Death Valley National Park

Posted in North America | March 12, 2010 | Comment Now



Death Valley National Park is located east of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the arid Great Basin of the USA. The park also extends into southern Inyo County and northern San Bernardino County in eastern California and southwestern Nye County and southern Esmeralda County in Nevada. The national park is spread over an area of 13,630 square kilometres and includes Saline Valley, a part of Panamint Valley, almost the entire Death Valley and Eureka Valley. It was declared a national monument in 1993 and redesignated as a national park in 1994. Pahrump in Nevada is the nearest city to Death Valley National Park. The park is a renowned tourist attraction despite the fact that it is one of the most inhospitable regions in the world.  Its geological features, the desert wildlife, clear night skies and historic sites are prime draws of tourism.

Climate:

Temperature hovers around 50 degrees Celsius from June to September. The temperature from November through March is mild (max: 25 degrees, min: 5 degrees). Annual rainfall is 1.5 inches or even lesser.

Best time to visit:

Winter and early spring (October to May) are the best seasons to visit the national park.

Fauna:

Mammals like desert bighorn sheep, coyote and several reptiles are found in Death Valley National Park

Avifauna:

Over 350 species of birds inhabit the park area.

Fish:

Several desert pupfishes live in Salt Creek and other permanent water bodies in the park.

Reaching Death Valley National Park:
  • By air:
    McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is the nearest commercial airport. There are also two small airstrips within the park for private aircrafts.
  • By rail:
    Barstow is the nearest Amtrak station.
  • By road:
    One has to rent a car from either Las Vegas or Barstow.
Get around:

In a car or by motorbikes during the milder seasons. Checking the weather forecast in the park before making a trip as it can be very very extreme.

Fees/Permits:

A seven day pass with unlimited re-entry facility ($20 for standard vehicles and $10 for two-wheelers and foot entry) is required.

Attractions:
  • Death Valley and Furnace Creek
  • Artist Drive
  • Badwater (the lowest point of North America at 282 feet below the sea level)
  • Devil’s Golf Course (features salt crystals)
  • Devil’s Cornfield
  • Mustard Canyon (located just north of Furnace Creek)
  • Mushroom Rock
  • Natural Bridge (a narrow canyon)
  • Salt Creek
  • Visitor Center And Museum
  • Zabriskie Point (a good place for photography)

  • Cottonwood Canyon
  • Darwin Falls (a 15 foot waterfall)
  • Sand dunes (the largest are the Eureka Dunes while the smaller set is located near Stovepipe Wells)
  • Titus Canyon
  • Ubehebe Crater
  • Telescope Peak (highest point in the park at 11,049 feet).
Activities:
  • Hiking in the numerous park trails. Carrying sufficient water is absolutely necessary.
  • Photography
  • Stargazing
  • Four-wheeler drive
  • Bicycling
  • Camping
  • Scotty’s Castle Tours.
  • Badwater ultramarathon (135 mile road race from Badwater to Mt. Whitney trailhead).
Accommodation:
  • Furnace Creek Inn
  • Furnace Creek Ranch
  • Panamint Springs Resort
  • Hotel at Death Valley Junction (closest town outside of Death Valley)
  • Beatty, Lone Pine and Shoshone are other places to stay outside the park.

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