Everything you should know about Death Valley National Park
Spanning an impressive 3.4 million acres across California and Nevada, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park in the lower 48 states, approximately the size of Connecticut. Though its name can be off-putting and it’s known as the driest, hottest, and lowest national park in the U.S., Death Valley is an interesting and diverse landscape that’s home to wildlife, wildflowers, and centuries of human history.
Long before it became a national park, the land that comprises Death Valley was home to the Timbisha Shoshone people, who lived here for more than 1,000 years. They found everything they needed to survive on the land, from hunting to harvesting pinyon pine nuts and mesquite beans. In the second half of the 1800s, those heading west to California to seek their fortune came upon Death Valley; mining towns and borax factories popped up.
One of those companies, the Pacific Coast Borax Company, saw the potential of tourism in Death Valley and began campaigning to have the area designated as a national park in the mid-1920s. President Herbert Hoover designated Death Valley a national monument in 1933; it was declared a national park by Congress in 1994.
(Avoid the crowds at the 10 least-visited U.S. national parks.)
Best time to visit Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is open to visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Summer temperatures can soar to more than 120°F (120°C)—in the shade—with lows in the 90s (30°C). The world record for the highest air temperature, a whopping 134°F (57°C), was recorded in July 1913 at Furnace Creek. It’s a hot, dry heat, with annual rainfall averaging less than two inches, though late-summer thunderstorms are possible. On the flip side, winter and spring (November through March) are mild, with highs in the 60s°F (15°C) and 70s°F (21°C), occasionally reaching freezing at night.
Wildflower enthusiasts will want to plan a visit to Death Valley National Park when the flowers are in bloom. From mid-February to mid-April, wildflowers in the lower elevations and the foothills are typically in bloom, while mid-April to early-May sees the arrival of colorful flowers at elevations of 3,000 to 5,000 feet. At higher altitudes of 5,000 to 11,000 feet, flowers bloom from early May to mid-July. That said, peak bloom season typically runs from mid-February through early April, which also brings crowds.
Where to find the best views in the park
The vast expanse of Death Valley means visitors need to determine their top priorities and plan accordingly. If you have a few hours to spend within the park, Badwater Basin sits 282 feet (86 m) below sea level, about 18 miles (29 km) south of Furnace Creek Visitor Center. It’s the lowest point in the park, and indeed all of North America. Volcanic deposits of compounds like chlorite and iron oxide create a variety of colors across the hills known as the Artists Palette, en route to Badwater Basin. One of the best views of Death Valley is from Zabriskie Point, an approximate 15-minute drive east of Furnace Creek Visitor Center on Highway 190. The views here are some of the most photographed in the park.
Staying a bit longer? There’s plenty more to see. Dantes View, about 45 minutes from Furnace Creek Visitor Center, provides a terrific vantage point of Death Valley from its perch at 5,575 feet (1,699 meters) on the ridge of the Black Mountains. Anytime is a great time to take in Dantes View, with sunrise and sunset especially spectacular, not to mention dark-sky viewing at night. A dramatic, sweeping landscape awaits at Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, about 30 minutes northwest of the visitor center. Like Dantes View, sunrise and sunset provide exceptional viewing with the shadows they produce, and it’s a terrific spot for dark sky viewing, too. Remnants of Death Valley’s industrial period from the late 1880s can be found at Harmony Borax Works, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a quick five-minute drive from Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
Where to find the best hiking trails
Hiking in Death Valley National Park is recommended from November through March, when daytime temperatures are more conducive to extended outdoor activity. The park advises against hiking past 10 a.m. in the summer.
That said, there are several hiking trails in the park, ranging from easy to difficult. In addition to trails at Badwater Salt Flats, Harmony Borax Works, and Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, which range from a half mile (0.8 km) to two miles (3.2 km), consider the Salt Creek Interpretive Trail. At a half mile (0.8 km), this loop trail is an accessible wooden boardwalk that takes about 30 minutes to traverse. Visit in the spring (February through April) for a chance to see Salt Creek Pupfish spawning. Another easy trail is Natural Bridge, a one-mile out-and-back route that ends at a dry waterfall before turning back.
Eleven trails, ranging from 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to 9 miles (14.5 km), found within Death Valley are considered moderate, including Dantes Ridge, a 9-mile (14.5 km) hike in the Black Mountains. The out-and-back four-mile (6.4 km) Mosaic Canyon Trail, about two-and-a-half to three hours, travels through marble-walled narrows with outcroppings of Mosaic Canyon Breccia, the canyon’s rocky namesake. Taking about six hours round-trip, the five-mile (8 km) Sidewinder Canyon Trail is a designated wilderness trail on which you will climb, scramble, and even need a headlight to complete.
Finally, five trails are designated difficult, ranging from seven miles (11.3 km) to 14 miles (22.5 km). Little Bridge Canyon trail is a seven-mile (11.3 km), unmarked hike that takes between four and five hours, passing remarkable formations en route to the trail’s namesake.
