Has Death Valley killed anyone?

Southern California hiker, 71, dies after trek in blistering Death Valley heat. DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — A Southern California outdoor enthusiast died Tuesday after collapsing following an hours-long hike in Death Valley National Park, the world's hottest place.



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Death Valley With seven deaths recorded due to environmental exposure, however, weather is a distant second to motor vehicle crashes, which accounted for 14 deaths over 10 years; many occurred on CA 190, which traverses the park. Also on the list: four deaths from falls and one from drowning.

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Avoid hiking in the heat: Do not hike in the low elevations when temperatures are hot. The mountains are cooler in summer, but can have snow and ice in winter. Travel prepared to survive: Stay on paved roads in summer. If your car breaks down, stay with it until help comes.

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That hot, dry air in Death Valley National can have a pretty big impact on your vehicle's performance. You'll even see signs in a few areas of the park advising drivers to turn off the car's air conditioner so that it doesn't overheat.

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At 86 meters (282 feet) below sea level, Death Valley, California, is one of the hottest, driest places on the planet.

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Located in southern Nevada, the “hole” itself is a fissure in the earth's surface that split open 60,000 years ago to reveal an astonishing underworld: a water-filled limestone cavern. Ironically, beneath the hottest, driest place in the Western Hemisphere stretches a vast aquifer system.

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Deadliest National Parks Overall
  1. Grand Canyon National Park. Grand Canyon National Park ranks first in fatalities for 2007-2023 with 134 deaths. ...
  2. Yosemite National Park. Yosemite National Park is second with 126 deaths. ...
  3. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park.


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The Sahara Desert falls within this region, yet Death Valley, California still records higher temperatures. The explanation is simple. Throughout the Sahara desert, especially the very hot areas, it is difficult to go there to record temperatures or even maintain an automotive weather station.

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Death Valley's landscape has been changing for millions of years. It is changing now, and will continue to change long after we have departed. Erosion slowly carves away at the ancient rock formations, reshaping the surface of the land. The basin continues to subside and the mountains rise ever higher.

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Lodging. Whether you are looking to stay in a luxury hotel or a simple tent cabin, Death Valley has a range of options available.

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20 rainfall record was measured — gets 2.15 inches in an entire year, said Death Valley park ranger Elyscia Letterman. Higher amounts fell in the mountains in the park. At Hunter Mountain, 5.6 inches of rain was measured, Lamar said. Rain has always been a part of Death Valley's story, Letterman said.

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The salt pan of Death Valley is the dried-up bed of Lake Manly, a 600' deep lake that existed about 150,000 years ago.

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Nighttime traffic is almost always light, and you can see vehicles from a long way. The main driving hazard is excessive speed. Some roads have curves that sneak up on you, and in the daytime, the awesome scenery can be very distracting. Single-vehicle accidents are the #1 cause of visitor deaths in Death Valley.

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Snow is a very rare occurrence at the low elevations of Death Valley. At Furnace Creek Ranch (190 feet below sea level), records indicate only four years since 1900 that snow fell – 1922, 1949, 1962, and 1974.

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