Recreation
Death Valley National Park |
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Death Valley National Park Details
- Hours of operation: Visitors center hours are 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., but can vary by location and time of year. Please call for more information.
- Cost: $10 for individuals on motorcycle or bicycle, $20 per vehicle (valid for seven days); fees vary for tours groups. An annual pass for Death Valley is $40 and an $80 annual nationwide National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands pass is available. For more information contact the Beatty Visitor's Center at (775) 553-2200. Activity Fees: Scotty's Castle Living History Tour Fee: $11.00 per adult; Scotty's Castle Underground Mysteries Tour Fee: $11.00 per adult
- Payment options: Cash, VISA, MasterCard, Discover. Passes may be purchased at automated kiosks or at park information facilities and headquarters.
- Location / Distance from Las Vegas: About two hours from Las Vegas. From the Strip, take I-15 north to U.S. 95 north to Nevada Route 267 west (turn left at Scotty's Junction). Follow signs to Death Valley National Park.
- Travel options: Bus, private vehicle.
- On the way: Enjoy the extraordinary, spectacular Mojave Desert scenery.
- Amenities: There is lodging available at Furnace Creek Inn, Furnace Creek Ranch and Stovepipe Wells. Food, sundries and groceries are available at these locations as well. Surrounding towns such as Tecopa, Shoshone and Beatty offer varying services.
- What you'll need: Always carry plenty of water and wear a hat, the elements here are intense. Fill up your gas tank before driving to Death Valley National Park. While gas is available at Furnace Creek Gas Station and Stovepipe Wells Gas Station, it is more expensive than outside the park.
- Annual visitors/busy season: More than one million people visit the park each year. Spring and fall are the most popular and comfortable times to visit.
Death Valley National Park Review
In Death Valley, nature is the headline act with strange geological formations and extraordinary desert vistas. While Death Valley is routinely the hottest place in the United States, it also has its share of desert wildflowers and more.
The following are just some of Death Valley's geological attractions:
The Racetrack: The Racetrack is an oval-shaped dry lake bed not far from Death Valley National Park that looks like, well, you know. A rock outcropping conveniently located nearby could be used as a seating area for cheering fans. It's called, appropriately enough, the Grandstands.
A strange phenomenon occurs at the Racetrack. After a rain, when the ground's surface is smooth and slick, winds blow hard enough to actually push rocks fallen from nearby cliffs across the desert floor. These famous rolling stones, recorded in Ripley's Believe It or Not, can move in a straight line or meander, leaving odd tracks behind them. Even if you don't catch a glimpse of the race, these natural wonders are worth seeing.
Ubehebe Crater: Several thousand years ago, the Ubehebe volcano blew its top. The eruption was so violent that it made a molehill out of a mountain and formed a crater in the middle that's 800 feet deep and a half-mile across.
In this century the crater may have hosted a sinister guest. In September of 1969, road workers found one of their loaders burned up near the Racetrack. They reported their discovery to a Death Valley park ranger. The ensuing search led authorities to members of the Charles Manson family, who, it was learned, lived a communal life in abandoned Death Valley ranches. People later speculated that the Ubehebe Crater was one of Manson's hangouts, where he preached to his motley flock of the existence of a utopian, subterranean world he called the "Bottomless Pit."
Most Manson family members are now guests of the government, leaving the crater a safer place to explore. From the parking lot, the "Big Ubehebe" can be seen. To the right of it are several smaller craters.
About 150 feet below the Ubehebe's rim, a distinct color change occurs. The darker hue on top is actually a deep bed of cinders left by the eruption. Hikers can skirt the rim of this massive hole or hike to the bottom of it, where trails lead in every direction. The descent is steep, so good hiking boots are in order.
