Death Valley National Park

If you plan to visit us, please be aware that on January 6, 2021, the State of California and the California Department of Public Health updated their guidelines and issued a revised travel advisory asking people to avoid non-essential travel to any part of California more than 120 miles from one's place of residence. Additionally, non-essential travelers from other states or countries are strongly discouraged from entering California. See the full Travel Advisory here: ... https://www.cdph.ca.gov//Pag/COVID-19/Travel-Advisory.aspx Death Valley National Park is located within the Southern California Region. Hospitals and emergency departments in our region are over capacity and many are implementing crisis surge capacity strategies of care. Hospital care and local ambulance service in the region will be significantly delayed if you are injured or become ill. To get medical care, you may have to be airlifted to a hospital out of state. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners at Death Valley National Park is our number one priority. We urge visitors to do their part to prevent the spread of this infectious disease by following state and CDC guidance including maintaining a safe distance between yourself and other groups, washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze, and most importantly, staying home if you feel sick. Please #RecreateResponsibly by planning and preparing thoroughly for your outdoor activities in the park and by wearing a face covering when social distancing cannot be maintained. NPS Photo Image: A Park Ranger firefighter sprays water from a hose on a burning passenger car on a roadside in Death Valley National Park.

Death Valley National Park is seeking a heavy equipment operator. If you're interested in joining our team, the vacancy announcement is open until Friday, 1/15 at 9pm Pacific, or until 25 applications are received, whichever happens first. See link for details and to apply. https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/589112500

We invite you to stop scrolling. Take a moment to enjoy nature. Breathe fully. Experience the zen of nature's patterns. Remember a trip to the park.... Nature can be incredibly restorative, whether it is a moment caring for plants in a windowsill, walking through a neighborhood park, exploring a state park, or seeking Wilderness within the national parks. From the little things to the large, a pause for nature can be so important. We'd love to hear how you are taking a moment to enjoy nature today! : NPS/J. Jurado : Badwater Basin's salt flats Image: white salt polygons with distant snow covered mountains.

We get it; we want things to return to normal too. For now this area is still under Regional Stay at Home Orders. These orders temporarily close campgrounds and hotels, which means all campsites at Death Valley National Park are closed. These orders are triggered by the fact that there is 0% ICU hospital bed availability in the region, which will need to increase to at least 15% for the closures to be lifted. Unfortunately, even while on vacation accidents can and do happen, ...and local medical resources are already at capacity. During this past month of campground closures the park has seen a dramatic increase in damage from camping in ecologically sensitive areas, illegal campfires leaving ashes and burn scars, and human waste contaminating the backcountry. We urge our visitors to #RecreateResponsibly, and remind folks that trail heads and parking lots are day use only and that campfires are not permitted outside of campgrounds. This is temporary. We look forward to a new year and more opportunities becoming available again. : NPS/J. Jurado : Dawning of a new day at Zabriskie Point Image: badlands in golden sunrise light with deep shadows in the foreground and snow-dusted mountains behind.

New Year's Resolutions from a Desert Tortoise: 1. Take it slow 2. Stay hydrated 3. Eat more greens... Wishing everyone a Happy 2021! : Courtesy of Caroline Rohe Image: a desert tortoise looking toward the camera

In support of the State of California’s Stay at Home Order for the Southern California Region, Death Valley National Park will temporarily modify park operations. At noon on December 7, all campgrounds will be temporarily closed for at least three weeks. Bookstore sales, pass sales, and information will still be available at Furnace Creek. Roads, trails, and overlooks remain open. Lodging for non-essential use is temporarily closed and restaurants will provide take-out food... service per the California Stay-at-Home order (https://www.cdph.ca.gov//COVID-19/Regional-Stay-at-Home-Or) Updates and current park conditions will be posted on our website at: https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/conditions.htm. The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers, and partners is our number one priority. The NPS urges visitors to do their part when visiting the park and to follow CDC guidance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Happy December! This final month of 2020 features great celestial events, including a nearly full moon tonight (99%) and another at the very end of the month! During full moons we love walking on the Mesquite dunes and seeing the different hills of sand bathed in pale blue light and watching for kangaroo rats or other animals enjoying the cool of the night. What are some of your favorite moonlit walks? : Courtesy of Patrick Taylor, @death_valley_knight... Image: a rising full moon silhouettes a figure looking outward, poised with binoculars. See more

Happy Thanksgiving from Death Valley National Park! Among the many things are thankful for are the numerous park visitors that care about this amazing place as deeply as we do! : NPS/J. Gray : Dantes View

Coyote Melon (Cucurbita palmata) is the 'pumpkin of the desert'. But its bitter taste makes terrible pie! Coyotes come back for seconds though! The small, flat, teardrop shaped seeds are found in coyote scat throughout the park during fall. ... What's your favorite fall treat? NPS Photo

Today starts #BatWeek! Did you know that Death Valley is home to 13 species of bats? Worldwide bats make up about a quarter of all mammal species on Earth, and are incredibly important for pollination, seed dispersing, and insect control as many eat up to their body weight in insects nightly! Bats are currently under threat from habitat destruction, white nose syndrome, and a changing climate. To learn more about local populations and how they are affected by these threats, ...bat monitoring at Death Valley and other national parks is done through NPS scientists with the NPS Mojave Desert Network Inventory & Monitoring. Learn more about this group and their research at: https://www.nps.gov/im/mojn/bats.htm : NPS photo (NPS Mojave Desert Network Inventory & Monitoring) Image: a western yellow bat held in the gloved hand of a researcher.

