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| Visitor Center | Location Phone |
Hours | Exhibits Facilities |
| Furnace Creek VC & Museum | Furnace Creek resort area on California highway 190. 30 miles from Death Valley Junction to the east, and 24 miles from Stovepipe Wells Village to the north and west. 760-786-2331 |
Open All Year 8:00am 6:00pm Pacific Time |
A 12 minute long introductory slide program is shown every 30 minutes. During the winter season, November through April, rangers present a wide variety of walks, talks, and slide presentations about Death Valley cultural and natural history. Fully staffed information desk. The Death Valley Natural History Association maintains a well stocked book sales outlet specifically geared towards the natural and cultural history of the park. |
| Beatty Information Center | Located in the town of Beatty, Nevada on the U.S. Route 95 approximately 120 miles north of Las Vegas,one of the eastern portals. 775-553-2200 |
Open All Year | Exhibits about Death Valley natural history, cultural history, and scenic highlights Death Valley Natural History Association provides a wide range of materials on park history, wildlife, and scenic highlights. General Information is available. |
| Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station | Located in the center of Death Valley 24 miles from the Furnace Creek resort area to the south and 80 miles from the town of Lone Pine on Highway 395 to the west. 760-786-2342 |
Open All Year | Provides general information and backcountry camping/hiking information and permits. Park entrance fees are collected here and there is a branch outlet of the Death Valley Natural History Association that provides useful informational books and maps. |
| Scotty's Castle & Museum | Located at the north end of Death Valley National Park 53 miles from Furnace Creek and approximately 45 miles from Stovepipe Wells Village. From U.S. Route 95, 154 miles north of Las Vegas, it is 26 miles from Nevada State Route 267. 760-786-2392 |
Open All Year 7:00am 6:00pm Pacific Time |
New exhibit of artifacts from the Castle Collection. Exhibits cover the facinating history of the Castle with special emphasis on the two personalities Death Valley Scotty and Albert Mussey Johnson. During the summer season, from April through October, the Gas House Museum is the ticket office for guided tours of Scotty's Castle. The Death Valley Natural History Association operates a book sales outlet in the Gas House Museum. The Association makes available books and information on the story of Scotty's Castle and general information on Death Valley. Amfac Parks & Resorts operates a sandwich shop and curio shop on the Castle grounds, and also operates a gasoline station during the day. |
A Desert Biosphere Reserve
On any given day, this valley floor shimmers silently in the heat. The air is clear, so much so that distances are telescoped, and the sky, except for a wisp of cloud, is a deep blue. Six months of the year unmerciful heat dominates the scene; for the next six the heat releases its grip slightly. Rain rarely gets past the guardian mountains. The little that falls, however, is the life force of the wildflowers that transform this desert into a vast garden.
Despite the harshness and severity of the environment, more than 900 kinds of plants live within the park. Those on the valley floor have adapted to a desert life by a variety of means. Some have roots that go downward 10 times the height of an average person. Some have a root system that just lies below the surface but extends out far in all directions. Others that have skins that allow very little evaporation. Different forms of wildlife, too have learned to deal with the heat of the desert. The animals that live in the desert are mainly nocturnal, for once the sun sets, the temperature falls quickly because of the dry air. Night, the time of seeming vast emptiness, is the time of innumerable comings and goings by little animals. Larger animals, such as the desert bighorn, live in the cooler, higher elevations. With height, moisture increases too, until on the high peaks there are forests with juniper, mountain-mahogany, pinyon and other pines. Often the peaks are snow-covered.
This then is Death Valley, a unit of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve. Today it is an active world of exciting contrasts and wonders - quite the opposite of its name.
Sunrise and Sunset
One of the most beautiful times in the desert is when the sun is close to the horizon. The soft colors of sunrises and sunsets can show you many of the different moods of Death Valley.
There are 2 favorite types of sunrise/sunsets.
Silhouettes are best at sunset looking west towards the Panamint Range. In Panamint Valley, west towards the Angus Range. At sunrise looking east towards the Amargosa Range. In Panamint Valley, east towards the Panamint Range
Silhouette Sunrise Points
Sand Dunes
Aguereberry Point
West Side Road
Panamint Springs
Father Crowley Point
Silhouette Sunset Points
Sand Dunes
Dante's View
Zabriskie Point
Badwater
Panamint Springs
Oblique sunrise/sunsets show the most striking colors. The soft illumination at the beginning or end of the day can be seen at sunset looking east towards the Amargosa Range. At sunrise looking west toward the Panamint Range. In Panamint Valley, sunrise is best looking west towards the Argus Range. Sunset east, towards the Paramint Range.
