Death Valley National Park ⓘ

Inn at Death Valley The historic Inn at Death Valley, was originally named Furnace Creek Inn and opened in 1927. It was built by the Pacific Coast Borax Company and played a pivotal role in the transformation of Death Valley from mining wasteland to treasured national park.

Keane Wonder Mine Once the most productive and richest gold mine in Death Valley, the Keane Wonder Mine is temporarily closed to public access due to mine safety hazards.

Rhyolite Ghost Town 100 years ago, Rhyolite was the largest city in southern Nevada with more than 10,000 residents. Yet after only a decade, the town became a ghostly remnant of itself.

Barker Ranch Barker Ranch was built by recreational ranchers who wanted to live in solitude and enjoy the simplicities of life. Bluth and Helen Thomason aquired the property in the 1930s in a location where they both wished to try their luck at mining. In 1940, a stone cabin was built that had a spring nearby for drinking water and electricity was generated by a windmill. After Jim and Arlene Barker purchased the ranch in 1955 they enlarged the house to have large family gatherings. The infamous Manson family occupied this ranch for a brief period of time from 1968 to 1969. Some of the family members burned an NPS tractor which caught the attention of law enforcement officials. After Barker Ranch was raided and the Manson family members were jailed for vandalism, it became apparant they were involved with horrific murders in Los Angeles. In May 2009, Barker Ranch was destroyed in an accidental fire.

In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill in California and people from all over the United States packed their belongings and began to travel by wagon to what they hoped would be new and better life. Since most of these pioneers began their exodus to California in 1849, they are generally referred to as '49ers. One of the supply points along the trail was Salt Lake City, where pioneers prepared for the long journey across the Great Basin desert before climbing over the Sierra Nevada to the gold fields of California. It was important to leave Salt Lake City and cross the desert before snow began to fall on the Sierra Nevada, making them impassible. Only a couple of years before, a group of pioneers called the Donner Party was trapped by a storm, an event that became one of the greatest human disasters of that day and age. The stories of the Donner Party were still fresh on everyone's mind when a group of wagons began their journey from Salt Lake City in October of 1849. This was much too late to try to cross the Sierra Nevada safely, and it looked like these wagons were going to have to wait out the winter in Salt Lake City. It was then that they heard about the Old Spanish Trail, a route that went around the south end of the Sierra Nevada and was safe to travel in the winter. The problems were that no pioneer wagon trains had traversed it and they could only find one person in town who knew the route and would agree to lead them. As they started their journey from Salt Lake City, no one knew that this wagon train—the San Joaquin Company—would become a story of human suffering integral to the history of the place they named Death Valley.

The going was slower than most of the travelers wanted, but the group's guide, Captain Jefferson Hunt, would only go as fast as the slowest wagon in the group. Just as the people were about to voice their dissent, a young man rode into camp and showed some of the people a hand-sketched map that showed a fictitious "short cut" across the desert to a place called Walker Pass. Everyone agreed that this would cut off 500 miles from their journey so most of the 107 wagons decided to follow this purported short cut while the other wagons continued along the Old Spanish Trail with Captain Hunt. The point where these wagons left the Old Spanish Trail is near the present day town of Enterprise, Utah where a the Jefferson Hunt Monument commemorates this historic event. Almost as soon as these people began their journey, they found themselves confronted with an obstacle, a gaping canyon on the present day Utah-Nevada state line. Most of the people became discouraged and turned back to join Captain Hunt, but more than 20 wagons decided to continue on. It was a tedious chore getting the wagons around the canyon and took several days. Despite the fact that the group didn't have a reliable map, they decided to continue on thinking that all they had to do was go west and they would eventually find the pass.

The group then passed through the area of present day Panaca, Nevada and continued over summits and across barren valleys to Groom Lake, near the present day town of Rachel. At Groom Lake they got into a dispute over which way to go. One group—the Bennett-Arcan party—wanted to head south toward the distant, snow-clad Mt. Charleston in hopes of finding a good water source. The other group—the Jayhawkers—wanted to stay with the original plan of traveling west. The group eventually split and went their separate ways, but they both were to have two things in common. They were saved from dying of thirst by a snow storm and they ended up in Death Valley. They entered the valley by way of present day Death Valley Junction and along the same route followed by Highway 190. On Christmas Eve of 1849, some of them arrived at Travertine Springs, the source of Furnace Creek.

The lost '49ers had now been traveling across the desert for about two months since leaving the Old Spanish Trail. Their oxen were weak from lack of forage and their wagons were battered and in poor shape. They too were weary and discouraged but their worst problem was not the valley that lay before them. It was the towering Panamint Mountains that stood like an impenetrable wall as far as could be seen.

