Death Valley National Park

From the lowest point of 282 feet below sea level to its highest point of 11,049 feet Death Valley National Park has some of the highest and lowest temperatures in the Unites States.  The area has easily earned the reputation of being extreme.

The area is surrounded by nine mountain ranges which takes the rainfall and cooling Pacific winds and leaves Death Valley the dry heat.

A record high temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded there in 1913, and a ground temperature of 201 degrees has also been registered—11 degrees shy of the boiling point for water.

The park’s sprawls across 3.4 million acres, making it the largest national park in the contiguous United States, almost five times larger than Yosemite.

Death Valley National Park is visited annually by more than 770,000 visitors who come to enjoy its diverse geologic features, desert wildlife, historic sites, scenery, clear night skies and the solitude of the extreme desert environment.

The extreme temperatures of Death Valley make it best visited in the winter, when snow caps the mountains and the low light gives the desert a golden hue. Spring brings over 1000 species of plants to bloom. The park’s many trails take hikers through salt flats, soft dunes, gorgeous canyons, natural bridges and vibrantly colored badlands.

Animal life is varied, and numerous species of reptiles, birds and mammals populate Death Valley, adapting well to the desert environment. However, many of these animals have a nocturnal lifestyle in order to escape the searing climate and can be difficult to spot.

The largest native mammal in the area, and perhaps the best studied member of the fauna, is the desert bighorn sheep. Small herds of sheep are most commonly found in the mountains surrounding Death Valley but at least occasionally visit the valley floor. Look for these animals near the springs and seeps that can be found throughout the park.

Over 350 species of birds are now known to inhabit or visit the area, and even native fish are to be found in Death Valley – several forms of desert pupfish of the genus Cyprinodon live in Salt Creek and other permanent bodies of water.

While you are in Death Valley be sure to do the following:

• Hiking. There are numerous trails within the park, ranging in difficulty from short loops to overnight, mountainous treks. Always bring sufficient water when hiking in Death Valley; the heat can kill.
• Photography. The odd geologic formations in the park are great for early morning and late evening photography, although during the day the harsh sun tends to wash out most photographs. During March and April the wildflowers within the valley bloom, making it a particularly photogenic time of year.
• Stargazing. The clear desert air, scarcity of clouds, and and lack of nearby light pollution makes Death Valley an ideal spot for stargazing. Ideally come during a new moon to fully appreciate the darkness of the night sky.
• Four-wheel driving. Death Valley has numerous high-clearance roads that offer a challenge for four-wheel drive enthusiasts. Driving off-road is not permitted.
• Bicycling. Bicycles are allowed on all roads in the park, including the many rough, trail-like backcountry roads that attract four-wheel drive enthusiasts. As with motor veh icles, riding off-road is not permitted.
• Scotty’s Castle Tours. Tours of the home of an eccentric resident of Death Valley are offered daily from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM, departing at least once an hour and lasting for fifty minutes. Costs are $11 per person (discounts for seniors and children) and there may be a wait for tickets, so try to purchase them several hours in advance of your preferred tour time. Note that tickets are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Badwater ultramarathon. Only for the truly insane, the 135 mile course from Badwater (elevation -282 feet) to the Mt. Whitney trailhead (elevation 8360 feet) is billed as the world’s toughest race. Adding to the difficulty, the race is held annually during July, the hottest month of the year. In 2004, 72 people toed the starting line, and 57 battered, burned, and exhausted souls officially finished by crossing the finish line within 60 hours (the course record is just over 25 hours).

Other articles about Death Valley:

• Portions of Death Valley Park to Reopen
• Death Valley struggles to make abandoned mines safe
• The Death Valley National Park virtual tour in 6318 images

Popularity: 17% [?]