Alerts & Conditions

Alerts

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Park Status during COVID-19

Indoor Masking: The health and safety of our visitors, employees, volunteers and partners is our number one priority. In areas the CDC identifies as high COVID-19 community level, masks are required for everyone in all NPS buildings, regardless of vaccination status. In most low and medium COVID-19 community level areas, masks are optional, but visitors should follow signs and instructions from park staff and volunteers. Use the COVID-19 Community Level Tool and search for Inyo County to determine current community status. You may also call the Furnace Creek Visitor Center at: 760-786-3200 for current indoor masking requirements.

 

Current Closures and Conditions

 

 

 

Road conditions can change quickly, as seen in this image after a flood in Titus Canyon 12/2021.

NPS

Roads, Trails & Locations

CLOSED:

• Most park roads are closed, including CA Hwy 190 east of Panamint Valley (CA 190/Panamint Valley Rd Junction), which is expected to open no sooner than August 19th.
• Bonnie Claire Road and Scotty’s Castle due to flood recovery work.
• Jail Canyon (see the Superintendent's Compendium to learn more).

The most highly visited areas of the park, including Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point, Dantes View, Mesquite Sand Dunes, and additional paved roads, remain closed due to extensive flood debris and damage.

OPEN:

• Access to Panamint Springs Resort (a private inholding)
• Father Crowley Vista Point/Rainbow Canyon

Not all roads have been assessed for current conditions due to the scale of the flooding impacts. At this time, all dirt roads that have been assessed have had damage, and some are not passable.Travel on backcountry roads NOT advised.

Please see the Backcountry and Wilderness Access Map for standard dirt road conditions. Note that due to recent flooding events, many roads are currently in far worse condtion than stated. For questions, call: 760-786-3200.

CAUTION: There is currently a deep sandy area of the road in Hidden Valley; several motorists have gotten stuck.

Roads Outside the Park

• Caltrans: California Department of Transportation highway conditions.
• Yosemite National Park: Directions and Conditions.
• Sierra Nevada Passes: CA120 (Tioga Pass), CA108 (Sonora Pass), CA4 (Ebbetts Pass), CA88 (Carson Pass).
• Nevada DOT: Nevada Department of Transportation highway conditions.

 

Campgrounds

CLOSED: Sunset, Texas Spring, and Stovepipe Wells Camprounds.

There are currently NO restroom facilities at Homestake Campground. Pack out all waste.

 

Fire Restrictions

At Wildrose, Thorndike, and Mahogany Flats Campgrounds the setting, maintain, attending, or using of open flame of any kind is prohibited between June 15th and September 15th or during other periods of high fire danger. Controlled flame devices such as portable stoves and lanterns with shut-off valves that use gas, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed.

 

Visitor Centers

CLOSED: Furnace Creek Visitor Center is closed due to recent flooding. When open, hours of operation are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, daily. This includes pass sales, information, bookstore, exhibits and the park film.

CLOSED: Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station. Variable days and hours depending on staffing. Please call: 760-786-3200 for current status. Pass sales and information.

Resorts: Lodging, Food, and Fuel

Food options are available and gas stations are open. Please contact each of these private businesses directly for the most up to date information on their operations:

• Stovepipe Wells Resort
• The Oasis at Death Valley
• Panamint Springs Resort

Fees & Passes

Entrance fees or a valid National Park pass are required. Death Valley National Park does not require an advanced entry reservation or pass to enter the park; park fees may be paid upon arrival. Most vendors are only accepting credit/debit cards at this time; we strongly encourage cash users to obtain a pre-paid credit card prior to your arrival.

• Entrance Fees: can be paid at automated fee stations found near entrances, outside the visitor center, and at many viewpoints in the park. They can also be purchased online at Recreation.gov.
• Passes: Annual, Senior, Access and Military passes are available for sale at Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Passes can also be purchased online. Note that passes purchased online may take several weeks to arrive by mail. Present a ranger with a printed copy of the required activities to recieve a free Fourth Grade Pass.

Weather

Death Valley Forecast

The Death Valley Weather & Climate page includes current conditions, forecasts and radar images.