COMPLIMENTARY $3.95 2019/2020 YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE PARKS DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK ACTIVITIES • SIGHTSEEING • DINING • LODGING TRAILS • HISTORY • MAPS • MORE OFFICIAL PARTNERS T:5.375” S:4.75” PLAN YOUR VISIT WELCOME S:7.375” In T:8.375” 1994, Death Valley National SO TASTY EVERYONE WILL WANT A BITE. Monument was expanded by 1.3 million FUN FACTS acres and redesignated a national park by the California Desert Protection Act. Established: Death Valley became a The largest national park below Alaska, national monument in 1933 and is famed this designation helped focus protection for being the hottest, lowest and driest on one the most iconic landscapes in the location in the country. The parched world. In 2018 nearly 1.7 million people landscape rises into snow-capped mountains and is home to the Timbisha visited the park, a new visitation record. Shoshone people. Death Valley is renowned for its colorful Land Area: The park’s 3.4 million acres and complex geology. Its extremes of stretch across two states, California and elevation support a great diversity of life Nevada. and provide a natural geologic museum. Highest Elevation: The top of This region is the ancestral homeland Telescope Peak is 11,049 feet high. The of the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe. The lowest is -282 feet at Badwater Basin. Timbisha established a life in concert Plants and Animals: Death Valley with nature. is home to 51 mammal species, 307 Ninety-three percent of the park is bird species, 36 reptile species, two designated wilderness, providing unique amphibian species and five fish species. In a place with little water, smaller opportunities for solitude, primitive species tend to thrive over larger ones. adventure and uninterrupted views, Popular Activities: Visitors can take though with extreme conditions. a self-guided hike, go backpacking, The Furnace Creek Visitor Center is birdwatching and rent a Jeep to explore a great place to ask about the many the backcountry. ©2019 Preferred Brands International. All rights reserved. International. Brands Preferred ©2019 historic properties in the park. Bicycling: Bikes are allowed on all park This guide to Death Valley is provided roads that are open to public traffic. by Death Valley Lodging Company, Hiking: Constructed trails are rare in the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® and American park. There are 12 popular routes and Park Network, and aims to foster an three additional self-guided trails (see appreciation and respect for the park, the Walking and Hiking chapter). Camping: There are nine main while also providing information needed established campgrounds run by the to make your visit smooth and enjoyable. park. Many of the 800-plus miles of The National Park Service is charged with backcountry dirt roads are open to preserving this country’s national spirit camping and we recruit you to help care for the Lodging: The Stovepipe Wells Lodging places saved by the American people so TASTY BITE® is all-natural Company, Panamint Springs Resort and and perfect for the trail. Look that all may experience our heritage for Xanterra Parks & Resorts offer multiple for the yellow pouch in the many years to come. hotel options in the park. international food aisle.* tastybite.com *Keep wildlife wild; Don’t feed the animals. | DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK 1 A23899_2d_9tas_2967_Q2_Print_Oh-Ranger.indd 04.04.19 A23899x01D_OhRanger_smp.psd Epson A23899X02C_Tasty Bite Final 032919-Product_smp.psd HP FINAL Client: Tasty Bite APPROVAL SIGNATURES ROUND(s) 3 Filename: 19tas_2967_Q2_Print_Oh-Ranger.indd SIZE / Date: 4-2-2019 2:32 PM MECHANICAL SPECS (w x h) FONTS & IMAGES PROOF FORMAT Job #: 2967 Bleed: 5.875” x 8.875” Fonts TRAFFIC Insert Date: 4/1 Trim: 5.375” x 8.375” Knockout (HTF49 Liteweight), Acumin Pro Condensed (Light), Pubs or Loc: PROD. Oh Ranger Viewing: 5.375” x 8.375” Acumin Pro (Black, Regular, Bold) Magazine Description: None Live: 4.75” x 7.375” Images STUDIO Scale: 1” = 1” Print Tasty Bite Final 032919-CMYK.psd (CMYK; 448 ppi, 494 ppi; AD Notes: None ACTUAL SIZE (w x h) 66.93%, 60.7%), Tasty_Bite_Logo.ai (17.81%), Tasty Bite Final 032919-Product.psd (CMYK; 536 ppi; 55.95%) CW Bleed: 5.875” x 8.875” Mekanism Trim: 5.375” x 8.375” Inks CD 640 Second St Viewing: Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black SF, CA 94107 5.375” x 8.375” BM 415.908.4000 Live: 4.75” x 7.375” Gutter: None Designer: Dustin Page Printed at: None CLIENT PLAN YOUR VISIT CONTENTS Unforgettable Adventures. Welcome 1 What’s New! 4 American Park Network® publishes OhRanger. com, Oh, Ranger! ParkFinder™ and Oh, Ranger!