Death Valley Dark Sky Festival

See you February 6th - 8th, 2026

⭐ More information landing soon! 🪐

 

 

Death Valley offers some of the best stargazing in America. DarkSky International has designated Death Valley National Park a Gold Tier Dark Sky Park, which is the highest rating of darkness.

Death Valley's unique landscape helps scientists understand the surfaces of other planets and moons. Low amounts of light pollution make the park a great place to view the night sky.

 

 

Brightness of the Void! A presentation about lasers and light at Zabriskie Point.

NASA Earth to Sky.

Roasting marshmallows via the sun and CalTech!

NPS

Saturday’s keynote Dr. Cherie Achilles (NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center).

NPS/S.Lamar

Dr. Caitlin Crawford (NASA - Jet Propulsion Laboratory) gives an enthusiastic talk at Badwater Basin.

NPS

Rangers excitedly join visitors to join them in learning more about the night sky!

NPS

Rangers and NASA scientists work with a school group on Mars Hill.

NPS

 

Dark Sky Program Accessibility

 

General

Welcome to Death Valley National Park! Please be aware that the temperatures, weather, altitude, traffic, construction and road conditions in Death Valley may vary and change depending on the time of year. Before your visit, we suggest you check out our park website (road conditions and alerts), the National Weather Service’s forecast for the area of the park you plan to visit, and/or contact our team for current updates ([e-mail]).

Weather

Death Valley in the Spring can experience moderate, to slightly chilly, to hot temperatures.  

 Average February Temperatures: 73°F- 46°F or 23°C-8°C.  

Record February Temperatures: 98°F-21°F or 37°F- -6°F. 

Other Weather Conditions: Can experience possible light showers; frequent wind/dust storms with winds that could reach up to 50 mph or 80 kmh  

Altitude: Altitude throughout the park and along the main roads can drastically change from -127ft/-39m below sea level to 5,000ft/1,829m in elevation. 

Cellular Signal and Wi-Fi

Cellular signal and Wi-Fi capabilities are weak. Please keep this in mind if you use any Wi-Fi enabled medical devices.

Medical Assistance

Call 911 

If it is an emergency and if you have cell signal, call 911. Death Valley has its own EMT first responders.
 

First Aid Room 

Located at Furnace Creek Visitor’s Center. Speak to a Ranger for access. 
 

Intermountain Healthcare Pahrump InstaCare Clinic (Urgent Care) 

1397 S Loop Road, Pahrump, NV 89048 

[phone] 

8AM-8PM 
 

Desert View Hospital 

360 S Lola Lane, Pahrump, NV 89048 

[phone] 

24/7 

Interpretation

Interpretation for American Sign Language available upon request.

Please email our team at [e-mail] at least 2 weeks in advance.

Auditorium Talks

Parking 

• 6 accessible parking spaces; 4 uncovered,  2 covered 

• Curb cuts to main entrance and throughout the parking lot 

Facility 

• 2 accessible restroom stalls, and 1 private, accessible family restroom 

• Automatic door opener for front and back patio doors 

• Accessible auditorium, patio and museum 

• Paved, flat surfaces throughout auditorium, patio and museum  

• Assistive listening devices available; please speak to a ranger at the front desk 

• Wheelchair available for loan 

• 3 benches by the restroom 

• 5 picnic non-accessible tables  

• 11 benches in the courtyard 

Auditorium 

• Double door entry, double door exit, and single door exit 

• 4 single-sized areas and 2 double-sized areas for mobile assistance devices in seating zone 

Exploration Fair

Parking 

• 6 Accessible Parking Spaces; 4 uncovered, 2 covered 

• Curb cuts to main entrance and throughout the parking lot 

Facility 

• 2 accessible restroom stalls with bars, and 1 private, accessible, family restroom 

• 3 benches by the restroom 

• 5 picnic tables  

Courtyard 

• Outdoor and indoor (via automatic door openers) access to area 

• Paved, flat surfaces throughout 

• 11 benches 

• 4 shade awnings  

Talks Around the Park

Golden Canyon

• Scenic hiking trail; not viewable from the car
• 1 accessible parking space at Golden Canyon Traillhead
• Steep--assistance may be necessary, area is rocky and uneven with several natural, rock steps. 

Badwater Basin 

• Scenic viewpoint with boardwalk and optional, walkable salt flat trail Not easily viewed from car 

• 3 accessible parking spaces 

• Accessible vault toilets 

• Ramp and boardwalk to the edge of Badwater Pool 

• Ramp from end of boardwalk onto salt flats (please be aware of holes in salt flats) 

Zabriskie Point

• Scenic viewpoint; Steep, paved grade to approach the viewpoint; 3 rest stops at viewpoints; Not easily viewed from car
• 2 accessible parking spaces
• Accessible 2 vault toilets

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes 

• Scenic Viewpoint and optional hikeable, deep sand beyond viewing area 

• Can be viewed from car 

• Access to dunes is rocky and uneven; Dune hike includes deep sand 

• 4 accessible parking spaces with curb cuts 

• Accessible vault restroom 

Ubehebe Crater 

• Scenic Viewpoint and optional uneven, rocky and strenuous, hikeable pathway up and around the crater or descending into the crater 

• Can be viewed from car or viewpoint 

• 2 accessible parking spaces with curb cuts 

• Restrooms not accessible or near viewpoint 

• Closest restroom at Grapevine Ranger Station 5.8mi/9.3km or 17 minutes south of viewpoint on the North Highway 

Astrophotography Meetups

Harmony Borax Works 

• Interpretive trail ¼ of a mile/0.4km long 

• Partially paved surface with small sections of sand, gravel, broken pavement, and gradual uneven dips 

• Moderate grade-- assistance may be necessary 

• Cannot be viewed or accessed from car 

• 2 accessible parking spaces 

• Restrooms are not accessible or near trailhead 

• Closest restroom at Furnace Creek Visitor’s Center 1.8mi/2.3km or 4 minutes southeast of trail on the 190 highway. 

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes 

• Scenic Viewpoint and optional hike, deep sand beyond viewing area 

• Can be viewed from car 

• Access to dunes is rocky and uneven; Dune hike includes deep sand 

• 4 accessible parking spaces with curb cuts 

• Accessible vault restroom 

Astronomy Programs

Furnace Creek Visitor Center 

Parking 

• 6 accessible parking spaces; 4 uncovered,  2 covered 

• Curb cuts to main entrance and throughout the parking lot 

Facility 

• 2 accessible restroom stalls, and 1 private, accessible family restroom 

• Paved, flat surfaces to viewing area 

• Assistive listening devices available; please speak to a ranger at the front desk 

• 3 benches by the restroom 

• No chairs available at viewing locaiton

Family Programs

Parking 

• 6 Accessible Parking Spaces; 4 uncovered, 2 covered 

• Curb cuts to main entrance and throughout the parking lot 

Facility 

• 2 accessible restroom stalls with bars, and 1 private, accessible, family restroom 

• 3 benches by the restroom 

• 5 picnic tables  

Courtyard 

• Outdoor and indoor (via automatic door openers) access to area 

• Paved, flat surfaces throughout 

• 11 benches in the courtyard 

• 4 shade awnings