In addition to collecting information first hand from numerous trips to Death Valley, a big thanks goes out to the Death Valley National Park guide books, the guides at Scotty’s Castle and park rangers for helping supply information for this article.
Additional Resources
Travelers can pick a free national park guide to Death Valley or a long black-striped map to Death Valley at local ranger stations or the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.
The newspaper styled Visitor Guide to Death Valley is available at park info kiosks or the visitor center at Furnace Creek and highlights current information about the park. Visitors may also write to:
Death Valley National Park
P.O. Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328
Printed Information
Death Valley with an Essay by Jeff Nicolas is a good Death Valley picture book. Printed by Sierra Press out of Mariposa.
A Travelers Guide to Death Valley National Park by Lawson, has great color photos as well.
Stay Safe
In addition to the extreme heat in the summer visitors should be aware of several other factors:
– cell phone service is sporadic – some providers don’t provide any coverage, others only work in certain parts of the park
– do not camp directly in a dry wash in a canyon if there is any chance of rain (flash floods, while not common do occur)
– stay out of mine shafts (they may contain toxic gases, animals, falling rocks or other dangers)
– in case of a car breakdown, stay with the vehicle rather then walking away
General
- www.badwaterultra.com is the world’s toughest annual footrace held from Badwater to Mt Whitney in July. Ever wanted to run in a race that starts in the nation’s lowest hottest area in the middle of the hottest month of the year? Then you run for 135 miles a lot of it in 120+ degree temperatures to the Mt. Whitney Portal trail at 8,000 feet? Consider NOT stopping at the end of the race but rather continuing running on the Whitney trail right to 14,496 feet, the top of Mt. Whitney which is the highest spot in the lower 48 states.
- www.darthvalley.com Jon’s Darth Valley Challenge!
- www.deathvalley49ers.org an organization trying to increase public awareness about Death Valley
- www.deathvalley.com everything you wanted to know about Death Valley
- www.deathvalleychamber.org Death Valley Chamber of Commerce
- www.dvnha.org Death Valley Natural History Association
- www.farabeesjeeprentals.com Farabee’s Death Valley Jeep Rentals
- www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm National Park Service, Death Valley website
- www.summitpost.org/area/range/175725/death-valley.html excellent park overview
The Heat
- www.heatrunning.com Planning a run in Death Valley’s heat? Visit here first!
- www.wrh.noaa.gov/vef/climate/DeathValleyClimateBook/index.php the official collection of death valley temperatures and records
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