DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – Death Valley National Park has reopened 382 additional miles of roads damaged in August 2023 by the remnants of Hurricane Hilary. For over six months, teams have been working on environmental and archeological assessments, emergency repairs and other clean-up to get damaged areas open for the public to visit. This is in addition to the 195 miles of roads that reopened on March 9.

“While there is still more to do it is important we let people know that their park has just become a bit more accessible,” said Mike Reynolds, Superintendent at Death Valley.

Just under 250 miles of park maintained roads remain closed. Crews will continue to work through the spring and we hope to get most roads open in the next two months. Some roads like Titus Canyon and Salt Creek had extensive damage and will be closed much longer. In six months since the remnants of Hurricane Hilary in August 2023 and the atmospheric river in February 2024, Death Valley has received 4.9 inches of rain, that is more than double the annual average of 2.2 inches per year.

Roads reopened this week include:

• South Crater Mine, Crater Mine Spurs, Little Sand Springs and Cowhorn Valley. These are located in the northeast and northwestern reaches of the park.
• South Park Road and South Park Cutoff. These roads are recommended high clearance 4 wheel drive.  Other roads in that general area Rogers Pass Road, Middle Park Road Bypass and Rita’s Cabin Road are also open.
• Virgin Spring Road and Upper Confidence Wash Road. These roads are located near the southern end of the park. Both roads require high clearance 4 wheel drive. Ashford Canyon road remains closed.

*This is not the complete list. For additional information, look at the open and closed roads map on the park website, which the park keeps updated as conditions change.

-www.nps.gov/deva-

 Death Valley National Park is the homeland of the Timbisha Shoshone and preserves natural resources, cultural resources, exceptional wilderness, scenery, and learning experiences within the nation’s largest conserved desert landscape and some of the most extreme climate and topographic conditions on the planet. Learn more at nps.gov/deva.

Photo credits: National Park Service
Many of the recently opened roads require high clearance 4 wheel drive and may have vehicle length restrictions. Know before you go, help can be hours or longer away.