In addition to these designated trails, Death Valley is so desolate that you can pretty much hike wherever you like. Keep in mind that the park’s dry climate means that you will need to drink more water than elsewhere and will need to bring plenty of water with you. And if you decide to hike from backcountry roads, park rangers advise that rescue can be delayed and that you should travel with two full-size spare tires and plenty of extra food and water.
The best spots to see wildlife
It may be hard to believe, but a landscape as severe as Death Valley provides habitats to plenty of wildlife, ranging from birds and amphibians to mammals, reptiles, and even fish. Bird watching can be done nearly year-round, starting in the spring when hundreds of species migrate through the desert as they move north, with peak migration from late-April to early-May. Nesting birds can be seen mid-February, if it’s warm enough, through July in higher elevations, with peak nesting May through June. Early August marks the start of fall migration, with southbound bird sightings peaking in late September; winter sees the least birding in the park.
Common amphibians seen in Death Valley include red-spotted and western toads, Pacific treefrogs, and bullfrogs; the Inyo Mountains slender salamander is rare. Plenty of reptiles can be spotted throughout the park, from lizards to snakes to skinks and more. A few to keep an eye out for are the desert banded gecko, found at night on the valley floor up to 3,500 feet (107 meters); the desert iguana in mesquite hammocks and areas with fine, sandy soil; and the western skink, where there’s moisture.
Tiny, three-inch Salt Creek Pupfish are found in Salt Creek. They’ve evolved to survive in extreme conditions, including the creek water’s salinity. Bats, rodents, squirrels, rabbits, foxes, mountain lions, bobcats, horses, and desert bighorn sheep can be found within Death Valley. A few to keep an eye out for are the desert kangaroo rat, which lives in dry locations in the valley, especially around mesquite trees; the porcupine in the Grapevine, Panamint, and Cottonwood mountains; and the desert cottontail in mesquite thickets on the valley floor.
When traveling through Furnace Creek and the Sand Dunes, and indeed most of Death Valley, at night, keep an eye out for kit fox and gray fox in the Grapevine Mountains. Mountain lions may be spotted in the mountains, and bobcats can be spotted from sea level into the mountains.
Expert recommendations and tips
Abby Wines, deputy superintendent at Death Valley National Park, has lived and worked in the park for 21 years. Her favorite place within the park that’s the size of Connecticut? Dantes View.
“This viewpoint is at 5,475 feet (1,669 meters) in elevation and provides a sweeping 360-degree view of the park,” says Wines. “It's beautiful at any time, but sunrise or early morning provides the best lighting for photographs.”
Wines recommends visiting the salt creek pupfish. The road and boardwalk reopened in February 2026 after a multi-year closure due to flood damage. During the Ice Ages, the ancestor of the salt creek pupfish lived in a freshwater lake. Now, they live in a creek that is sometimes saltier than the ocean. They are an amazing species only found here. But the real reason to visit is that these minnow-size fish are fun to watch, especially during their spawning season in the spring.
Ranger Recommendation: Drive the precarious and unpaved, but beautiful, six-mile Aguereberry Point Road. Talk to rangers first, and have a full-size spare tire with you. You'll be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the Panamint Range overlooking the Death Valley Basin.
Things to do in Death Valley
The best way to see as much of the 3.4-million-acre (1,375,931 hectares) park as possible is sightseeing from the comfort of your car. Star Wars buffs can take a self-guided tour of filming locations throughout Death Valley, including landscapes that set the scene for Tatooine. With hundreds of miles of backcountry roads, it’s easy to explore the park on your own, if you’re prepared—be sure and bring two full-size spare tires with you, as well as plenty of extra food and water. Biking and mountain biking are permitted on all public park roads.
Aside from its 21 named trails, most of Death Valley National Park is designated wilderness – visitors are invited to explore as they’re comfortable. In addition to hiking, the landscape provides terrific fodder for running and trail running. Backpackers heading into the backcountry are required to obtain a backcountry permit and follow Leave No Trace guidelines; campfires are not permitted in the backcountry. Experienced canyoneers will find plenty of places to clip in.
For more, join a park ranger-led program. In addition to guided hikes and walks, programs cover topics ranging from geology and history to outer space and stargazing. These programs are typically held in the winter months, mid-November to mid-April.
Death Valley is designated a Gold Level dark sky park—the highest level—by the International Dark-Sky Association. According to the park, many celestial objects seen from Death Valley cannot be seen from anywhere else in the world. Needless to say, stargazing and planet-gazing are prime in the park, just be sure to stay out for at least 30 minutes to let your eyes adjust.
Golfers will want to make a tee time to play The Furnace Creek Golf Course at Death Valley, the world’s lowest-elevation golf course. And then, of course, there’s sunrise and sunset, which the park considers to be the most beautiful time to see the desert.
Best things to do for families
One of the best ways for families to experience Death Valley National Park together is with a park ranger, whether joining in on a walk or going stargazing; programs are typically available mid-November through mid-April. Death Valley’s Junior Ranger program is a terrific way for kids to explore the park, too. Some fun spots to seek out when sightseeing in the park include Mosaic Canyon, one of the park’s kid-sized canyons, and filming locations for Star Wars.
