Park Description & Unique Features

A LAND OF ENVIRONMENTAL EXTREMES Death Valley National Park protects over 3.3 million acres of the Mojave Desert (Desert USA 2007); a place of environmental extremes, geological gardens, and a diversity of uniquely adapted flora and fauna. The many different microhabitats of Death Valley support a multitude of wildflowers and other plant species despite annual rainfall in the park averaging less than two inches each year (Wallace, et al. 1995). Many visitors are attracted to the park for viewing wildflowers, wildlife or geological features, day hiking, backcountry camping, campground camping, to take photographs, and to tour Scotty's Castle.

DEVIL'S HOLE PUPFISH In 1952 Devil's Hole, a 40-acre parcel of land in Nevada, became part of Death Valley National Park (PBS 2007). This land was included in the system to protect a single species of pupfish (one of 13 found in Death Valley). This particular species of pupfish has been in the spotlight recently, as their populations are declining. A special recovery team monitors the population's health (by measuring individual fish weight and size, and number of individuals) four times a year. The water level in Devil's hole has declined in the past 2 decades and is a major concern. This water level decline could be due to water pumping in the Amargosa and Pahrump Valleys. The survival of the Devil's Hole Pupfish (Cyprinodon diabolis) looks grim as land development and other nearby human activities are impacting local ecosystems.

Devil's Hole Pupfish (C. diabolis) Photo Source: http://www.nativefish.org Devil's Hole Enclosure Photo source: http://fws.gov

Wildflowers in Death Valley Photo Source: www.machinearts.com/rrsite/dvflrs.html

WILDFLOWER EXPLOSION Each spring wildflowers create a fantastic and colorful display in Death Valley National Park. Environmental conditions, such as temperature and precipitation, can influence wildflower production. To plan a visit for the most promising of wildflowers, check recent rain conditions and wildflower reports for clues of what types of blooms the spring will bring. Flowering can begin as early as March. As high temperatures approach, wildflowers die back quickly - so be sure to visit before the summer heat. For a list of rare flowers see the Death Valley Endemic Plants and Animals Report. You can view the latest wildflower report here.

Historical Timeline 1849 Pioneers enter Death Valley in route to California 1877 Modock Consolidated Mining Company built charcoal kilns (Wildrose Canyon) (death.valley.national-park.com 2007). 1878 Mines closed, charcoal kilns shut down (death.valley.national-park.com 2007). 1933 (Feb 11th) President Herbert Hoover made Death Valley a National Monument in 1933 (DVNHA 2007). 1976 Mining in the Parks Act passed, ban on open-pit mining 1994 (Oct 31st) Desert Protection Act, Death Valley gained 1,200,000 acres, Death Valley was made a National Park (death.valley.national-park.com 2007).

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Visitors

WEATHER In the early 1900's Death Valley temperatures soared up to 134 degrees F, a record temperature for the park. It is advised to avoid hiking in low elevation areas in the summer to prevent heat exhaustion and/or dehydration. Please stop by the Visitor's center in the park to learn more about shaded, high elevation day hikes.

PLACES TO GO Some of the most popular visitor destinations in the park include Badwater (282 feet below sealevel), Dante's Peak, and Scotty's Castle. The Death Valley Visitor's Center has information on backcountry camping, current road and weather conditions, attractions, natural history and more! If you're looking for Ghost Towns Click here to learn more.

Furnace Creek Visitor's Center

This center has a museum, ranger talks, orientation programs, evening programs, and a bookstore operated by the Death Valley Natural History Association (NPS 2006). Here visitors can find information on the park's geology, flora and fuana, and other natural history information. There are also handouts on day hikes and campsites. It is open all year from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Stop by to learn more from rangers and staff manning the information desk; they are friendly and can help you find information on a variety of subjects!

Badwater

Photo Source: http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/signs/death-valley.html Badwtaer Basin is the lowest point in the western hemisphere at approximately 280 feet below sealevel (NPS 2006). When Death Valley receives heavy rainfall from rare desert rainstorms, a shallow lake forms over the Badwater saltflats. A boardwalk was built within the past few years to help protect the area and a very tiny endangered snail that lives in the water. Many visitors bring kyacks out to the shallow lakes during seasons with heavy rains. This area makes a plesaant and short day hike. But the Park Service recommends avoiding this area in the summer heat; "Do not walk on the salt flats in hot weather" (NPS 2006).

Dante's Peak

Dante's peak is amidst the crest of the Black Mountains and is 5,475 feet at it's peak. From here, spectacular views can be found. Hikers and photographers alike climb to the summit to view Death Valley's salty playas, Badwater, Telescope Peak of the Panamint Mountain Range, and with clear skies a view of Mt.Whitney in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (NPS 2007, The American Southwest 2007). Photograph Source: http://www.americansouthwest.net/

Scotty's Castle

Photo Source: http://disordered.org/desktop/Scotty.jpg Scotty's castle was the vacation home of Albert Johnson, a businessman from Chicago. The two met when Scotty (Walter Scott) was seeking investors for gold mining in Death Valley. Although, no gold was ever found, the two became friends and enjoyed exploring Death Valley together. Johnson grew fond of the dry desert air and Scotty's company, and decided to build a vacation home in Grapevine Canyon. That is the story of Scotty's Castle, now the Death Valley Ranch. Tours are available, but be sure to purchase tickets in advance because they are sold on a first come first serve basis. The tour inside the home lasts about an hour and visitors can explore the grounds afterwards.

