Scotty's Castle

Death Valley Scotty told everyone that he built this castle in northern Death Valley with money from his "secret" gold mine. That was not quite the truth. A Chicago millionaire and his wife built their "Death Valley Ranch" in the cool of Grapevine Canyon and they let their friend Scotty live there as a guest.

What is the Best Season to Visit?

Death Valley National Park is usually considered a winter park, but it is possible to visit here all year. When is the best time to visit? It all depends on what you’re looking for.

Visitor's Guide to Death Valley National Park

Visitor Guide to Death Valley National Park The 2008/2009 issue of the Death Valley Visitor Guide (2 MB PDF File) is available here. It is an excellent source of Death Valley information. The Death Valley Visitor Guide includes pages on Park Information, Desert Survival, What To See, Walks & Hikes, Park Map, Research & Education, Natural Resources, Scotty's Castle, Plan Your Trip, and Visitor Services.

Guided Tours

Enhance your experience of Death Valley by joining a ranger guided tour or program. Explore historic mining sites, shadowy canyons or sun-drenched salt flats. Discover hidden desert wildlife and ephemeral fields of wildflowers. Tours of Scotty's Castle are available year-round, while talks and walks based out of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center are presented from November to April. Additional programs may be presented at other times, ask at the Visitor Center for more information.