From Furnace Creek, the routes of the two groups diverged. The Jayhawkers (including the Brier family) went north toward the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes where they decided they would have to leave their wagons and belongings behind and walk. They slaughtered several oxen and used the wood of their wagons to cook the meat and make jerky. After crossing the Panamint Mountains via Towne Pass and dropping down into Panamint Valley, most of them turned south, making their way into Indian Wells Valley near the present day city of Ridgecrest. There they follow a prominent indian trail heading south to civilization.

Meanwhile, the Bennett-Arcan party struggled across the salt flats and attempted to pass over the Panamint Range via Warm Springs Canyon, but were unable to do so. They retreated to the valley floor and sent two young men, William Lewis Manly and John Rogers, 'over the mountain' to get supplies. Thinking the Panamint Range was the Sierra Nevada, some expected a speedy return. Instead, nearly a month went by as the men walked more than 300 miles to Mission San Fernando, got supplies at a ranch and trekked back with three horses and a one-eyed mule. Along the way, one of the horses was ridden to death and the other two had to be abandoned. When Manly and Rogers finally arrived to the camp of the Bennett-Arcan party they found many of the group had left to find their own way out of the valley. Two families with children had patiently remained, trusting the men to save them. Only one man had perished during their long wait, but as they made their way west over the mountains, someone is said to have proclaimed "Goodbye, Death Valley," giving the valley its morbid name.

They may have escaped the Death Valley, but it took another 23 days to cross the Mojave Desert and reach the safety of Ranch San Francisco in Santa Clarita Valley. The so called "short cut" that had lured the Lost '49ers away from Captain Hunt's wagon train had proved to take four months and cost the lives of many men through the entire ordeal.

For many people, nothing symbolizes Death Valley more than the famous Twenty Mule Teams. These "big teams" pulled massive wagons hauling borax from Harmony Borax Works near Furnace Creek to the railhead near Mojave, a grueling 165 mile, ten day trip across primitive roads. Although the teams only ran for six years--1883 to 1889--they have made an enduring impression of the Old West. This is primarily due to a successful advertising campaign promoting 20-Mule-Team Borax Soap and the long-running Death Valley Days radio and television program. Today the twenty mule teams are only a fond memory, but you may see two of the last remaining wagons here in Death Valley. One is in front of the Furnace Creek Ranch and the other is at Harmony Borax Works.

I’m a muleskinner, proud to be one and good at my job. I don’t skin mules--I drive ‘em, that’s what muleskinner means. You may not know it, but mules is the smartest things on 4 feet. Speakin’ of smart, I work for a real smart man named Coleman who owns the Harmony Borax Works right here in Death Valley. He’d seen some muleskinners drivin’ 8 or 12 mules at a time and they was haulin’ some pretty heavy loads, so ole man Coleman he thinks to himself, if 8 mules can pull 10 tons and 12 can pull twice that, it stands to reason that if you hook 20 mules up and build bigger wagons, them mules should be able to pull nigh unto 40 tons. So that’s what Coleman did. Shelled out about $900 for each of 10 wagons, 16 feet by 4 feet by 6 feet deep. Durn things weigh 7800 pounds empty--36 1/2 tons loaded. And them wheels! Them back wheels is 7 feet tall, front ones is 5 feet. Each one weighs 1000 pounds--takes me and 4 more good-sized men to change one of ‘em. Funny, even though it’s 1888 and we’ve been haulin’ borax outta here for almost 5 years--dang near 10,000 tons--not one of them wagons has broke down yet. Wheels do ‘cause they take an awful beatin’ in the desert, but them wagons was made real good. They’ll roll forever.

So anyways, I’m meanin’ to tell you what my job is like; it ain’t all fun. I’m what’s called a "long-line skinner" ‘cause there’s an 80-foot chain runnin’ the length of the 165 miles of desert from here to the train depot in Mojave. Bennett’s Well is 26 miles south of Harmony, then Mesquite Well, Lone Willow Spring 53 miles later on, Granite Well, Blackwater Well, and 50 miles later is Mojave. Considerin’ the team can only travel at most 17 miles a day, you can see why I gotta carry enough water for everybody. Of course, I don’t drive from June to September--too dang hot, but even so it sometimes gets up to 125 out here. Without that water wagon we’d all be parched up like that skinner who died ‘cause his head cracked open from the heat. See, I told you it ain’t all fun.