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Racetrack Playa (desertusa.com) Zabriskie Point (americansouthwest.net) More on Scotty's Castle (desertusa.com) Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge (americansouthwest.net)

RECREATION Many visitors enjoy photographing wildflowers and wildlife, camping, backcountry exploration and day hiking throughout Death Valley National Park.
Jeep Trails & Backcountry Roads
Photo source: http://gorp.away.com	http://gorp.away.com describes each backcountry road and camping restrictions for each destination. Site 1. Butte Valley (Warm Springs Canyon) Site 2. Chloride City (An old mining town) Site 3. Cottonwood Canyon & Marble Canyon Site 4. Echo Canyon Site 5. Gold Valley Site 6. Hanaupah Canyon Site 7. Hole in the Wall Site 8. Hunter Mountain & Hidden Valley Site 9. Johnson Canyon Site 10. Lemoigne Canyon Site 11. Phinney Canyon Site 12. Racetrack Playa (sliding rocks) & Teakettle Junction Site 13. Titus Canyon (No camping) Site 14. Trail Canyon Site 15. Tucki Mine Road (Tucki Mine)
Day Hikes
Information on Day hikes was found in an archived NPS document. To view the Death Valley Day Hike Guide click here. Always remember to bring in your own water and/or firewood for hiking and camping. Park rangers reccommend at least 1 gallon of water per person per day to stay adequately hydrated. More may be needed for strenuous activity. Easy Hikes: Salt Creek Interpretive Trail (1/2 mile round trip): Take a stroll along a boardwalk and watch for wildlife and wildflowers in the late winter to early spring Sand Dunes (2 miles or more): Explore the dunes at your leisure, no trail is provided.
Moderate Hikes: Gower Gulch Loop (4 miles round trip): some rock scrambling required, pass through multicolored badlands, narrow canyons, and old mines. There is a handout on Gower Gulch available in the visitor's center.
Strenuous Hikes: Telescope Peak Trail (7 miles *One Way): Hike up a steep road from Mahogany Flat Campground to the top of Telescope Peak (over 11,000 feet), over 10,000 feet are the twistedly beautiful Bristlecone Pine Trees. Requires ice pick and crampons!!!

VISITOR SERVICES, CAMPGROUNDS & LODGING Death Valley National Park has 9 campgrounds and 3 privately-owned resorts & RV parks (NPS 2007). The Furnace Creek Inn & Ranch Resorts are considered a single resort as they operate seasonally.
Campgrounds
Death Valley has 9 campgrounds, some of which are open seasonally. The Mahogany Flat camp requires a high clearance vehicle (4 wheel drive vehicles are often recommended). Mahogany Flat and Emigrant do not have firepits, Emgrant is for tents only. Thorndike and Mahogany Flat do not have water available. Emigrant (Open All Year) Furnace Creek (Open All Year) Mahogany Flat (Mar. to Nov.) Mesquite Spring (Open All Year) Stovepipe Wells (Open Oct. to Apr.) Sunset (Open Oct. to Apr.) Texas Spring (Open Oct. to Apr.) Thorndike (Open Mar. to Nov.) Wildrose (Open All Year) Click here to view the Death Valley National Park campsite page and to find more information on each campsite's amenities.
Lodging
Furnace Creek Inn (and RV Park) Open: Seasonal, Mid-October to Mid-May Website Furnace Creek Ranch (and RV Park) Open: Seasonal, Mid-May to Mid-October Amenities: 18 hole golf course, 4 restaurants, swimming pool, tennis courts, horseback riding, service station and more... Website Stovepipe Wells Motel (and RV Park) Open: All Year Panamint Springs Resort Open: All Year Amenities: Restaurant & Bar, store, Campgrounds, RV park, PETS WELCOME Website

TRANSPORTATION Visitors can drive their own vehicle through Death Valley National Park. Several tours by outside private companies are available. It is also not uncommon to see bicyclists riding through Death Valley! When driving through Death Valley in the summer season many cars' engines overheat. Remember to bring plenty of water in case of an emergency. Back to Top Photo Source: http://www.desertusa.com/dv/photos/fullmapx.gif

