Death Valley National Park is a really unique place to travel together with your dog. It’s a beautiful, rustic land of extremes.
I’ve taken many vacations to Death Valley National park with my Dachshunds so I believed I’d share my favorite things to do.
Whether you’re already planning to vacation in Death Valley together with your dog, or you’re trying to find something fun to do, this text will aid you plan your trip.
About Death Valley National Park
Death Valley is positioned in Southeast California, right along the Nevada border.
This 1.3 million acres (5,300 km2) of desert became a National Park October 31, 1994. It’s the biggest National Park within the contiguous United States.
The park occupies an interface zone between the arid Great Basin and Mojave deserts, protecting the northwest corner of the Mojave Desert and its diverse environment of salt-flats, sand dunes, badlands, valleys, canyons, and mountains. (Source)
The landscape, known as Basin and Range by geologists, is primarily made up of valleys, mountainous areas, salt and sand flats, and water-carved canyons.
One of the vital famous park features, the Badwater Basin, is the bottom point in North America at 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.
Entrance Fees
There may be an entrance fee for all National Parks. There isn’t any extra fee for pets.
The fee is paid by the “automobile load” and is $30 for one private vehicle (business vehicles are more). This grants you an access pass good for 7 days.
Alternately, you possibly can buy an annual National Parks pass for $55. That is an excellent option in case you plan to remain greater than 7 days or visit a couple of National Park inside the 12 months.
When entering by foot, bicycle, or motorcycle, the fee will vary but is often under $30.
Paying the doorway fee is exclusive for Death Valley National Park as, unlike many National Parks, there is no such thing as a entrance gate where you pay the fee “on the gate”.
One can drive into Death Valley National Park for free of charge. Nevertheless, in case you plan to make any stops (aren’t just driving through) you’ll need to stop at one in all the locations within the park to purchase your pass.
Locations where you possibly can pay the fee include:
- Furnace Creek Visitor Center
- Furnace Creek Campground kiosk (when staffed October 15 to April 15)
- Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station
- One among the numerous distant fee-collection locations inside the park
Photo Credit: Depositphotos/4kclips
Dogs in Death Valley Rules
The National Park rules regarding dogs make among the most famous features off limits to those, like me, who all the time take their dogs along (the sand dunes for instance).
Somme National Parks which are more dog friendly than others but the final rules regarding where dogs are allowed are:
- Along roads
- In campgrounds
- In picnic areas
- In other developed areas designated as pet friendly
(Service animals can go more places with you in fact)
Pets should not allowed:
- On trails
- Into the Wilderness
- Inside most buildings
- Out of developed areas
General park rules state that each one dogs should be kept on a leash not than 6 feet in any respect times and you could pick up their waste.
Death Valley also prohibits you from leaving your dog your automobile if you are away because it might probably change into deadly hot in minutes.
Although these rules could seem restrictive, there are still plenty of how you and your dog can enjoy Death Valley National Park together.
Knowing these 3 crucial things about visiting a National Park together with your dog can turn your experience from good to great.
Desert Safety in Death Valley
The desert may be very unforgiving and the weather can change from moment-to-moment.
It’s common to be having fun with a pleasant sunny day together with your dog and have a rain storm move in that drenches you in seconds.
In the hotter months, the temperature is frequently over 100 degrees. In 1913, the very best recorded temperature of 134 °F (56.7 °C) was measured at Furnace Creek.
Every day summer temperatures of 120 °F (49 °C) or greater are common and the nights may be below freezing in winter.
Due to high temperatures in summer, the preferred time to go to the park is in spring. Fall can be nice and frequently less crowded.
The best dangers to your dog in Death Valley National Park are:
- Rattlesnakes
- Dehydration
- Spiny plants and hot, rough ground surfaces damaging your dog’s foot pads
- Flash flooding
Follow these safety suggestions to assist be sure that you and your dog stay secure:
- Bring loads of water. It’s possible you’ll have to “encourage” your dog to drink enough water by flavoring it (I add a splash of bone broth)
- Consider bringing a cooling vest to your dog (you” need to carry water with you to maintain it wet)
- Go for hikes within the evening or morning when the temperatures are cooler
- Keep checking your dog’s feet for thorns, burns, or tears within the pads
- Bring comb or pliers for pulling thorns , or pieces of cactus, out of your dog’s feet
- If it’s hot, frequently check ground temperatures with back of hand
- There isn’t any mobile phone reception in most areas of the park so it’s an excellent idea to bring a prepaid calling card. There are pay phones if it’s worthwhile to call for help on the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch, Stovepipe Wells, Grapevine Ranger Station, and Highway 190 near Dante’s View turnout.
