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Around Furnace Creek |
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Around Stovepipe Wells |
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Around Scotty's Castle |
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Tips for enjoying Death
Valley |
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Don't go in summer – Don't go there.
Temperatures in summer average over 110 degrees. You can drive around the
valley in your air conditioned car, but to really enjoy Death Valley, you
need to get out and walk around. December is a lovely time to go –
the weather is clear and the days are warm. It does get cold at night in
the winter. |
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Water – Death Valley is one of the driest places on the planet
and it's very easy to get dehydrated in this dry, dry climate. Bring lots
of water bottles and keep drinking water throughout the day. Even on a
short hike, don't leave without plenty of water! |
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Suncreen, lip balm and hand lotion –
Even in winter, clear days make it easy to get sunburned – slather
on the suncreen. To prevent chapped lips and hands, bring lip balm and hand
lotion. |
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What to wear – Bring good shoes for
hiking in the gravely areas, or certainly on the Devil's Golf Course (hiking
in sandals can lead to stubbed toes and annoying cuts). In winter, it can
be windy and chill, so bring windbreakers, gloves and hats. |
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Wildlife – As you look out over the
desert, it might seem that nothing can live in the heat and dryness of Death
Valley, but there are plenty of animals. Along with the cute road runners
or chuckwallas (lizards), there's also well-adapted rattlesnakes and scorpions,
which you want to avoid. If you're climbing on rocks, tell your kids to
watch where you put your hands (you don't want to accidentally "pet"
a rattlesnake). At Scotty's Castle, a couple of enterprising coyotes come
out to beg for food as cars drive by. Don't feed the coyotes. |
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Flash floods – Death Valley gets precious little rain, but
when it does rain, it can rain hard. If it looks like rain, don't hike
in riverbeds or narrow canyons – these can become a torrent in no
time at all. Also, don't attempt to drive through flooded road conditions. |
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Kids can read
for themselves about the plants and animals of Death Valley –
great horned owls, roadrunners, desert tortoises, kangaroo rats,
wild burros, kit foxes, free-tailed bats, barrel cactus, Mojave
yucca. (Easy reader, illustrations)
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Valley
of Death (Mysteries
in Our National Parks)
Gloria Skurzynski, Alane Ferguson
The
Landon family has come to Death Valley to find out about the mysterious
deaths of bighorn sheep. Exploring the ruined ghost town of Skidoo,
Ashley disappears in a dust storm, and it's up to Jack to find
his sister. (Chapter book)
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Fun
facts and easy-to-read introduction to Death Valley National Park
– landscape and natural formations, wildlife, native peoples
and pioneers. (Picture book)
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Guide
to hikes in Death Valley, ideal for families (most are less than
4 miles round trip). Map, detailed hike descriptions, trail difficulty,
and what you'll see along the way. (Guidebook)
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(More children's
books on other California pages) |