Park managers are planning for future projects at Stovepipe Wells Village, and invite your input! (EDIT: use link at end of post to submit official comments!) Stovepipe Wells Campground: the tent and RV hookup areas would be redesigned to increase privacy, comfort, and accessibility; improvements include picnic tables, shade structures, and walking paths. A group site and second restroom would be added. However, the campground would not be expanded in area, so the number o...f campsites would be reduced. Fuel Station: A second above-ground tank and additional fuel pumps would add ability to sell diesel fuel. Night Sky Viewing to Replace Airstrip: night sky viewing events in the park regularly attract over 250 people, and very few people use the airstrip at Stovepipe Wells. The park proposes changing the airstrip into a place where astronomical societies can set up and camp with their large telescopes, while providing an opportunity to experience the park’s spectacular dark skies. The Furnace Creek Airport, 18 miles away, would still be available for small planes. Mosaic Canyon: a vault toilet would be added, and the parking area redesigned at this popular trailhead. Depending on costs, public opinion, and resource impacts, the road could be paved. CA-190: address pedestrian safety in the Stovepipe Wells and Emigrant Junction areas. More details in the link below! For your comments to be helpful to us, please comment online by 12/23/2020 at this link: https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm : NPS photo Image: a two story building with large shade awning and sign that reads "Stovepipe Wells General Store"

This Long-Nosed Leopard Lizard is showing off her fall fashion colors! Her bright coloration is an indication that she is expecting. More information on reptiles that live within the park can be found at: https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/reptiles.htm. : courtesy of Caroline Rohe... Image: a lizard with bright orange linear spots Note: original post omitted the word lizard from the first sentence.

Five years ago today, a massive flash flood tore through the Scotty's Castle area, damaging structures, ripping out 8 miles of roads, and destroying essential utilities. In the years since, significant work has been done to stabilize structures, repair utilities, and protect the historic collections. However, there is still more work to be done. The castle itself isn't expected to open until likely 2022, but the Death Valley Natural History Association offers limited tours wh...ere visitors can learn about the flood recovery efforts and visit the site. More information about the work that has been completed, work yet to be done, and tour options can be found on our press release at: https://www.nps.gov//learn/news/scotty-s-castle-5-years.htm

Happy #NationalFossilDay! Death Valley National Park has numerous fossils protected within its boundaries, from 520 million year old trilobites, Devonian fishes, Titanotheres and other Eocene mammals, to Miocene bird and mammal tracks! While there are many fossils throughout the park, we do not advertise their locations for their protection, but you may be lucky enough to come across some on your adventures! The National Park Service has great resources for learning more about fossils, as well as a printable fossil coloring book available at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/fossilday/index.htm

Looking to plan a winter trip to the park? We have good news! As the park is starting to cool down (a mere 95-105 degrees at Furnace Creek this week!), we are reopening Texas Springs, Sunset, and Stovepipe Wells campgrounds for the busy season! Starting on Thursday, October 15, these campgrounds will open for first-come first-served camping. All other year-round campgrounds are open, with the exception of the 5 large group sites.... More information on camping can be found on our website at: https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/camping.htm : NPS/K. Moses

A suspect has been arrested for a fatal shooting that occurred in Death Valley National Park. Zachary Salyer (34), of Amargosa Valley, Nevada, called Nye County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 7:15 on the morning of Sunday, October 11 to state he shot the victim. Salyer reported that the victim was on a dry lake bed in Amargosa. Salyer was arrested by Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, charged with first degree murder, and transported to Inyo County Jail. He is being held on $1,...000,000 bail. The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. This is an open investigation and anyone with information is encouraged to contact Inyo County Sheriff’s Office at (760) 878-0383, option 4. Inyo County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by Nye County Sheriff’s Office, the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, Inyo County Evidence Technician, Inyo County District Attorney’s Office, and Inyo County Coroner’s Office. The shooting occurred in a rarely-visited section of Death Valley National Park near the community of Amargosa Valley. Photo credit: Nye County Sheriff's Office https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/news/fatality-2020-10-11.htm

