COVID-19 Phased Reopening Plan

The National Park Service (NPS) is working service-wide with federal, state, and local public health authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and using a phased approach to increase access on a park-by-park basis.

While Death Valley National Park is within two states and counties, our phased reopening plan is based on the largest overlapping jurisdictions: The State of California and Inyo County.

All information below is subject to change if new conditions arise.

 

Stage 1

State of California	Inyo County	Death Valley National Park	Date
Statewide stay-at-home order, hospitals at capacity.	Make workplaces safe for essential workers.	Park Closed; CA-190 and Daylight Pass open for through-traffic. Stovepipe Wells and concession gas station and general store open.	April 4, 2020

Stage 2

State of California	Inyo County	Death Valley National Park	Date
Modified statewide stay-at-home order, gradually opening lower risk workplaces. "Californians should not travel significant distances and should stay close to home."	Lower risk workplaces gradually reopen.	Park closed. CA-190 and Daylight Pass open for through-traffic. Restrooms at Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Emigrant open. Stovepipe Wells concession: gas station and general store open, take-out food available.	May 20, 2020

Stage 3

State of California	Inyo County	Death Valley National Park	Date
Modified statewide stay-at-home order; open higher risk workplaces with adaptations, and limits on size of gatherings. Hotels are open for leisure travelers (i.e. leisure travel is allowed).	Higher-risk workplaces reopen.	Stage 3.1: Park reopens for day use along CA-190 corridor (parking areas and restrooms). Stovepipe Wells beings limited dine-in food and resumes lodging. Car testing permits resume, most other commercial uses/special use permits are suspended. Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells airports open. Stage 3.2: Roads, parking areas, and restrooms open park-wide. Campgrounds reopen and dispersed backcountry camping is allowed. Resume entrance fee and camping fee collection. Most commercial uses/special use permits can resume with modifications. Bookstore sales resume with some modifications. Stage 3.3: Furnace Creek Visitor Center lobby opens (no movie or exhibits). Open Saline Valley warm springs pending county approval.	Stage 3.1: June 12, 2020 Stage 3.2: June 26, 2020 Stage 3.3: estimated date to be determined.

Stage 4

State of California	Inyo County	Death Valley National Park	Date
Statewide stay-at-home order lifted; open highest risk workplaces: concerts, convention centers, live audience sports.	End of Stay at Home Order; reopen areas of highest risk.	Movie and exhibits open at Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station opens. Full resumption of commercial use/special park use permits.	Estimated date to be determined.

We thank you for your patience and understanding as we navigate this pandemic, keeping the health of our visitors, staff, and local communities at highest priority.