  With
an ominous name like “Death Valley” you have to be dramatic and Death
Valley fits that description in legend and reality. In 1849 a group of people
on their way to the California gold fields left their wagon train to follow what
they thought was a short cut map. But the map was inaccurate and led them into
an area that had not been charted by Anglos before, although the Timbisha Shoshone
tribe had called it home for two thousand years. For several months the wanderings
of these lost emigrants brought them to the brink of thirst and starvation. Legend
has it that as they finally staggered out, someone stood on a hill and bid adieu
saying “Goodbye, Death Valley”. That name fueled fantastic myths
and tragic tales that set a standard for embellishing the truth about this desert
wilderness.
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But the truth about Death Valley is far more intriguing.
- It's the largest National Park in the lower 48 states
with 3.3 million acres.
- It was established as a National Monument in 1933 and
as a National Park on Oct. 31, 1994
- It has the lowest elevation in the Western Hemisphere
at Badwater (282 feet below sea level)
- It receives less than 2 " of rain a year and has
0-5% average humidity
- Summer temperatures can soar to over 120 degrees for weeks
on end, with the highest recorded temperature of 134 degrees
set in 1913
- Among animals that call it home there are 37 reptile species,
6 kinds of amphibians, and 58 species of mammals
- 347 species of birds have been found in the park
- 1,000 plant species have been found in the park
- During the early 1900's there were boomtowns with fascinating
histories like Greenwater, the town that had no water; Schwab,
the town owned by women; Harrisburg, the town that should
have been named Harrisberry and Panamint City, a town so
lawless that silver was cast in 400 pound cubes for transporting
so that outlaws couldn't steal it
- It was the home of notorious Death Valley Scotty and a
cast of colorful prospectors
- During World War II it was a temporary haven for 65 Japanese
Americans whose lives had been threatened at Manzanar War
Relocation Camp
- Earthquakes, volcanoes, lakes and floods have shaped its
rugged terrain
While Death Valley is a land
of extremes it doesn't mean that your visit has to be. When
most of North America is in the grip of fall and winter, Death
Valley is an oasis of temperate weather which makes it popular
for RV travelers and those who like to continue their summer
activities year around. Death Valley National Park is home to
the only eighteen hole golf course in a National Park and each
of the three hotels in the Park have their own swimming pools.
If more rugged activities appeal to you, there are almost three
million acres of wilderness for hiking and four wheel drive
roads that lead to some of the most spectacular areas of the
park. If you are car touring there are almost two hundred miles
of scenic drives to explore. And many of Death Valley's main
attractions are wheelchair accessible to visitors with walking
difficulties. No matter which activity is your cup of tea, every
trip should start with a visit to the Furnace Creek Visitor
Center to pay your park entrance fee and check with the park
rangers to get advice on the best seasonal attractions. Follow
us as we take you around the park highlighting the various attractions.
See Lodging, Dining,
Campground/RV parks, Shopping and Other Services Directory.
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