® At A Glance 6 guides —a collection of visitor guides for public lands all across America —and operates Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi in parks and public lands. 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Photography 46 ©2019 APN MEDIA, LLC · All Rights Reserved Oh, Ranger! and American Park Network If You Only Have a Day 48 are registered trademarks of APN Media, LLC. Cover: Mesquite Flat dunes at sunset (Shutterstock) The publisher of this guide and the advertisers herein are not geico.com | 1-877-434-2678 | Local Office affiliated with, or endorsed by, the National Park Service. For answers to all your questions, go FOR MORE INFORMATION to OhRanger.com Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states, in all GEICO companies, or Distribution requests in all situations. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, DC [email protected] 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2019 GEICO Oh, Ranger! Wi-Fi™ installation/sponsorship 3 [email protected] PLAN YOUR VISIT WHAT’S NEW! WE’RE ALL CONNECTED As a young man, John Muir, the naturalist known as, “Father of the National Parks,” Mark, Joel & Alex – connecting in parks! had an accident that left him temporarily blinded. It changed his life forever. When he science. I often find inspiration in parks. In its regained his sight, he emerged into the light traditional form, yoga was about joining with ever-determined to pursue his dreams of the collective universe. So, too, is Muir’s quote, exploration. Fortunately for the world, Muir’s best illustrated by an example from Yellowstone. trials led him to help move Congress to set When wolves were reintroduced there after a aside Yosemite, one of his many contributions 70-year absence, the rampant elk population to our nation’s preservation movement. could no longer leisurely nibble on willows, graze When faced with adversity, we have but in open meadows or congregate by the rivers. In two choices. We can either rise above our a short period of time, the forests and meadows circumstance or succumb to our demons of began to regenerate. Song birds appeared. doubt, fear, resentment and apathy. While Beavers flourished, building dams, which Muir was lucky to have his sight return, his created habitats for otters, muskrats and ducks. subsequent efforts drew strength from hope, Cooler waters, shaded by more trees, attracted compassion, kindness and love to rise up different species of amphibians and fish. Tree from personal adversity. roots stabilized the river banks, diminished Lately, it feels like we’re all dealing with erosion and even changed the geography of the too many hurdles. Every hour, “breaking” park! Indeed, pick out anything by itself and we news spews forth accounts of tragedy and quickly find that everything is connected. divisiveness. It was with this backdrop that I Now is the time to seek out connection— SOMEWHERE was preparing to teach a restorative yoga class, whether in a park, a yoga studio or anywhere to create a safe environment for my students you find inspiration—to find strength to rise up BETWEEN and provide an hour’s worth of peace and quiet and overcome the obstacles that face us all… to carry out into the world. What theme would capture their imagination and neatly underscore STUNNING our human need for connectedness? When teaching, I try to use examples that marry ancient tradition with contemporary and SURREAL GET CONNECTED AT YOUR FAVORITE PARKS! VISITUTAH.COM Parks are about enjoying nature, but what if you want to share a great picture or are awaiting an important email? If you’re looking to add connectivity to your park, or if you already have Wi-Fi and would like help adding content or generating sponsor revenues, please let us know at [email protected]. 4 DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK | PLAN YOUR VISIT AT A GLANCE AT A GLANCE EARLY RESIDENTS NPS HISTORY Anthropologists estimate that roam- Death Valley’s outstanding natural ing humans first settled in Death Valley beauty and scientific importance were first Death Valley is the largest national park recorded a temperature of 134°F (56.6°C), roughly 10,000 years ago.