Death Valley National Park


In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life thrives in Death Valley.

The main road transecting Death Valley National Park from east to west is California Highway 190. On the east in Nevada, U.S. Route 95 parallels the park from north to south with connecting highways at Scotty's Junction (State Route 267), Beatty (State Route 374), and Lathrop Wells (State Route 373).

  • Astronomy
  • Stargazing
  • Biking
  • Mountain Biking
  • Road Biking
  • Camping
  • Backcountry Camping
  • Car or Front Country Camping
  • Canyoneering
  • Food
  • Flying
  • Golfing
  • Guided Tours
  • Hiking
  • Backcountry Hiking
  • Front-Country Hiking
  • Horse Trekking
  • Living History
  • First Person Interpretation
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Wildlife Watching
  • Birdwatching
  • Park Film
  • Museum Exhibits
  • Shopping
  • Bookstore and Park Store
  • Gift Shop and Souvenirs

  • Archeology
  • Asian American Heritage
  • Incarceration
  • Japanese-American Internment
  • Industry
  • Mining
  • Native American Heritage
  • Westward Expansion
  • The Gold Rush
  • Women's History
  • Animals
  • Birds
  • Fish
  • Tortoises and Turtles
  • Climate Change
  • Dunes
  • Foothills, Plains and Valleys
  • Fossils and Paleontology
  • Geology
  • Mountains
  • Night Sky
  • Astronomy
  • Scenic Views
  • Trails
  • Unique Species
  • Endangered
  • Wilderness

Sunset from Zabriskie Point

badlands bathed in pale pink and orange light from the setting sun

The warm light of sunset covers the badlands at Zabriskie Point.

Zabriskie Point

Morning light on the badlands below Zabriskie Point.

Zabriskie Point is a popular place to view sunrise over the badlands.

Storm over the Salt Flats

white salt flats with dark gray clouds

Badwater Basin is the lowest point in North America at -282 feet.

Sunset at Dantes View

a sunset overlooking a valley filled with white salt

A mile above the salt flats in the valley below, Dantes View provides breathtaking vistas.

Lupine and Tortoiseshell Butterfly

pink lupine flowers with an orange and black butterfly

Higher elevations provide a respite from the heat in this alpine ecosystem.

Wildrose Charcoal Kilns

nine 25 foot tall rock beehive structures

Nearly a century and a half old, these are some of the best preserved kilns in the western U.S.

A rare superbloom of Desert Gold.

a field of yellow flowers with a mountain

About once a decade, rains at the right times can lead to a rare superbloom!

Hottest Place on Earth

thermometer reading 130 f 54 c

Summers are infamously hot, as for 6 months of the year temperatures above 120 degrees are regularly recorded.

Winding canyons await

polished walls of a narrow canyon

There are numerous canyons to explore across this vast park.