Well, me and my swamper--he’s the one who kinda helps me by cookin’, sand-scrubin’ the dishes, and pullin’ on the hand-brake when we get rollin’ downhill a mite too fast--we take off from Harmony when the mornin’ star comes up. I hear a lotta skinners just aswearin’ and carryin’ on to get their mules goin’; well, if you’re good like me you can move ‘em out just by callin’ their names real quiet-like. Not far south of Harmony we hit some mighty unfriendly territory. I’ll tell you right out, I don’t envy them Chinese laborers who had to take sledgehammers to beat down them sharp salt spears out there to build me a road. All they got was $1.25 a day for doin’ that. My swamper he gets $2.00 a day and me, I get $4.00 a day. See, I said I did my job good--you don’t get money like that for bein’ a nobody.

Anyways, we get to Bennett’s Well on the second day out and refill that iron water wagon (one made outta wood would’ve dried up and fallen apart in this heat as soon as it got empty). When we get up to Windy Gap there’s some mighty tight corners I gotta maneuver around. Now I’ll tell you just how smart my mules is: it’s one thing drivin’ along a straight road; it’s a whole nother thing turnin’ corners on a mountain pass. My 2 lead mules, both mares, are about 80 feet ahead of me--so far away I can’t even begin to use my 9-foot long whip on ‘em. I’ve been known to throw pebbles at ‘em to get their attention. Aim’s good too. Back to gettin’ around corners. The next 5 pairs of mules are my "swing teams", they ain’t real smart, they just know their names and what ‘pull’ and ‘stop’ means. Now the next 3 sets of mules behind the swings are my "pointers". These mules are trained special to jump over that 80-foot chain and side-step away from the curve to keep that chain tight and my wagons goin’ ‘round that corner right. I know most folks can’t see in their mind’s eye what in blazes I’m talkin’ about, so I’ll draw it out for you.

Next comes the 2 big horses. They’re strong enough to start my wagons rollin’, but that’s all they’re good for. A dumb mule (and I ain’t seen one yet) is a whole lot smarter than a smart horse. When the goin’ gets rough, I ride on the "nigh wheeler" or way down. Sometimes I meet ‘em in the durndest places, and I never did figure out why the empty wagon has the right of way. Don’t make no sense.

Speakin’ of no sense--I hear rumors about what a wild bunch us skinners are, just adrinkin’ and agamblin’ and who knows what. Well now, ain’t that bright. Here I am, in charge of 2 lives, 18 mules that cost a pretty penny, 2 horses, and $15,000 worth of borax belongin’ to Coleman and folks say I’m wild. I doubt ole man Coleman would trust his money to someone who ain’t got a lick of sense.

Well, had another pretty fair trip--got into Mojave just about 3 pm on the 10th day. Swamper and me got along okay, mainly ‘cause when he looked like he was rarin’ up to gab I gave him that "I ain’t listenin’ to no swamper" look. He knows his place. I know my place too. Right here haulin’ borax outta Death Valley. Ain’t no other place I want to be, no other job I want to be doin’.

Shortly after taking office in March 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt stormed into the presidency supporting legislation to develop the Tennessee Valley Authority, repeal prohibition and get the country back on its feet from the devastating depression that held it in check. A major part of that effort was the establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps—or CCC for short—which took unemployed men from all over the country and put them to work on national lands under the direction of Army Reserve officers.

Death Valley was established as a national monument in February 1933, and by October of that year, two companies (400 men) entered Death Valley to start getting the infant monument into shape for the American public. In the next nine years, twelve companies worked in Death Valley. These crews graded 500 miles of roads, constructed an airplane landing field and installed water and telephone lines. Crews erected a total of 76 buildings for themselves, Works Progress Administration and National Park Service. They built trails in the Panamints to points of scenic interest. Additionally, these crews helped improve the visitor experience by building campgrounds, restrooms and picnic facilities.

The Civilian Conservation Corps crews were housed in 3 permanent camps at Wildrose, Funeral Range and Cow Creek and spike camps at Mesquite Springs, Emigrant Canyon, Daylight Pass and Butte Valley. They were paid $25 a month of which $20 went to the family and $5 to the men. The CCC men were among the first to be called for the war effort, and by May 1942, Death Valley no longer had CCC crews.

Today, you can still see their efforts in campgrounds, roads and even some buildings that are still standing. Death Valley could not have accommodated visitors in its first years without the help of the Civilian Conservation Corps.

Harmony Borax Works was the central feature in the opening of Death Valley and the subsequent popularity of the Furnace Creek area . The plant and associated townsite played an important role in Death Valley history.

