Wilderness.net's Death Valley Wilderness Fact
Sheet
Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Death
Valley Wilderness in 1994 and it now has a total of
3,102,456 acres. California contains approximately
3,057,106 acres. Nevada contains approximately
45,350 acres. It is managed by the National Park
Service.
Description
Death Valley is the hottest, driest, lowest spot in North
America. Annual rainfall is less than 2 inches. Average summertime temperatures hover around 115
degrees Fahrenheit. The 134 degrees recorded here on July 10, 1913 is the highest temperature
recorded on the planet. Yet there is far more to the park than its dryness and heat. There is a stark
beauty to this land of extremes. Telescope Peak, the highest peak in the park, rises 11,049 feet above
the valley floor. This mountain and many others in the Panamint Range remain snowcapped in the
winter months. While 15 miles to the east is Badwater Basin, a salt flat that is the lowest spot in
North America, at -282 feet below sea level. There are also vast fields of sand dunes, narrow
winding canyons, steep alluvial fans, deep craters and colorful badlands to explore in this vast
Wilderness.
Speaking of its vastness, Death Valley National Park is the largest national park outside of Alaska
and 91% of the park is designated Wilderness. This Wilderness area is yours to enjoy, to preserve
and to protect. Visitors are free to hike, backpack and camp in the wilderness. Always pay attention
to the temperature, carry plenty of water and a map. In summertime, all but the highest peaks are too
hot to safely recreate in. Winter is a much more pleasant time to explore the outdoors. For visitor
safety and resource protection visitors are encouraged to pick up a free backcountry permit at the
Furnace Creek Visitor Center, open daily from 8-5, or the Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station, open as
staffing allows.
Leave No Trace
How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the
country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more
about how they apply in the Death Valley Wilderness.
1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors
For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.
Location
Located in the Mojave Desert along the California and Nevada border, Death Valley National Park is
only a two hour drive from Las Vegas and a five hour drive from Los Angeles. There are three
paved roads entering the park from the east, Highways 190, 374, and 178. Highway 367 is closed.
There are also two paved roads entering from the west, Highways 178 and 190. California Hwy 190,
designated a National Scenic Highway, crosses the middle of the park providing access to both
Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek.
GPS is unreliable in this area. Carry a map and exercise sound judgement before driving on dirt
roads.
For further information on park roads, including backcountry roads go to the park’s website,
www.nps.gov/deva, and check current conditions. Or go to the following Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/DeathValleyRoadConditions/.
Area Management
The Death Valley Wilderness is part of the 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation
System. This System of lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered
plants and animals. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking,
backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and
extraordinary opportunities for solitude. You play an important role in helping to "secure for the
American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of
wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States through the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Please follow the requirements outlined below and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting the
Death Valley Wilderness to ensure protection of this unique area.
Unless otherwise specified, no motorized equipment or mechanical transport, with the exception of
wheelchairs, is allowed. This is generally true for all federal lands managed as designated
wilderness.
Contacts
Death Valley National Park
P.O. Box 579
Death Valley, CA 92328
Remarks: Commercial permits call 760-786-3241.
Phone: 760-786-3208
Fax: 760-786-3283
Email: [email protected]
Links to Other Websites
Death Valley National Park Website
Death Valley National Park Wilderness/Backcountry Users Visitor Survey (spring 2010 and fall
2009)
Death Valley National Park Wilderness/Backcountry Users Visitor Survey: Visitor Comments
Appendix
Facebook Page
Road Conditions
Links on Wilderness.net
National, Regional and Local Wilderness Organizations (NGOs)
A listing of societies, organizations, coalitions and other wilderness-related advocacy and
stewardship groups.
Career and Volunteer Opportunities
A listing of sites providing information about wilderness- and environmentally-related career and
volunteer opportunities.
Applicable Wilderness Law(s)
Law
Date
Acreage Change (in acres)
Public Law 103-433
October 31, 1994
3,158,038
California Desert Protection Act of 1994 - Public Law 103-433 (10/31/1994) "California Desert
Protection Act of 1994" An Act to designate certain lands in the California Desert as wilderness, to
establish the Death Valley and Joshua Tree National Parks, to establish the Mojave National
Preserve, and for other purposes.
NOTE: Public law acreage includes CA and NV acreage.
download 103-433 - Relevant legislation found on page(s): 26.
General Trip Planning Information
The best time to visit the park is mid-October thru mid-April when cooler temperatures provide the
perfect climate for camping, hiking, and exploring this unique desert environment. Hiking
opportunities are limitless though the park has few maintained trails. Backpacking opportunities
abound, but due to limited water sources, careful trip planning is of special concern. For more trip
planning resources go to the website under the links tab.
Climate and Special Equipment Needs
If visiting in the summer, backpacking should be limited to the higher elevations. At lower
elevations, day hikes should start at sunrise and be completed before 10 am. Also carry enough
water with you especially in the summer. The standard is one gallon per hour hiking during the
summer.
Safety and Current Conditions
Be safe and survive! The number one cause of death and injury in the park is single car rollovers.
Always carry current maps and stop by the park visitor center for updated road information. In
summer never travel without additional drinking water in case your vehicle breaks down. Avoid
hiking in lower elevations during the heat of summer (May thru September). Cell phone coverage is
limited or non-existent. GPS units are not a substitute for a good map. In remote areas such as Death
Valley GPS units are not always dependable.