all the more reason that every effort be made “The radio station KNLO, Death Valley National to give then the freedom of the range to the exclusion or at least Monument, is in continuous service with a schedule to March the control of the burro.” Field and also a daily schedule with Yosemite National Park. Letters are being received from all over the United States west 2016: Burros are not native to the American deserts—min- of the Mississippi River stating that they had picked up this ers brought them to the area as work animals. Unfortunately, station and asking for pamphlets, maps, and information, they breed quickly and damage food and water sources on Death Valley National Monument.” that bighorn sheep need to survive. In the early years, the method of control was to shoot the burros. These days, 2016: Times have indeed changed. Instead of a radio round-ups and an adoption program is a less cost-effec- station to share information about the park with the out- tive but more compassionate method. side world, the internet is our new venue. The park has an official website (www.nps.gov/deva) and we are on Facebook (www.facebook.com/DeathValleyNP), Twitter Excerpt from SEPTEMBER 1938- NPS Monthly (twitter.com/DeathValleyNPS) and Tumblr (deathval- Report leynp.tumblr.com/) “A ranger investigated the accident occurring in the Wildrose CCC camp wherein an enrollee lost part of Excerpt from DECEMBER 1934 - NPS Monthly three fingers and a thumb by an explosion. Particles Report found in roof and walls indicated a detonator had been exploded. The boy later admitted having found two in “During the month of December the most notable event an abandoned mine. Two companions were treated by the in the Monument was the re-discovery of a very fine natural camp doctor for minor injuries resulting from the explosion.” bridge in a canyon of the Funeral Range, about three miles north of Bad Water. This bridge, while known by the old timers, 2016: Although mining has not occurred in the National Park had been apparently forgotten until Geologist Levi Noble located for nearly a decade, dangerous materials are still occasionally it last winter. It was again visited by a party from the Borax found by hikers in remote sections of the park. Several discov- Company and the Automobile Club of Southern California, eries of old blasting caps and even unstable dynamite have had which advertised it to such an extent that it became necessary in to be destroyed by explosives experts. Caution should always the interest of safety to grade a primitive road to the site, It was be used around old mining sites and explosives found should be very heavily visited during the month.” avoided and reported to a ranger. 2016: It may seem strange that the Natural Bridge, one of the park’s major attractions, was (re)discovered after the National

Death Valley Visitor Guide 7 Visitor Services location contact services

Furnace Creek Visitor Center National Park Service 760-786-3200 Park information, exhibits, park film, bookstore, ranger Death Valley Natural History Association www.nps.gov/deva talks, drinking water and restrooms. Pay park entrance fees and purchase passes.

Scotty’s Castle Visitor Center National Park Service 760-786-2392 CLOSED DUE TO FLOOD DAMAGE. Death Valley Natural History Association reservations: 877-444-6777 or recreation.gov

Stovepipe Wells Village Death Valley Lodge Company 760-786-2387 Lodging, restaurant, bar, gift shop, convenience store, (park concession) escapetodeathvalley.com ATM, gas station, showers, swimming pool, paved airstrip, RV hookups, NPS campground, and ranger station.

Panamint Springs Resort (privately owned) 775-482-7680 Lodging, restaurant, bar, gas station, campground, RV deathvalley.com/psr hookups, and showers.

Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resorts Xanterra Parks & Resorts 760-786-2345 Lodging, restaurants, bars, general store, gift shops, ATM, (privately owned) furnacecreekresort.com gas station (gasoline, diesel, propane, tire & minor auto repair) post office, showers, laundromat, swimming, bike 760-614-1018 rentals, horse rides, RV hookups, borax museum, golf Stables course, tennis courts, and paved airstrip.

Farabee’s Jeep Rentals Farabee’s is located across the street 760-786-9872 Four-wheel-drive Jeep rentals and guided tours. from the Furnace Creek Inn. 877-970-5337 Tire & minor auto repair (garage at FC Ranch gas station) DeathValleyJeepRentals.com

Fire RV Dump CAMPGROUNDS Season Elevation Fee Sites Water Tables pits Toilets Hookups Station

Furnace Creek (NPS) all year -196´ $12** 136 yes yes yes flush some** yes

Sunset (NPS) Oct 15-Apr 15 -196´ $12 270 yes no no flush no yes

Texas Spring (NPS) Oct 15-Apr 15 sea level $14 106 yes yes yes flush no yes

Furnace Creek Ranch RV all year -218’ $38 26 yes no no flush yes yes

Fiddler’s (Xanterra) all year -218’ $18 35 no no yes flush no no

Stovepipe Wells (NPS) Sept 15-early May sea level $12 190 yes some some flush no yes

Stovepipe Wells RV Park all year sea level $31 14 yes some no flush yes yes

Panamint Springs Resort all year 2000’ $7.50-$30 76 yes some yes flush yes no

Mesquite Spring (NPS) all year 1800´ $12 40 yes yes yes flush no yes

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

Wildrose (NPS) all year 4100´ free 23 yes yes yes vault no no

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

Mahogany Flat* (NPS) Mar-Nov 8200´ free 10 no yes yes vault no no

*Accessible to high-clearance vehicles only. 4-wheel drive may be necessary. **Regular $18 camping fee is discounted to $12 in the summer season only. Year-round additional $12 Utility Fee for electric, water, and sewer hook-ups; Utility Fees are not subject to Lifetime Pass discounts. yy Generator hours are from 7 am yy Sunset Campground: To assist yy Texas Springs Campground yy RESERVATIONS for Furnace to 7 pm, unless otherwise posted. us in the event of an emergency, (Upper Loop) Limits on RV site use Creek Campground (up to 6 months Generators are not allowed at please back in your RV unit or use a may apply in springtime to accom- in advance) and group campsites Texas Springs Campground. pull-through site. modate increased demand for tent (up to 12 months in advance) for camping space. No generators the camping season of October 15 allowed. to April 15 may be made on-line at recreation.gov or by calling 877- 444-6777.

8 Death Valley Visitor Guide