After borax was found near Furnace Creek Ranch (then called Greenland) in 1881, William T. Coleman built the Harmony plant and began to process ore in late 1883 or early 1884. When in full operation, the Harmony Borax Works employed 40 men who produced three tons of borax daily. During the summer months, when the weather was so hot that processing water would not cool enough to permit the suspended borax to crystallize, Coleman moved his work force to the Amargosa Borax Plant near present day Tecopa, California.

Getting the finished product to market from the heart of Death Valley was a difficult task, and an efficient method had to be devised. The Harmony operation became famous through the use of large mule teams and double wagons which hauled borax the long overland route to Mojave.The romantic image of the “ 20-mule team ” persists to this day and has become the symbol of the borax industry in this country.

The Harmony plant went out of operation in 1888, after only five years of production, when Coleman’s financial empire collapsed. Aquired by Francis Marion Smith, the works never resumed the boiling of cottonball borate ore, and in time became part of the borax reserves of the Pacific Coast Borax Company and it successors. On December 31, 1974, the site was placed on the National Register of Historic Places .

Death Valley became a place of legend for people traveling westward, for its extremes and its potential as a place to strike it rich.The modern history of the park is still visible when you visit today due to its status as a protected landscape. There are over 18,000 mining features, including structures such as the aerial tramway towers and terminals at the Keane Wonder Mine. These impressive pieces of our past inspire us to imagine one of many similar stories that took place across not only Death Valley, but much of the west. Claims were staked in December of 1903, and by 1907 the Keane Wonder Mine was in full operation. The ore buckets you can still observe along the mile-long aerial tramway would have transported 70 tons of gold ore a day during peak production. The extreme environmental conditions that are present in the park today were a factor in the lives of the workers at the mine. Summer temperatures that limit our daytime activities caused equipment to overheat. Reduced spring output made water less abundant and limited production. By 1912, the value of the Keane Wonder Mine ebbed with a lack of raw material to continue mining profitably, and by 1942 the last attempt to continue operations came to a close. The preserved structures at Keane Wonder inspire us to imagine the miners who walked these same trails in search of a different value in the landscape. Visiting the park today, we can treasure the unique and varied ecosystems, a rich and diverse human cultural history, and the extremes that continue to push all of us towards different types of exploration and wonder. Though the structures now sit in silence, we can hike up the steep mile-long trail, climbing 1,500 feet in the Funeral Mountains. In this silence, we can imagine the engineering and ingenuity of those involved with the mine, and reflect on a legacy of Death Valley’s past.

From 2008 to 2017, the area was closed for structural stabilization, mine mitigation and soil sampling.

Unstable Structures Stabilization work was done on several aerial tramway towers, and the upper and lower tram terminals. This work included replacing key structural pieces that were rotting, cracked, or otherwise failing, while preserving the integrity of the original designs as much as possible. Please do not climb on the buildings, equipment, or tramway. Mine Openings Over 50 mine openings were covered. If you happen upon an open mine, stay out for safety reasons. Soil & Tailings Multiple rounds of soil sampling were done over a two year period to determine the contents of the tailings and the extent of the tailings spread.

The Keane Wonder Mill and Tramway Area: Located near the parking area, this site is very accessible. Take a stroll through the area where the mine camp and the mill were located. A short walk up the trail at the end of the road will provide views of the lower tram terminal and the first few tram towers. The Mining Road and Aerial Tramway: Walk along the mining road for views of the aerial tramway. The steep trail climbs 1,500 feet in 1.4 miles to the upper tramway terminal and just beyond it, the Keane Wonder Mine.

How to Get There: Drive the Beatty Cutoff Road 5.7 miles north from Highway 190 to the marked dirt road for Keane Wonder Mine. Continue 2.8 miles to the parking area. The road is typically in rough condition and may require a high clearance vehicle with thick tires.

Ballarat came into being in 1897 with many gold strikes in the Panamint Mountains. The Radcliffe mine alone produced 15,000 tons of gold ore from 1898-1903. The town was named after a famous Australian gold camp and was home to 400 people in 1898. Several legendary Death Valley figures lived in town. Ballarat is now privately owned and contains the ruins of several adobe buildings. The townsite is located off the Panamint Valley road west of Death Valley proper.

Chloride City became a town in 1905 when the Bullfrog strike brought people into the area to re-work old mining claims. It became a ghost town the following year. There are numerous adits and dumps in the area and the grave of one James McKay, of whom nothing is known. In addition, there are remains of 3 stamp mills. It is located off a four wheel drive road 3.5 miles east of Hell’s Gate or off the dirt road 7 miles further east at the Park boundary. Turn right after the cattle guard.

