Death Valley NP Essentials

Death Valley NP Essentials

Accessibility

All of Death Valley's visitor centers, contact stations, and museums are accessible to all visitors. The campgrounds at Furnace Creek, Sunset, and Stovepipe Wells have wheelchair-accessible sites. The grounds at Scotty's Castle are accessible to the mobility impaired and the guided tour of the main house has provisions for a wheelchair lift to the upper floors. Highway 190, Badwater Road, Scotty's Castle Road, and paved roads to Dante's View and Wildrose provide access to the major scenic viewpoints and historic points of interest.

Visitor Information

Contacts

Yosemite National Park (Information Office, Box 577, Yosemite National Park, 95389. 209/372-0200. www.nps.gov/yose).

Admission Fees

The entrance fee is $20 per vehicle and $10 for those entering on foot, bus, bike, or motorcycle. The payment, valid for seven consecutive days, is collected at the park's entrance stations and at the visitor center at Furnace Creek. (If you enter the park on Highway 190, there is no entrance station; remember to stop by the visitor center to pay the fee.) Annual park passes, valid only at Death Valley, are $40.

Admission Hours

Most facilities within the park remain open year-round, daily 8-6.

ATMs/Banks

Contacts

Furnace Creek Ranch Registration Office (Hwy. 190, north of the Furnace Creek Visitor Center). Stovepipe Wells Village (Hwy. 190, 23 mi northwest of Furnace Creek).

Automobile Service Stations

Contacts

Furnace Creek Gas Station (Hwy. 190, Furnace Creek. 760/786-2232). Scotty's Castle Gas Station (Scotty's Castle, Hwy. 190, 53 mi northwest of Furnace Creek. 760/786-2325). Stovepipe Wells Gas Station (Hwy. 190, Stovepipe Wells. 760/786-2578).

Emergencies

For all emergencies, call 911. Note that cell phones don't work in many parts of the park.

Lost and Found

The park's lost-and-found is at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center.

Permits

Though a permit is not required for groups of fewer than 15 people, if you're planning an overnight visit to the backcountry, complete a registration form at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. Backcountry camping is allowed in areas that are at least 2 mi from maintained campgrounds and the main paved or unpaved roads, and ¼ mi from water sources. Most abandoned mining areas are restricted to day use.

Public Telephones

You'll find public telephones at Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Stovepipe Wells ranger station, as well as at the park's gas stations and lodgings.

Restrooms

Flush toilets are available at many of the campgrounds throughout the park and at Scotty's Castle. There are public restrooms at Furnace Creek Visitor Center and Stovepipe Wells ranger station.

Visitor Information

Contacts

Death Valley National Park Box 579, Death Valley, 92328. 760/786-2331; 760/786-3225 TDD. 760/786-3283. www.nps.gov/deva. Death Valley Natural History Association Box 188, Death Valley, 92328. 760/786-2146 or 800/478-8564.