It burns green, Rosie! We’re rich!" Our national Hispanic heritage is rich with stories like that of Rosa Rosie Winters a remarkable woman who started a mining boom that still echoes in Death Valley National Park today. Rosa lived in California soon after it was annexed from Mexico, meaning she lived at the intersection of many cultures. It is unclear if she was of Spanish or Mexican descent, as we have no information regarding her parents, but she was definitively Hispan...ic in all documents about her life. The Winters were key players in Death Valley's Borax history: Rosa undertook a two-week roundtrip journey to obtain a few chemicals needed to prove the minerals they found were indeed borax. The mixture burned the distinctive green color, validating their discovery. They sold their lucrative find for $20,000 in 1882 and settled into a peaceful ranch in Pahrump, Nevada. While most dismissed her as Aaron Winters’ frail Spanish-American wife, Rosa found more wealth in Death Valley than many generations of miners to follow. Rosa’s story emerged as part of a women’s history grant from the National Park Foundation that is helping to recover diverse narratives of women throughout Death Valley history, and we share this story as part of Hispanic Heritage Month! #HispanicHeritageMonth #FindYourPark #EncuentraTuParque #ThrowbackThursday #DEVAsDivas Image: a black and white photo of a woman standing next to a seated man.

Happy #DesertTortoiseWeek! Desert Tortoise are some of most elusive inhabitants of the desert, spending up to 95% of its time underground and coming out to forage on new plant growth following rain. They live in a variety of habitats from sandy flats to rocky foothills, including alluvial fans, washes and canyons where suitable soils for den construction might be found. Desert tortoise are very sensitive to disturbance and if scared by human presence may urinate, which can le...ad to dehydration as they otherwise are adapted to reabsorb much of this water. This photo was taken using a telephoto lens. If you are lucky enough to see a tortoise during a Death Valley trip, please report the sighting to a ranger or post it to iNaturalist. Park resource managers use these data to learn more about populations and patterns within the park. : courtesy of Caroline Rohe Image: a close up of a tortoise in dry desert vegetation

Don't let Fall be fatal for this rare species! Last week TWO of these rare animals were killed by vehicles within the park! Fall is in the air, which means the rut is on for desert bighorn sheep. We have seen an increase in bighorn sightings as sheep are coming together to search for a mate. But this is also a time when they are more likely to be distracted.... Please do your part to help protect desert bighorn by giving wildlife a break. Following speed limits and paying close attention while driving helps protect you and the park. Also, if you see a bighorn during your visit, we would love to hear about it! Please either tell a ranger while you are in the park, or log your sighting on iNaturalist to give park resource managers more insight into population sizes and dynamics. (NOTE: the original post, now edited, called these an endangered species. While some sites list Ovis canadensis nelsoni as being endangered, this apparently applies to specific populations. This is listed as a species of concern for the State of California.) : NPS/Mardee Littrell : Mummy Canyon Image: desert bighorn ram and ewe in desert gravels.

Death Valley National Park is world-renowned for its exposed, complex, and diverse geology. Here one can find a diverse rock record from 1.8 billion-year-old metamorphic rocks in the Black mountains, to recent playa sediments deposited in the valley basins! And Death Valley’s geology is an ongoing dynamic process. Wind, water, and plate tectonics are still hard at work, shaping the park on a day-to-day basis. You can learn more about the geology, geologic record, faults sprin...gs, salt flats, and other natural features on our website at: https://www.nps.gov//natu/naturalfeaturesandecosystems.htm : courtesy of J. Jurado : Telescope Peak trail Image: a large lichen-crusted striped rock atop a mountain overlooking other peaks and a broad valley below.

Tonight is International Observe the Moon Night! While Death Valley National Park is known for its star gazing, we also love to check the moon! With just a simple pair of binoculars, the craters can be seen with much greater detail and the light of a full moon will illuminate the badlands and mountain ranges in its pale reflected light. For the occasion, NASA will also be livestreaming, which can be seen at: https://moon.nasa.gov/observe-the-moon-night/.... Happy moon-gazing! #ObserveTheMoon : Courtesy of Patrick Taylor, @Death_Valley_Knight Image: a ranger looking into the distance, silhouetted by a large full moon

Happy #NationalPublicLandsDay! Today visitors can enjoy free entrance to parks across the country and participate in volunteer projects. While Death Valley does not have any formal volunteer projects scheduled, we are always grateful for our park visitors that help show their love for public lands by picking up balloon trash and other litter they find during their visits! For more information on national and local events, visit: https://www.nps.gov/subj/npscelebrates/public...-lands-day.htm : NPS/Matt Turner Image: a ranger sihlouette filled with icons of National Parks, such as animals, fossils, lighthouse, trees, bridge.

NEWS RELEASE: Numerous Heat Records Set in Death Valley this Summer DEATH VALLEY, CA Over the summer of 2020, numerous heat records were broken, as the park experienced what may be some the hottest days ever recorded on Earth. This meteorological summer (June-August) had an average (day and night combined) temperature of 102.7. This makes 2020 the 4th hottest summer on record, following 2018 (1st), 2017 (2nd), and 2016 (3rd) and marking a continued record of a changing clim...Continue reading