Greenwater was built around a copper strike made in 1905. Water had to be hauled into the town and was sold for $15 a barrel. The town grew to a population of 2,000 and was known for its lively magazine, The Death Valley Chuckwalla. By 1909 the mining had collapsed without ever showing a profit and people left for other areas. There are no ruins left in Greenwater, which is located south of Dante’s View off the Greenwater Valley gravel road.

Originally the town of Harrisburg was to be named Harrisberry after the two men who found the gold that launched it in 1905. Shorty Harris later took credit for the strike and changed the name of the town to Harrisburg after himself. Nevertheless, Pete Aguereberry , one of the original strike finders, spent 40 years working his claims in the Eureka gold mine. Harrisburg was a tent city that grew to support a population of 300. Today nothing remains of the town but Pete’s home and mine which are located to the right two miles down the dirt road to Aguereberry Point.

Copper and lead claims had been filed in the Leadfield area as early as 1905 but it wasn’t until 1926 that the area was heavily mined. In February of that year, Charles C. Julian, a flamboyant California promoter, became president of the town’s top mining company, the Western Lead Mines. Julian’s promotions were responsible for bringing great numbers of people into the area and in April, 1926 the town was laid out with 1749 lots.

The fate of the town was tied to Charles Julian and the local mining operations. When Julian experienced a financial downfall and the mine became unprofitable, this led to the end of the town. The area is scattered with mines, dumps, tunnels and prospect holes. There are remains of wood and tin buildings, a dugout and cement foundations of the mill. The town is located on the Titus Canyon road. This is a one way high clearance unpaved road that sometimes requires 4-wheel drive.

Panamint City was called the toughest, rawest, most hard-boiled little hellhole that ever passed for a civilized town. Its founders were outlaws who, while hiding from the law in the Panamint Mountains, found silver in Surprise Canyon and gave up their life of crime. In 1874 the town was at the height of its boom with a population of 2,000 citizens. By the fall of 1875 the boom was over, and in 1876 a flash flood destroyed most of the town. The chimney of the smelter is the most prominent remnant of the town's heyday. The site of Panamint City is accessible via a 5 mile hike from Chris Wicht’s Camp, which is located 6 miles northeast of the ghost town of Ballarat. Mining in the area continued on a sporadic basis up until recent times. The ruins of old Panamint City were added to Death Valley National Park in October of 1994.

Rhyolite , the "Queen City", was the largest town in the Death Valley area with a population of 5,000-10,000 people. During its heyday, from 1905-1911, it contained 2 churches, 50 saloons, 18 stores, 2 undertakers, 19 lodging houses, 8 doctors, 2 dentists, a stock exchange and an opera. The town contains numerous ruins including the Bottle House, Senator W.A. Clark's train depot, remains of a 3-story bank building, and the jail. It is on BLM land and is accessible by passenger car. Rhyolite is located 4 miles west of Beatty and 35 miles from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.

Skidoo was founded in 1906 when two prospectors on their way to the Harrisburg strike found gold. The town reached a population of 700 and became famous as the site of the only hanging to take place in Death Valley. It occurred when Hootch Simpson, a saloon owner who had fallen on hard times, tried to rob the bank, was foiled in the attempt, and later went back and killed the owner of the store in which the bank was located. During the night the townspeople hanged Hootch. According to legend, he was hanged twice. The second hanging was to accommodate news photographers who missed the first hanging. No one was ever arrested for the hanging. Skidoo is located off the Wildrose road on an unpaved high-clearance road not recommended for automobiles. Nothing remains of the actual townsite.

This ghost town's origins were brought about by Shorty Harris and E. L. Cross, who were prospecting in the area in 1904. They found quartz all over a hill, and as Shorty describes it “... the quartz was just full of free gold... it was the original bullfrog rock... this banner is a crackerjack”! He declared, “The district is going to be the banner camp of Nevada. I say so once and I’ll say it again.” At that time there was only one other person in the whole area: Old Man Beatty who lived in a ranch with his family five miles away. Soon the rush was on and several camps were set up including Bullfrog, the Amargosa and a settlement between them called Jumpertown. A townsite was laid out nearby and given the name Rhyolite from the silica-rich volcanic rock in the area.

