WHEN
YOU GO |
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Getting There: Las Vegas, Nevada’s large commercial airport is serviced by all major airlines and rent-a-cars (see this magazine’s Airlines and Autos pages for toll-free phone numbers and Web links). Furnace Creek has a 3,000 feet long airport for private craft (call the flight service station, l-800-992-7433). Driving time from Las Vegas is two and a half hours. Green Tortoise Tours offers tours to Death Valley.
Staying There:
Panamint Springs Resort, 702-482-7680. There is a small motel of l4 units, a
trailer park ($l5 a day) and a campground ($8 per day) with coveted shade trees.
Stovepipe Wells Village, 760-786-2387. 1-2 persons $53-76, $10 per extra person.
| Scotty’s Castle: No lodging here but nearby is the Mesquite Springs
campground (no trailers, tents only), l-800-365-camp. Furnace Creek Ranch: 760-786-2345, 1-2 persons $85-125, extra person $14. Amfac-owned, it has modern motel-type lodging and some older cabins set in the date palm trees. Furnace Creek Inn: Those who have the budget to splurge by all means stay at this exotic mission-style resort hotel, (6l9-786-2345). Closed May l0 through October 21, the inn has sheltering palms, terraced lawns, lovely pools and a lighted tennis court. This elegant, old-time inn was built in l927. Reservations are a must. 1-2 persons, $215-295, extra person $14, kids under five stay free. National Park Campgrounds: The park service operates three campgrounds surrounding Furnace Creek. Reservations can be made up to 56 days in advance (l-800-365-camp). |
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Restaurants are available in Furnace Creek, Stovepipe and Panamint; stores are
available in these locations also. Generally, when camping, bring your own food, though
perishable staples are available in Stovepipe and Furnace Creek.
Oher Recommended Tours and Sites:
Titus Canyon (closed in the summer), 27 miles NE of Stovepipe;
Rhyolite, ghost town, 37 miles NE of Furnace (nearly 6,000 people lived in this
once thriving town);
Eureka Sand Dunes, the highest dunes in California, 43 miles from Scotty’s
Castle;
Charcoal Kilns, 39 miles south of Stovepipe, these immense structures look like
remnants from an ancient civilization;
Devil’s Cornfield and Devil’s Golf Course.
Wildflower viewing: During wet cycle years, the late winter and spring wildflower
displays in Death Valley are something to behold. Call the National Park Service
619-786-2331 for information.
Amargosa Opera House: The ageless Marta Becket still performs at the Amargosa Opera
House (760-852-4441) located on road l27 at Death Valley Junction. This gifted painter and
dancer gives performances of ballet and pantomime, featuring many costume changes. I first
saw her in l990. She has been featured in National Geographic and other publications. Her
performance is a welcome cultural addition to the Death Valley naturalist adventure
experience. Call for her performance schedule.
Death Valley DOs and DON'Ts:
Death Valley is a land of extremes. If not properly prepared, one tempts fate, and
fate is not always kind. When driving, hiking, and camping carry plenty of water,
sunscreen and extra food. If you have a vehicle breakdown, a cell phone comes in handy to
call for help. Unless close to habitation, stay with the vehicle until someone comes
along. It would be wise to carry a portable shade canopy in one’s trunk, along with
enough supplies to last a night or two. Better yet, travel in tandem with another vehicle.
A solo trek in the hot desert without proper supplies could result in dehydration and
sunstroke. When walking, take plenty of water, energy snacks and apply ample amounts of
sunscreen, as the dunes reflect light like snow. Tidy and secure your camp or the night
critters will feast at your expense. Set your tent on higher ground if possible. (A
cloudburst once flooded me while camped in a depression). If you encounter a sand storm,
hole up in your vehicle or a well-staked tent.
Recommended Reading and Guidebooks:
The
Explorer’s Guide to Death Valley by T. Scott Bryan and Betty Tucker-Bryan
Backpacking
Death Valley by Chuck Gebhardt and Tom Willis
Inside
Death Valley by Chuck Gebhardt
Adventuring
in the California Desert by Lynne Foster (Sierra Club Books)
California
Desert Byways by Tony Huegal (Post Company).
Useful Web Links and Phone Numbers:
Death Valley Chamber of Commerce, 760-852-4524
National Park Campgrounds, 800-365-2267.
Death Valley National Park:
official US Parks Service site
Death Valley
History: Description and history
Death Valley Area
Parks.com: useful information and links
Return to Death Valley National Park article.
