How To Stay Alive In Death Valley

You’d think that no one in their right minds would dare venture anywhere named after death. But don’t let the name discourage you from visiting this beautiful national park. Death Valley sounds scary, but it is actually quite the opposite...If you are well prepared and informed. Luckily for you, we’ve made all of the worst mistakes so you wouldn’t have to. Here are the main things you need to know to stay alive in Death Valley:

Don’t Visit In The Summer

It’s called Death Valley for a reason! This is the hottest place on EARTH, with record temperatures of 134°F. We made the horrible mistake of traveling to Death Valley in the peak of the summer and IT WAS AWFUL!!! You know when you’re checking on your food and go to open the oven, and the heat blows your face back? That is what it feels like at all times in the summer in Death Valley. It gets so hot, that there are signs advising patrons not to walk in the park after 10 am. Moral of this story: do not visit Death Valley in the summer. It’s much better to visit in the spring and winter, when the temperatures are much cooler and bearable.

Bring A Paper Map

Your GPS WILL NOT WORK. Even if you have the best service in the world, (T-Mobile) it can not help you in Death Valley. You will need to have a good old fashioned paper map to avoid getting lost in the 3 million acre national park. We arrived at the park at 5 am so that we could be at the Mesquite Sand Dunes by 6 am for sunrise. Because we didn’t have a map, we made a wrong turn somewhere, and drove 1 hour in the opposite direction. We didn’t make it to the dunes until well after 8 am! Being lost wasn’t all that bad, however. It made for a great photo opportunity!

Pack For Survival

Not to alarm you, but you should definitely pack as though you’ll be stranded in the park for a bit, because it is a possibility. Many travelers have experienced their cars breaking down due to the extreme heat in Death Valley. It could take some time for rangers to find you in the park, so it’s best you be prepared to camp out in your car. Be sure you bring plenty of water and food. We recommend bringing along a cooler with ice to keep your water cold, AND pouring cold water into a Yeti cup or CamelBak to bring along with you on hikes. Death Valley is also the driest place in North America, so dehydration is year-round concern. A few other things you might need are: sunscreen, sun hats, wipes, a first aid kit, and a flashlight.

*Bonus Tip: Eat breakfast before you drive to Death Valley to save yourself from having to stop at the ONLY store in the park to buy potato chips for breakfast and lunch*

Rent A SUV & Make Sure It’s Insured

We feel it’s necessary to rent an SUV not only for the space, but because of the different types of terrain in Death Valley. The Range Rover features many different terrain settings that made us feel a bit more comfortable driving there. (ie. low traction mode for driving in sand) Obviously you don’t have to get a Range Rover, but definitely try to get a car made for the outdoors. And because cars are known to overheat in Death Valley, make sure it’s insured! You can opt in for vehicle coverage through the rental company or just make sure your personal car insurance covers cars you rent. We also recommend having roadside assistance in the event you do end up breaking down.

Be Prepared For Hiking

Many of the sights can be viewed from the comfort of your car, but in our opinion, those views are just mediocre. If you’re going to drive all the way to Death Valley, you might as well hike a little for the more breathtaking views. It took us 20 minutes to hike up the sand dunes to get this view unobstructed by grass patches & the main road. We highly recommend having the proper shoes or the hike could be pretty difficult. Take it from someone that wore flip flops!

Respect The Local Fauna

Despite it’s hot and dry climate, Death Valley is home to a variety of wildlife. One of the best ways to make it out alive, is to leave them alone. Most frequently spotted in the park are the highly venomous sidewinder rattle snake and the burro. The rattlesnake is usually found in or near the dark, shady areas. We even saw the slithery trails of the snakes along the dunes, as they like to hide underneath the sand to avoid the heat. Burros are a lot more dispersed and tend to stay near their food and water source, though you can occasionally find them crossing the main roads, so be alert!

All in all, Death Valley was super hot, but it was also pretty cool. From the colorful mountains of Artist’s Drive, to the expansive Badwater salt flats, it’s beautiful scenery makes up for the intimidation the name carries. This trip isn’t for the faint of heart, but for those that love adventure, it can make for one hell of an experience.