There were over 2000 claims covering everything in a 30 mile area from the Bullfrog district. The most promising was the Montgomery Shoshone mine, which prompted everyone to move to the Rhyolite townsite. The town immediately boomed with buildings springing up everywhere. One building was 3 stories tall and cost $90,000 to build. A stock exchange and Board of Trade were formed. The red light district drew women from as far away as San Francisco. There were hotels, stores, a school for 250 children, an ice plant, two electric plants, foundries and machine shops and even a miner’s union hospital.

The town citizens had an active social life including baseball games, dances, basket socials, whist parties, tennis, a symphony, Sunday school picnics, basketball games, Saturday night variety shows at the opera house, and pool tournaments. In 1906 Countess Morajeski opened the Alaska Glacier Ice Cream Parlor to the delight of the local citizenry. That same year an enterprising miner, Tom T. Kelly, built a Bottle House out of 50,000 beer and liquor bottles.

In April 1907 electricity came to Rhyolite, and by August of that year a mill had been constructed to handle 300 tons of ore a day at the Montgomery Shoshone mine. It consisted of a crusher, 3 giant rollers, over a dozen cyanide tanks and a reduction furnace. The Montgomery Shoshone mine had become nationally known because Bob Montgomery once boasted he could take $10,000 a day in ore from the mine. It was later owned by Charles Schwab, who purchased it in 1906 for a reported 2 to 6 million dollars.

The financial panic of 1907 took its toll on Rhyolite and was seen as the beginning of the end for the town. In the next few years mines started closing and banks failed. Newspapers went out of business, and by 1910 the production at the mill had slowed to $246,661 and there were only 611 residents in the town. On March 14, 1911 the directors voted to close down the Montgomery Shoshone mine and mill. In 1916 the light and power were finally turned off in the town.

Today you can find several remnants of Rhyolite’s glory days. Some of the walls of the 3 story bank building are still standing, as is part of the old jail. The train depot (privately owned) is one of the few complete buildings left in the town, as is the Bottle House. The Bottle House was restored by Paramount pictures in Jan, 1925.

Rhyolite is 35 miles from the Furnace Creek Visitor Center on the way to Beatty, Nevada. A paved road heading north (left) from Hwy. 374 will take you to the heart of the the town. The ghost town of Rhyolite is on a mixture of federal and private land. It is not within the boundary of Death Valley National Park.

As one travels from the low valley desert, up the canyons, through the pinyon-juniper woodlands and onto the high boreal peaks, climate and vegetation changes are obvious. This wide diversity of habitat leads to a subsequent diversity in the bird species found on the bird list. Death Valley and other valleys in the park are long north-south troughs just east of the Sierra Nevada range. Migratory birds are channeled into these valleys and stop at its desert oases and mountains.

For a few weeks in the spring and again in the fall, hundreds of species pass through the desert areas. The first of the spring migrants can be detected as early as the first of March. By mid-March to early April the northbound movement is very much in evidence. The first wave of warblers reaches the valley about mid-April. Arriving at the same time are dozens of other species that are in full migration. The northbound movement reaches its peak from late April to early May.

Nesting occurs from mid-February, during warm springs, through June and July in the high elevations. May through June is the most productive nesting period. Seeing nesting birds is a wonderful sight, but please remember that nesting birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Act of 1918, and disturbing them is illegal.

There is definite evidence that the fall migration is underway by early August. Southbound movements are at a peak about the last of September. However, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between northbound and southbound movements. Late spring migrants may still be moving north as early fall migrants begin their southward journeys. There is also the post-nesting summering visitors that may be mistaken for early southbound migrants.

November through March is probably the poorest season for birding; a few permanent residents remain, as well as occasional Sierran visitors. However, a number of species can be observed by exploring a variety of habitats. The majority of the park's avifauna can be found at the low mountain springs and desert oases. Furnace Creek Ranch, with its diversity of habitats is definitely a hot spot. Springs that occur at up to about 4,000 feet elevation are also popular wintering habitats.

When birders visit Death Valley, traveling to a variety of representative habitats will prove to be the most productive. Visiting the following areas provides an overview of the diversity of Death Valley habitat and avian species:

Despite its reputation as a lifeless wasteland, Death Valley National Park contains a great diversity of plants. The park covers over 3 million acres of Mojave and Great Basin desert terrain. With over 11,000 feet of elevation change, and annual precipitation varying from 1.9 inches on the valley floor to over 15 inches in the higher mountains, there are a variety of different environments within the park for a great diversity of plants to thrive!