VISITOR DEMOGRAPHICS Recreation visits to Death Valley in 1999 totalled over 1 million. Visitation is highest from February through mid April. The month of November is also busy. Visitation is lowest in December and January. 1996 Visitor Survey Photo source: http://www.concessions.nps.gov/images/webpages/Prospectus/DEVA003/TAB%201/CC-DEVA003-07%20Business%20Opportunity.pdf "The average visitor is married and between the ages of 22 and 44 years old. Most work full-time and have some college-level education. Approximately 35 percent of the population reported income between $50,000 and $99,000. Roundly 60 percent of the households do not have any children under the age of 18, while an additional 16 percent have one child under 18. Death Valley hosts many visitors, domestic and international, who visit multiple national parks and recreation areas in California and the southwestern U.S. on the same itinerary. In a 1996 visitor study, 89 percent of the returned surveys indicated the Park was one of multiple vacation stops." (NPS 2007b)

Nearby Attractions

Surrounding Death Valley National Park one can find a surplus of wilderness to explore including: The Sierra Nevada Mountains, Mojave National Preserve and Joshua Tree National Park in California. In neighboring Nevada surrounding Las Vegas visitors can travel to Desert National Wildlife Refuge, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, the Spring Mountains Recreation Area, Red Rock National conservation Area, and more!

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Park Issues

Riparian Invaders

Tamarix species, commonly referred to as saltcedar, have invaded the western United States through arid and semi-arid rivers and wetlands. The plant originated in Eurasia. It alters riparian ecosystems by changing fire regimes through increased fire frequency & size, out-competes native cottonwood and willow species, tolerates and creates highly saline soils which inhibits many native plants from growing, and more... saltcedar is extremely difficult to remove, since the plant can sprout from underground roots after being cut, coated with herbicides, or burned. Death Valley National Park, like many western wilderness areas, has been invaded by saltcedar.

Air Quality

Like many National Parks air pollution in Death Valley is common. Primary and secondary air pollutants blow into Death Valley from far-away urban areas. This increases the air's particluate matter, ozone, and can lead to acid rain. Monitoring programs exist to warn visitors with sensitivity to air pollutants and/or allergens. Sometimes air quality levels soar above federal minimums.

Federal Funding

Many National Parks are suffering from a lack of funding. Approved positions remain open as inadequate funding supplied by the federal government is not going to fully cover the costs of park operations. A document by the National Parks Conservation Association provides a brief description of several National Parks and funding needs. Many worry about the degradation of park resources, loss of culturally & historically significant features, inadequate staffing to meet visitor needs, and inadequate enforcement of park regulations. Another concern regards funding for management & monitoring programs for noxious or invasive species that threaten native flora and fauna. Back to Top

Future of Death Valley National Park

The future of Death Valley National Park may rely on the depletion of water resources in the regional aquifer shared by neighboring Las Vegas and Pahrump in Nevada. Pumping of groundwater already threatens the Devil's Hole Pupfish. Without water the oases of Death Valley will not be able ot support the wildlife and vegetation it now harbors. The environment and nature know no human boundaries, and with this in mind regional resources must be managed for the park's survival. Back to Top

References/Bibliography

death.valley.national-park.com. (Viewed on April 11, 2007). "Establishment". Retrieved from (death.valley.national-park.com 2007).

DVNHA (Death Valley National History Association). "Fast Facts" (Viewed on April 11, 2007). Retrieved from (http://dvnha.org/).

Desert USA. 2007. "Death Valley National Park Overview". (Viewed on Frebruary 22, 2007). Retrieved from (http://www.desertusa.com/dv/du_dvpmain.html).

Gorp. "Comprehensive National Park information and recommendations". (Viewed on April 12, 2007). Retrieved from (http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_park/ca/drv_dv.htm).

NPS (National Park Service). "A Visitor's Guide to Death Valley National Park". 2006. Retrieved from (http://www.nps.gov/deva/parknews/upload/VisitorGuide_72.pdf).

NPS (National Park Service). "Dante's View". (Viewed on March 13, 2007). Retrieved from (http://www.nps.gov/deva/photosmultimedia/dantes-view.htm).

NPS (National Park Service). "Business Opportunity For Concession Operations". (Viewed on April 11, 2007b). Retrieved from (http://www.concessions.nps.gov/images/webpages/Prospectus/DEVA003/TAB%201/CC-DEVA003-07%20Business%20Opportunity.pdf).

PBS (Public Broadcasting Station). 2007. "Little Fish, Big Splash". (Viewed on February 19, 2007). Retrieved from (http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/deathvalley/pupfish.html).

The American Southwest. "Dante's Peak, Death Valley National Park". (Viewed on March 13, 2007). Retrieved from (http://www.americansouthwest.net/california/death_valley/dantes_peak.html).

Wallace, et al. 1995. “Nature Travel? A Nature Company Guide. Weldon Owen Pty Limited; San Francisco. (96-97) p 196-197

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Links

Death Valley National Park Official Website

National Park Journal for KiDs

2007 Visitor's Guide to Death Valley

Desert USA Park Overview

Death Valley Cacti & Succulents

Death Valley Wildflower Guide

Southwest National Parks

Southwest Ghost Towns

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