Death Valley Wilderness
Death Valley National Park is the largest national park outside Alaska, with 91% designated as Wilderness—making it the largest named Wilderness in the lower 48 states, spanning both California and Nevada. It is also the hottest, driest, and lowest place in North America, with a record temperature of 134°F set in 1913. Annual rainfall is less than two inches, and summer temperatures often exceed 116°F, making winter and spring the best times to visit. Despite its harsh climate, the park offers striking contrasts and beauty. Telescope Peak rises to 11,049 feet, often snow-covered in winter, while nearby Badwater Basin lies nearly 300 feet below sea level.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| States | California, Nevada |
| Size | 3.2 million acres |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.48° N, 117.14° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 25) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 5 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
Guidebooks for California
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Death Valley Wilderness?
3.2 million acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Death Valley Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Death Valley Wilderness in?
The boundary crosses California and Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Death Valley Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Death Valley Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Death Valley Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.481° N, 117.143° W. Death Valley National Park is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Death Valley Wilderness?
Death Valley National Park (adjacent) and Manzanar National Historic Site (15 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.