Vegetation zones include creosote bush, desert holly, and mesquite at the lower elevations up through shadscale, blackbrush, Joshua tree, pinyon-juniper, to sub-alpine limber pine and bristlecone pine woodlands. The saltpan is devoid of vegetation, and the rest of the valley floor and lower slopes have sparse cover, yet where water is available, an abundance of vegetation is usually present.

Spring wildflower blooms are a popular attraction in this desert park. Most years will have at least a few flowers, while others can have spectacular "superblooms." For more information on blooms and insight into the current year's bloom predictions, visit our Wildflower Seasons page.

How have plants adapted to survive the extremes of Death Valley? Here are a few broad strategies: Escaper plants- (ex: wildflowers) wait for favorable growing conditions such as rain and cool temperatures and avoid growing during the extreme heat and dry periods. Resister plants- are able to resist the extreme temperatures and dryness of Death Valley and live year-round. An example of this are mesquite trees, which have roots up to 80 feet long that allow them to reach water deep underground. Evader plants- (ex: pickleweed) evade the extreme conditions by living near water sources like springs and streams.

Death Valley is home to many different types of cacti and other desert succulents- learn more about them!

While there are advantages to being nocturnal in the desert, there are still creatures who brave the daytime heat. Animals like the sidewinder rattlesnake and scorpion are known for being active in the desert, but other animals also get spotted in the Death Valley heat. These animals have specific physical adaptations which allow them to be out in the heat longer. Roadrunners, for instance, can operate in the heat of the day because their body temperatures are naturally high (104 °F). The jackrabbit, another common desert creature, stays cool by releasing heat from its over-sized ears. When the rabbit retreats into the shade, warm blood from its core circulates through blood vessels in its ears, releasing body heat into the surrounding air. Desert living is no easy task, but all animals that make their home in Death Valley have found a way to survive and thrive. Their adaptations overcome the daily challenges of finding food, water, and staying cool. “Helping” an animal by giving it food or other interactions can disrupt its way of life and usually does more harm than good. Desert dwellers are perfectly designed to live in Death Valley National Park. It is important that humans, as visitors to these creatures’ home, respectfully observe and enjoy from a distance.

Visitors come to Death Valley to experience the stark and lonely vastness of the valley; the panorama of rugged canyons and mountains; the pleasures of the dry, moderate winter climate; the challenge of the hot, arid summer; the relief of the cooler mountains; and the reminders of frontier and Native American ways of life. Yet, Death Valley National Park's greatest value is as an outdoor natural history museum.

It contains fine examples of most of the earth's geological eras and the forces that expose them. Plant and animal species, some of which occur nowhere else in the world, have adapted to the harsh Mojave Desert environment here in remarkable ways. Extremes of climate and geography make it the ultimate showcase of an American desert. Death Valley National Park includes all of Death Valley, a 156-mile-long north/south-trending trough that formed between two major block-faulted mountain ranges: the Amargosa Range on the east and the Panamint Range on the west. Telescope Peak, the highest peak in the Park and in the Panamint Mountains, rises 11,049 feet above sea level and lies only 15 miles from the lowest point in the United States in the Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level. The California Desert Protection Act added most of the Saline, Eureka, northern Panamint, and Greenwater valleys to the Park.

Death Valley NP is renowned world-wide for its exposed, complex, unique tectonics and diverse geologic resources.

The salt flats in Badwater Basin cover nearly 200 square miles, among the largest protected salt flats in the world.

Nestled in a remote valley between the Cottonwood and Last Chance Ranges, the Racetrack is a place of stunning beauty and mystery.

Seasons Summer: Mid-April to Mid-October There are only a few campgrounds open in the summer months due to the extreme temperatures ( midnight temperatures can still be over 100 degrees!) so most visitors find these sleeping conditions unfavorable. Lower elevation campgrounds such as Sunset, Texas Springs, and Stovepipe Wells regularly close in mid-April, when temperatures typically begin to soar. What campgrounds remain open may fill quickly if cooler temperatures linger through late April into May and over holiday weekends (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day). The higher elevation campgrounds can be full on most weekends throughout the summer. Campgrounds that remain open are all first-come, first-served and are not staffed. You will need to travel to the campground to find an empty spot and then pay your campground fee at the automated, self-help kiosk with a credit or debit card. Due to excessive summer heat, it is recommended to stay in developed campgrounds only - Furnace Creek (with limited capacity), Emigrant, and Mesquite Spring. Travel on primitive, unpaved roads increases the risk of vehicle breakdowns, exposure to elements, poor cell service and lack of water. To escape Death Valley’s famous summer heat, consider our higher elevation campgrounds for more pleasant overnight options: Mesquite Spring, Emigrant, or Wildrose. Winter/Spring: Mid-October to Mid-April The popular campgrounds (Furnace Creek and Texas Springs) are typically full on weekends and holidays. The park's largest campground, Sunset, almost always has sites available, even in peak season. Reservations: Furnace Creek Campground takes reservations for October 15th - April 15th season. Sites can be booked through recreation.gov up to 6 months in advance. All other NPS campgrounds within Death Valley are first-come, first-served. You can arrive anytime and pay at the first-come, first-served campgrounds with an automated machine (credit or debit card needed). Furnace Creek Campground is open year-round. Sunset Campground, Stovepipe Wells Campground, and Texas Springs Campgrounds typically open late fall and close April 15.

