Death Valley National Park - Death Valley, California

 

Death Valley National Park - Death Valley, California

The stories about Death Valley are about the heat, the dryness, and the low lands and all of them are true!  It is a harsh environment not only for people but for the plants and animals that live there too.  It takes unique stature to be able to survive in this location.

It is a desert of streaming sand dunes, now-capped mountains and multicolored rock layers.  These three million acres of water-fluted canyons are there for you to explore and test yourself against the harshest of conditions.

While you are planning your California Vacation to Death Valley National Park you may want to consider a visit to Scotty’s Castle House.  This house is a museum with guided tours of the main house interior 365 days a year.  This is a two story Spanish Villa.  The story of the “castle” is that the builder, Walter Scott, convinced a Chicago millionaire, Albert Johnson, to invest in his (fraudulent) gold mine.  This all took place in 1922, by 1937 Johnson has acquired more than 1,500 acres of this desolate place and located his ranch there.  Because Johnson had invested in the purchase and actually owned the land he and his wife traveled there often. 

Since there were some disputes with the castle ownership, land surveys and court cases, the life of the castle changed until it was put into a foundation control (because the Federal Government couldn’t afford to buy it in 1943 when Johnson wanted to sell and the Government had first right of refusal…the second world war tied up their capital) and eventually the government purchased the site in 1970 for $850,000.

During the tour the Park rangers dress in 1930’s attire, the visitors are treated to music from a 1,121 pipe theater organ.  An underground mystery tour is also given for those that want to see how everything at the castle works.  A ¼ mile tunnel runs under the building giving visitors access to the powerhouse and see thousands of tiles that were to be used for the construction of a swimming pool (which was never built.)

Hours: Summer: 9:30 and 4, and when staffing permits, four underground tours as well, scattered throughout the day.  The rest of the year tours are held every 10 -30 minutes throughout the day between 9 and 5.  It also offers 5-10 underground tours from 9:15 to 3:45.

There are 9 campgrounds with varying facilities throughout the park.  The low elevation campgrounds, with the exception of the Furnace Creek Campground, close during the long summer months because of the extreme heat.  Several higher elevation campgrounds and camping areas in the mountains remain open year round.

The park is open year round, vehicles that are well maintained and have air conditioning usually have little trouble with desert travel, but summer trips do require extra planning and extra care.  The temperatures in the desert exceed 100 degrees F in the summer and don’t begin to moderate until mid October and last until mid April.

Some of the suggestions for use of the park are as follows: It is not recommended that you hike or bike in the park during the summer, it’s just too hot and dangerous!  Dehydration is a real issue to be concerned about. Even if you are driving through the park take some water with you for emergency use.  If you are going to be hiking or biking take 2 gallons of water per person with you, drink plenty of the water as you hike or bike and when it is half gone, turn back!!

Cell phones DO NOT work in Death Valley.

Off-road Driving is forbidden, stick to the roads.  When you want to stop and see something, pull off the road to park.  The roads are narrow and some areas the visibility is restricted such as around corners.  The most dangerous thing in Death Valley isn’t the heat, dehydration; climbing accidents or wild animals…it’s the single car rollover.  The roads date from the 30’s and are narrow, twisting gravel-sided roads.  If you try to drive them at excessive speeds such as 70 + you are just asking to die!!

Stay out of the mines! There are thousands of abandoned mines in Death Valley; each of them is a risk to you so Stay Out.  Look, take pictures and protect yourself from cave in and other problems by staying out of them!

The desert sun is not only damaging to the skin, it is damaging to the eyes to wear a hat, sunglasses and sunblock!

Leave the Park as you found it, do not take anything as a “souvenir” because if you, and everyone else took even a rock or wildflower would be denuded.  Leave it for others to enjoy too, for years to come.

Dispose of ALL trash in a responsible manner and recycle whatever you can.

Your California Vacation to Death Valley will be a wonderful experience whether you stay at a lodge, camp or just drive through.

Directions: Death Valley National Park is transected from east to west by California hwy 190.  On the east in Nevada, US Route 95 parallels the park from north to south with connecting highways at Scotty’s Junction, Beaty and Lathrop Wells.  South of the park, I-15 passes through Baker, CA on its way from LA to Las Vegas.  State Route 127 travels north from Baker to Shoshoe and Death Valley Junction with connections to the park on State Route 178 from Shoshone and connection with California Hwy 190 at Death Valley Junction.

Fee: Vehicle Entrance Fee: $20 for a 7 day pass.  Individual Entrance Fee: $10 for 7 days.

Activity Fees: Scotty’s Castle Living History Tour Fee: $11 per adult; Scotty’s Castle Underground Mysteries Tour fee: $11 each adult.

 

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