Took this shot today on a run. Last Chance Road starts off NV160, north of Pahrump, and heads west where it intersects with the Old Traction Road near Winters Holes (a spring). From there you could follow it to Allens Well near current day Death Valley Junction and begin your descent to Furnace Creek. It's just a dusty single track now, but this was once a key route to get to Death Valley.

Hello! Trying to plan a trip to Death Valley in the spring (end of March/early April). We will fly in and out of Vegas, and will stay the first and last nights there. Which leaves us with 5 nights in between. I was thinking of 4 nights in DVNP (either all 4 nights in Furnace creek or 2 there and 2 in Stovepipe Wells) and 1 night in Lone Pine to see Alabama Hills. Is this a good idea or should I be trying to add other areas such as Mohave National Preserve or Valley of Fire (or some other great place that isn't too far)? Is 4 nights too much? We love to hike and will be looking for some great trails wherever we go. Thanks!

Death Valley is one of my favorite places in California, so I designed a notebook cover for it: a retro striped sunset behind the dunes, with “Lowest · Hottest · Driest” across the front. The design wraps around the spine to the back, which names Badwater Basin and Telescope Peak, the lowest and highest points in the park.

It’s a plain pocket notebook inside, for trip notes, mileage, sketches, or whatever you want to remember.

What’s the one spot in Death Valley you’d tell a first-timer not to miss?

My first Visit

Update: thank you so much, friends!
I think the search is over and it isn’t how we had hoped.

A close friend in high school has been missing and she was last seen in the area of Death Valley, just wanting to get the word out

Edit to correct: SHE wasn’t seen in Death Valley, her rental vehicle was located abandoned in Death Valley
(Even scarier 😓)

I'm in Vegas this week for a conference and hoping to rent a car this Friday and visit DVNP for the day.

Does this sound like a decent itinerary?

Leave Vegas by 6am

First stop - Zabriskie Point

Second stop - Hike Golden Canyon to Red Cathedral and back

Third stop - Bad Water Basin Salt Flats

Then up to Artists Drive on my way back to Furnace Creek Visitors Center and back to Vegas

More info: will have a few gallons of water with me or in the car and quite a bit of hiking snacks (protein bars, peanut butter crackers, candy)

Heading up to Telescope Peak this coming weekend (Oct 16-17). Anyone been recently? Can you drive to Mahogany Flat campground or will I need to hike in? I have a Chevy Silverado with 4x4 so clearance shouldn't be an issue.

Is there a more local or accurate source for temperatures in DVNP this weekend, other than the big weather sources? Or are the places like weather dot com enough for planning?

TIA

TLDR: For a week in DV, can I drive thru the park/to trailheads in a rented camper van or just take my subaru?

Hi all, headed to DV my first time and want to stay in the campground in a rented camper van. if i take this as my only vehicle will I be able to access all areas of the park? photo for reference. or should i just take my all wheel drive subaru and sleep in it/tent camp? TYIA!

Visited Death Valley NP as a trip that included Joshua Tree NP. Spent 2.5 days in the park.

Logistics: Flew into Las Vegas and flew out of L.A. Stayed in an Airbnb in Beatty, NV to visit the park.

Hikes/Activities (*fan favorites):

Badwater Basin

Natural Bridge Trail

Devil’s Golf Course

Artist’s Palette via Artist’s Drive

Golden Canyon Trail to Red Cathedral

Salt Creek Trail

Mosaic Canyon*

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes

Ubehebe and Little Hebe Crater Trail*

Dante’s View*

Zabriskie Point for sunset*

Darwin Falls (to this day still one of my favorite short trails I've done in a NP!)*

Father Crowley Vista

Bonus: Rhyolite Ghost Town

To Do in the Park for Next Time: Racetrack Playa, Scotty’s Castle, Grotto Canyon, Eureka Dunes

According to the conditions page (https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/conditions.htm) the following are newly closed:

• West Side Road
• Cottonwood / Marble Roads

Still closed:

• Scotty's connector
• Hunter Mountain
• Titus Canyon
• Darwin Falls

Additionally, there was enough rain that you should be ready for obstacles (rocks, sand cover, etc) on all the park roads until they can get out and plow them.

Following the rain this weekend, will conditions be right for flowers to bloom around the park? If so, when is the forecast for flowers to start blooming?

Thanks!

I realize this is a very general question and nobody can predict exactly what I'm asking, but I'm planning on visiting at the beginning of November and Telescope Peak is on my list of things to do. I was reading that I should probably have micro spikes or crampons to make that hike at that time of year. Just looking for a little insight on whether/how much snow or ice there is around that time of year.

Fitness is not an issue for making the hike, but I'm not used to the elevation either, so I just want to be realistic on whether I should keep this on my list of things to do, and buy some spikes if they will be necessary.

Anyone planning on tent camping this weekend for death valley? Thinking of rescheduling due to the rain Saturday night all through sunday. Anyone have experience camping DV with this type of weather? Would appreciate any tips or input

The 2001 Roadless rule protects public lands from future roads being built through them for logging and other purposes. This rule protects roadless public lands across the nation - including the land surrounding Death Valley.

The public comment period was supposed to end on the 21st last month - but was extended for 15 days. Today is your last chance to speak up.

Here is the link to the government webpage to submit your comment:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/11/2026-18648/special-areas-roadless-area-conservation

I’m planning my 5 or 6 days to the west coast next month, it would like advice from the experienced travellers.

I’m planning to fly into either San Diego or LAX spending two days there and driving into the park.

Are there any Airbnb worth looking into in close proximity to Death Valley?

I have the opportunity to visit Death Valley this February for a few days. I’d love to do an 1-2 night backpacking route while I’m there. I’ve done strenuous day hikes in the Rockies and Big Bend, but I’ve never done an overnight backpacking trip.

I know that trails are iffy in Death Valley. Are there any good backpacking routes for a beginner? I would prefer a 2-night route to have a full day just on the trail and at the campsite.

Feel free to throw other Death Valley recommendations/advice at me!

I accidentally lost my gf’s water bottle that had a Death Valley sticker on it that she loved. It was this real cool stylized scorpion that almost looked like beadwork. If anyone is there visiting and can find & mail me a replacement- I’ll pay you for the sticker, postage, and your time. Thanks!