Where to stay
A two-hour drive from Las Vegas and about four hours from Los Angeles, and the size of Connecticut, Death Valley National Park’s appeal is that it’s remote. When it comes to accommodations within the park, there are a few options, all of which are open year-round. The Ranch at Death Valley, near the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, is a 275-room hotel with 80 new cottages set around a classic town square complete with restaurant, coffee bar, general store, and saloon. Also in Furnace Creek is the historic Inn at Death Valley, a AAA Four Diamond property with 66 traditional hotel rooms and 22 new casitas.
Elsewhere within the park, Stovepipe Wells Village boasts a restaurant, saloon, gas station, general store and views of the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in the Stovepipe Wells section of the park; and Panamint Springs Resort, a rustic, small, western-style property in the Panamint Springs section of the park with a restaurant, bar, gas station, and general store.
Camping is also an option in Death Valley National Park. Of the park’s seven campgrounds, just three are open in the summer. Furnace Creek Campground, which sits 190 feet (58 meters) below sea level, has 136 total sites, 45 of which are tent-only; 18 have electrical hookups. Furnace Creek is the only campground that accepts reservations, which can be made six months in advance for stays from October 15 through April 15; otherwise, the campground is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Wildrose Campground at 4,100 feet (1,250 meters) in the Panamint Mountains has 23 sites, and Mesquite Spring Campground below Grapevine Canyon at an elevation of 1,800 feet (549 meters) in the northern part of the park has 40 sites.
Once fall hits, three more campgrounds open through mid-April: Texas Springs Campground in the hills above Furnace Creek with 106 sites; Sunset Campground in Furnace Creek with 230 sites; and Stovepipe Wells Campground near Stovepipe Wells Village with 190 sites. Emigrant Campground closed in August 2025 due to flood damage, with no reopening date as of yet.
Five primitive campgrounds are also found within Death Valley National Park: six sites at Thorndike Campground, which sits at 7,400 feet (2,256 meters), and 9 sites at Mahogany Flat Campground, which sits at 8,200 feet (2,499 meters); both are in the Wildrose Area of the park. Eureka Dunes Campground sits at 2,880 feet (878 meters) at the base of the dunes of the same name, with seven sites. Accessible only by high-clearance vehicles with all-terrain tires are Homestake Campground, with 10 sites, and clothing-optional Saline Valley Campground near hot springs at 1,375 feet (419 meters), with 15 sites. Note: These campgrounds do not have cell phone reception or Internet connectivity.
Private campgrounds are also available: Ohyü RV Park at Stovepipe Wells Village with 14 full RV hookups; Panamint Springs Resort, with tent, cabins, and RV (full hookup and dry) sites; and Fiddlers Campground with tent and RV sites at The Ranch at Death Valley.
Outside the park, the nearest town is Beatty, Nevada, about a 45-minute drive from Furnace Creek Visitor Center, with motels, cabins, and an RV park.
What else you should know
Access: Death Valley National Park is a two-hour drive from Las Vegas and about four hours from Los Angeles. The Furnace Creek Visitor Center does not have a street address, but its map coordinates are N 36°27.70, W 116°52.00. Cell service is unreliable within the park; consider downloading the National Park Service app and saving Death Valley for “Offline Use” to help navigate. The visitor center is open every day, including holidays, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
That said, the park itself is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Entrance fees are required year-round.
Entrance fees: $15 per person, or $30 per private vehicle. An annual pass is available for $55; it is available to U.S. citizens and residents only.
Those who are not U.S. residents will need to purchase an America the Beautiful Non-Resident Annual Pass for $250, which covers the passholder and three additional adults. The pass is valid at all U.S. National Parks and thousands of other recreation sites across the country.
How accessible is the park?
Death Valley National Park is quite remote, but it is accessible in myriad ways. Accessible parking is available at Furnace Creek Visitor Center, and a few of the campgrounds, and motorized wheelchairs and assistive mobility devices are permitted wherever foot traffic is allowed, including the park’s wilderness areas.
American Sign Language interpreters are available for park ranger programs, with advance notice. Additionally, the park provides visitors with hearing loss assistive listening devices for the park film shown at Furnace Creek Visitor Center; captioning is also available.
For the visually impaired, the official Death Valley National Park brochure is available in Braille, and several exhibits at Furnace Creek Visitor Center include tactile and audio components to make them accessible to everyone.
The park provides social narratives for visitors with autism or other cognitive disabilities. These stories go into detail about Death Valley National Park and what to expect during a visit, to help reduce anxiety that may come with visiting a new place. A sensory guide details everything visitors may see, smell, taste, hear, and feel while in the park; sensory kits are available at the visitor center for those who may be hypo- and/or hyper-sensitive.
Service animals are allowed throughout Death Valley; visitors should be prepared to provide plenty of water for their service animal, too.