Camping/Campground Rules Number of People/Vehicles: Campsites are limited to no more than eight people and two vehicles or one recreational vehicle plus secondary vehicle per site. Larger groups wishing to camp together can reserve group sites at the Furnace Creek Campground. Campfires: All vegetation in the park is protected . Firewood is available at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells General Stores or you can bring your own supply. Ash-producing fires (wood, charcoal, etc.) may only be made in National Park Service metal fire pits. All stoves and grills must be gas burning with an on/off switch. Fires are prohibited in the summer months or other periods of high fire danger at Mahogany Flat, Thorndike, and Wildrose Campgrounds. Camping Limits: Furnace Creek Campground has a limit of 14 days per calendar year. The rest of Death Valley National Park has a 30-day per calendar year camping limit. Generator Hours: From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., unless otherwise posted. Generators are prohibited in Texas Springs Campground. Pets: Pets must never be left unattended. There is a maximum limit of 4 pets per campsite and pets must be kept on a leash no longer than 6 feet at all times. Pet owners are responsible for cleanup and cleanup supplies. Check-out Time: Check-out time for all park campgrounds is 12 pm. Recreational Vehicle (RV) Length Restrictions: Mahogany Flats Campground, Thorndike Campground, and Wildrose Campground have a length restriction of 25 feet in total length. Emigrant Campground is a tent-only campground, no RVs permitted. Texas Springs Campground and Mesquite Springs Campground can accommodate up to 35ft in total length. Furnace Creek Campground has sites that can accommodate up to 100ft in total length. See recreation.gov for campsite specific details. Not all sites can accommodate that length. Sunset Campground and Stovepipe Wells Campground do not have RV length restrictions Wildlife: Coyotes and ravens are scavengers - keep your campsite clean! Do NOT feed or disturb wildlife.

Backcountry Camping Interested in dispersed or backcountry camping? It is permitted in some places within the park - find out more about the Backcountry Camping Rules . Death Valley is a large, remote place without cell phone service in most areas. Backcountry camping is a great option for those who prepare properly and follow Leave No Trace principles.

Accessible via paved roads. Limited services such as toilets and trash removal provided.

Accessible via unpaved roads, requiring high clearance 4 x 4. No services available, must provide own water and pack out all trash.

Privately owned campgrounds located within Death Valley National Park. These campgrounds accept reservations.

So much to Explore! Death Valley is a vast national park with over three million acres of designated wilderness and hundreds of miles of paved and backcountry roads . The park contains an amazing variety of terrain , historic sites , plants and animals for outdoor adventurers to explore.

Death Valley is a vast national park with over three million acres of designated wilderness and hundreds of miles of paved and backcountry roads . The park contains an amazing variety of terrain , historic sites , plants and animals for outdoor adventurers to explore. It is your responsibility to leave no trace of your visit so everyone can enjoy Death Valley for generations to come.

Many of the most famous places in the park can be visited by car. Don't miss these "must see" locations.

Half the park is after dark! Learn about Death Valley's night sky viewing opportunities.

Enhance your experience of Death Valley by joining a ranger-guided tour, nature walk, patio talk, or night program.

Visiting the park and looking for a place to take a run? The park can be a very challenging place, but here are some great options!

Learn about the different locations in the park where Star Wars was filmed and how to visit them.

Death Valley has hundreds of miles of backcountry roads. From two-tracks to graded surfaces, there's something for all skill levels.

Looking for the best places to see sunrise or sunset in the park? Here are our recommendations!

From deep canyons to salt flats, sand dunes, and desert peaks, Death Valley is a hiker's paradise.

Hundreds of miles of of dirt roads provide awesome mountain biking. Paved roads have narrow shoulders. Photo: Kurt Moses

Manzanar National Historic Site, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, Rhyolite Ghost Town, and more!