Death Valley
Inyo County, California · National Park
Death Valley is known for its stunning desert landscapes, extreme temperatures, and unique geological features, including salt flats and sand dunes. It's a place of stark beauty and diverse ecosystems boasting rugged mountains and vibrant wildflower blooms in spring.
Campgrounds
- Emigrant Campground — Closed (checked 2026-08-01) · first come, first served · Closed indefinitely due to storm damage to the water system · 10 sites · Free · 2,100 ft · Primitive · Drive-in
- Eureka Dunes Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · year-round · Free · 2,880 ft · Primitive · Drive-in
- Furnace Creek Campground — year-round; reservations accepted October 15 through April 15, first-come, first-served the remainder of the year · 129 sites · $30–$60 · -190 ft · Drive-in · reserve
- Homestake Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · Year-round · Free · 3,785 ft · Primitive · Drive-in
- Mahogany Flat Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · Summer through fall; often closed in winter due to snow and ice · Free · 8,133 ft · Primitive · Drive-in
- Mesquite Spring Campground — first come, first served · Year-round · $10–$20 · 1,800 ft · Drive-in
- Saline Valley Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · Year-round · Free · 1,375 ft · Primitive · Drive-in
- Stovepipe Wells Campground — first come, first served · Late fall through mid-to-late April · 190 sites · $9–$18 · -1 ft · Drive-in
- Sunset Campground — first come, first served · Late fall through mid-to-late April · $9–$18 · -142 ft · Drive-in
- Texas Springs Campground — first come, first served · Late fall through mid-April · 26 tent sites · $10–$20 · -84 ft · Drive-in
- Thorndike Campground (Primitive) — first come, first served · Mid-April through December, pending snowfall · Free · 7,400 ft · Primitive · Drive-in
- Wildrose Campground — first come, first served · Year round · Free · 4,100 ft · Primitive · Drive-in
Lodging
- The Inn at Death Valley · reserve
- Panamint Springs Resort · reserve
- The Ranch at Death Valley · reserve
- Stovepipe Wells Village · reserve
Top trails
- Mosaic Canyon Trail — 3.5 mi · 992 ft gain · 1h 40m · Out & back
- Golden Canyon Trail — 3.0 mi · 581 ft gain · 1h 17m · Out & back
- Natural Bridge Trail — 1.0 mi · 444 ft gain · 33m · Loop
- Badwater Basin Trail — 1.8 mi · Out & back
- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes Trail — 2.2 mi · 154 ft gain · 49m
More trails here: Telescope Peak Trail, Nemo Canyon, Sheep Canyon, Anvil Springs Canyon, Hungry Bill's Ranch, Artists Palette, Golden Canyon to Zabriskie Point Trail, Lemoigne Canyon, Dodd Springs, Upper Marble Canyon, Surprise Canyon, Kit Fox Hills, Jail Canyon to Hall Canyon, Red Wall Canyon, Virgin Springs Canyon, Wildrose Peak, Mount Perry, Scotty's Canyon, Hanaupah Canyon, Corkscrew Peak, Amargosa View, Telephone Canyon, Little Bridge Canyon, Lower Monarch Canyon, Desrt Hound, Keane Wonder (Big Bell) extension, Gower Gulch Trail, Fall Canyon, Grotto Canyon, Panamint Dunes, Willow Canyon (lower), Ubehebe Peak, Ashford Canyon, Cottonwood-Marble, Corridor Canyon, Titanothere Canyon, Bighorn Gorge, Indian Pass, Keane Wonder Mine, Golden Canyon to Zabriskie, Thimble Peak, Eureka Dunes, Sidewinder Canyon, Desolation Canyon, Ubehebe Crater Rim, Keane Wonder Spring, Dry Bone Canyon, Upper Monarch Canyon, Darwin Falls, Hummingbird Spring, Mesquite Flat Dunes, Chloride Cliff, Death Valley Buttes, Racetrack Moving Rocks, The Grandstand, Little Hebe Crater, Zabriskie Point Trail, Upper Trail Canyon, Fall Canyon (First 1/2 mile), Cottonwood-Marble Canyon Loop.
Visiting
Fees — Per Person: $15, Access Pass: $0, Park Annual Pass: $55, Private Vehicle: $30, Military Annual Pass: $0, Senior Annual Pass: $20.
Parking: The $30/vehicle entrance fee (7-day pass) covers parking at all trailheads, viewpoints, and lots throughout the park. Pay stations are distributed across the park rather than concentrated at a single entry point.. Dogs allowed on leash. Cell service: mixed. Phone: 760-786-3200.
Facilities: 40 parking areas (Bennetts Well Parking, Death Valley National Park Eastern Entrance, Golden Canyon Parking, Badwater Parking, Zabriskie Point Parking, Visitor Center Parking), 58 restrooms, drinking water, 6 picnic areas, a visitor center.
Typical weather
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 49°F | 35°F | 0.7 in |
| Feb | 52°F | 37°F | 0.9 in |
| Mar | 60°F | 43°F | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 67°F | 49°F | 0.3 in |
| May | 76°F | 58°F | 0.2 in |
| Jun | 87°F | 67°F | 0.1 in |
| Jul | 93°F | 74°F | 0.3 in |
| Aug | 91°F | 72°F | 0.1 in |
| Sep | 83°F | 65°F | 0.2 in |
| Oct | 70°F | 53°F | 0.3 in |
| Nov | 57°F | 42°F | 0.3 in |
| Dec | 48°F | 34°F | 0.6 in |
Top spots
- Badwater Basin — POI
- Zabriskie Point — POI
- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes — POI
- Dante's View — POI
- Artist's Palette — POI
- Racetrack Playa — POI
- Ubehebe Crater — POI
- Devil's Golf Course — POI
- Eureka Dunes — POI
- Golden Canyon — POI
Coordinates: 36.5054, -117.0794. Official website.
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