- If you happen to’re going to drive the backroads, bring enough “survival gear” to be comfortable in the warmth (or cold) for a number of hours if something goes flawed together with your automobile (ie. snacks, loads of water, a method to create shade, etc.)
- If you happen to can be driving in lower-traffic areas, help could also be hours away. Consider bringing a private emergency communicator just like the Garmin InReach (affiliate link so I’ll receive a small commission in case you buy one)
3 Best Things to Do in Death Valley with Your Dog
There are such a lot of things to do together with your dog in Death Valley National Park that you may easily spend per week there.
Nevertheless, in case you are limited on time, it’s still value it to go to for under a day or two.
My suggested two-day itinerary is to go to Titus Canyon (hike or drive with stops) at some point. The second day, drive or hike the Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road and make a stop at Artists Palette.
If only have at some point in Death Valley together with your dog, definitely drive Titus canyon and stop at Artists Palette for sunset.
Titus Canyon
Titus Canyon is one in all the crown jewels of Death Valley National Park and a spot I prefer to see each time I visit.
The canyon could be very diverse with rugged mountains, colourful rock formations, petroglyphs, wildlife, rare plants, and spectacular canyon narrows.
If you ought to drive the entire thing, there are several spots where you possibly can stop to walk around together with your dog (you could stay inside 50 feet of the road).
Please note that much of this canyon is barely suitable for top clearance vehicles. A vehicle with 4WD could also be crucial after it has rained. Nevertheless, the two-way section from the west is OK for two-wheel-drive, standard clearance vehicles.
One other great method to see the Titus Canyon together with your dog is to hike up the narrows (walk along the road).
It’s the preferred back-country road in Death Valley National Park so it might probably be really crowded certain times of the 12 months (spring is the preferred time of 12 months to go to and winter is usually the least crowded).
Don’t worry if the crowds slow you down though since it’s a spot where you certainly wish to take your time anyway.
If you happen to’re lucky, it’s possible you’ll spot the native bighorn sheep (please be sure that you retain your dog on leash and under control in case you see them).
Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road
Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road is primarily known for the colourful, eroded badlands.
The realm surrounding the Twenty Mule Team Canyon Road can be where certain scenes (Jabba the Hutt’s place) from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, were filmed.
You possibly can drive this 2.5-mile road (It’s suitable for many vehicles however it’s all the time check road conditions before you go) or hike it together with your dog.
The road is barely a method for vehicles but the beauty of climbing it’s it might probably be done in either direction.
Climbing it also permits you to see the realm at a slower space and admire all the unique features up close.
After all, it’s necessary to depart as little impact on the landscape so don’t go too far (your dog is required to remain inside 50 feet of the road anyway).
There isn’t any designated shoulder however the road is plenty wide for one vehicle and an individual to pass one another in most places.
Where it’s not, or you only feel safer doing so, there are may places you possibly can step to the side.
Artist Drive and Artist Palette at Sunset
Artists Drive is just not a spot to hike together with your dog however it’s definitely a must-see. It’s one in all the more unique areas to see within the park.
The drive is a paved, 9-mile, one-way road that’s suitable for many vehicles under 25 feet in length (it’s too windy for longer vehicles to navigate safety).
The drive takes you thru colourful hills and there are a number of viewpoints where you possibly can take an image of your dog (from the parking area).
The colours of blue, green, and purple are produced by the oxidation of the metals and elements present in the bottom here.
After about 5 miles, you’ll come to Artist Palette, which showcases among the most spectacular colours.
I feel these are the three best things to do in Death Valley National Park together with your dog. Nevertheless, there are a lot of, many more worthwhile places to explore if you will have time.