Oblique Sunrise Points
Sand Dunes
Dante's View
Zabriskie Point
Badwater
Panamint Springs
Mesquite Springs Campground
Oblique Sunset Points
Sand Dunes
Artists Drive
Badwater
Ubehebe Crater
Furnace Creek Area Campgrounds
Paramint Springs
Father Crowley Point
To get the best lighting for sunsets, be there approximately one hour before the actual time of sunset or after sunrise. You can find out the exact time at the Visitor Center.
Special Events and Programs
The Death Valley 49er's annual encampment takes place the first weekend in November. The encampment draws thousands of campers to programs, sing alongs, art shows, square dances, and backcountry tours.
Death Valley National Park is open year round. There is much to see in Death Valley where most of it's valley floor is below sea level and saltpan, a vast accumulation of salt were nothing can grow. In its surrounding mountains, you can find spectacular wildflower displays as well as snow covered peaks, breath taking sand dunes, abandoned mines and industrial structures. You can experience all of this while in the hottest spot in North America.
Death Valley is at its most spectacular in the morning and evening hours. Sunrises and sunsets are awe-inspiring and stargazing is an experience to remember.
Ranger Led Activities
Ranger / Naturalist Programs are scheduled through winter and early spring. During the peak season, November through April, there are regularly scheduled ranger guided hikes, talks, and evening programs. The programs change every week. Pick up a schedule of programs at the visitor center.
The highlight of a visit to Scotty's Castle is the 50 minute long guided living history tour of the interior of the main house. The tours are first come first served on the day of the tour and the first tour starts at 9:00 a.m. Tickets are available at the Castle Ticket Office during the winter months and at the Gas House Museum during the summer. The tour is $8.00 per adult. Golden Age Card and children's discounts apply.The last tour for the day starts at 5:00 p.m. and the grounds close for the day at 6:00 p.m. During the winter season, November through April, rangers present daily "grounds talks" on a variety of historical topics. Check at the Castle Ticket Office for titles and times. A self-guiding tour of the Castle grounds, including the Gas House, is available. Check at the Castle Ticket Office for information and guide booklet.
Important Tips When Visiting
Park Rangers in period clothing present 1939 living history tours of the Castle every day from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Tours last 50 minutes, and are usually given at least every hour.
Expect a one to two hour wait during busy times of the year. Make sure to buy your tickets as soon as you arrive.
Written tour translations are available in German, French, Spanish, and Japanese. Written texts are also available for the hearing impaired.
Camcorders and cameras with flash are permitted on the tour. Large camera bags, tripods, backpacks and strollers are not allowed.
The tours are accessible for the physically disabled. Several wheelchairs are available.
Small children can become bored and fussy on tour, which may disturb other visitors during the 50 minute, confined house tour. Please consider before taking infants and toddlers inside the Castle. Parents and children may be asked to leave if their actions disturb others.
A self-guided tour book of the grounds is available for a small fee.
Castle grounds and picnic areas are open and free to the public from 7:00am to 6:00pm.
Castle services include a bookstore (open 9:00am to 5:00pm), a gift shop, exhibit room, and snack bar (open from 8:30am to 5:30pm), and a gasoline pump (open from 9:00am to 5:30pm).
Junior Ranger Programs
The Death Valley Junior Ranger program workbook is available to children ages 6 and under to 11 and over. The workbook is normally available at the park visitor centers, and since the workbook projects are directly tied to the child's personal observations in Death Valley the workbook is not mailed out. Ask for the workbook at the visitor center front desk.
There are 15 projects and several special credit activities presented in the workbook. Children 6 years of age and under should complete at least 4 projects. Children 7 through 10 should complete 6, and children 11 and older should complete at least 9 of the listed projects.
Upon completion of the required number of activities, the child is presented with the Death Valley Junior Ranger Badge. The badge is a very nice replica of the National Park Service Badge with features appropriate to Death Valley! Time permitting, a small ceremony presenting the badges may be undertaken by the Park staff.
For more information on Ranger led activities, check at the Visitor Center
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