Seasonal Flooding has Closed many Visitor Favorites because of Damage
DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – Badwater Road reopened on May 25 after National Park Service (NPS) employees moved dirt and rocks off the road and filled in unsafe drop-offs on road edges.
Park rangers closed the road on May 20 due to safety concerns after flash flooding. Several park visitors attempted to drive through active flooding. Park rangers pulled their vehicles out of the mud. Fortunately, no cars were swept off the roadway. Park rangers want to remind drivers “Turn around, don’t drown” during flash floods.
Current Conditions and Closures / Openings through out the Park
PAVED ROADS
CLOSED:
- Bonnie Clare Road and Scotty’s Castle due to flood recovery work . Unlikely to reopen before fall 2024.
UNPAVED/BACKCOUNTRY ROADS
Note that road closures listed below apply to ALL vehicles, including motorcycles and bicycles. The roads were completely washed out in places and entry will cause tire tracks and braided roads in wilderness as users try to locate what was once the road. Thank you for your patience as we work to reopen these locations.
CLOSED:
- Saline Valley– Both North and South Pass – Due to mud and rockfall
- Hunter Mountain- Due to excessive mud
- Salt Creek Road – Flooding destroyed the boardwalk, toilet and parking area. No timeline for reopening.
- Titus Canyon Road (one-way section)- 2-way section open to Fall Canyon Trailhead- Flooding destroyed the road.
- Steel Pass – Extensive flood damage. No timeline for reopening.
- Grotto Canyon – Partially open. Road open to where it drops from alluvial fan into the wash (about one mile before the normal trailhead.)
- Cottonwood Canyon past campsite 8- Due to flood damage
- Marble Canyon– Due to flood damage
- Lemoigne Canyon– Due to flood damage
Trails
- Darwin Falls Trail– trail is washed out and no longer exists. Expect to hike through shallow water and scramble over rocks.
Campgrounds
OPEN:
- Furnace Creek, Emigrant, Wildrose, Mesquite Springs, Eureka Dunes Primitive, Thorndike Primitive, Mahogany Flat Primitive, Saline Valley Primitive and Homestake Primitive campgrounds
CLOSED:
- Sunset, Texas Spring and Stovepipe Wells Campgrounds – Seasonal closure
Visitor Centers
OPEN:
- Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Hours of operation: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m, daily
VARIABLE:
- Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station. Variable days and hours depending on temperature and staffing. Please call: 760-786-3200 for current status.
