Death Valley National Park

How to Get to Death Valley National Park:

Death Valley National Park is located in eastern California and southern Nevada. US 395 passes west of Death Valley and connects with CA 178 and CA 190 to the park. US 95 passes east and connects with NV 267, 374, and 373 to the park. I-15 passes southeast and connects with CA 127.

Recommended Scenic Routes Near Death Valley National Park:

The 81-mile Death Valley Scenic Byway provides a great opportunity to explore Death Valley National Park, including landscapes of parched salt flats, colored volcanic rock, and sand dunes. You can get out of your vehicles at several vista points/scenic overlooks and hiking trails. Dante's View, just off the main road, offers a viewpoint of Badwater, the lowest elevation in the United States at 282 feet below sea level, all the way up to Telescope Peak, the highest point in the park at 11,049 feet. The byway runs from the eastern entrance of Death Valley National Park, roughly 13 miles west of Death Valley Junction on Highway 190, to the western boundary of the park.

Park Size:

3,372,402 acres

Description:

Death Valley is the largest national park unit outside of Alaska and includes more than 3 million acres of wilderness area. This large desert, nearly surrounded by high mountains, contains the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere. The area includes Scotty's Castle, the grandiose home of a famous prospector, and other remnants of gold and borax mining.

Things to Do:

Sightseeing by personal auto, four-wheel drive, bicycle, mountain bike (established roadways only), hiking, and camping. Join a ranger November through April for an Interpretive Program such as a talk, walk, guided hike, or evening program. Join a ranger for a costumed living history tour (fee) of the historic Death Valley Scotty's Castle. The '49ers Encampment, one of the country's great music and art festivals, takes place in Death Valley National Park in early November.

Operating Hours:

Death Valley National Park is open year round.

History:

Proclaimed on February 11, 1933. Designated a Biosphere Reserve in 1984. Name changed from Death Valley National Monument on October 31, 1994.

Contact Information for Death Valley National Park:

Death Valley National Park
P.O. Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328
760-786-3200