Death valley when should I go?

Yes but you should look at disbursed camping. There's a bunch of cool abandonded structures. There are some good DV threads on here.

 

SOUNDS BADASS!!!

 

X2 for the whole park being National Park land instead of BLM. There is BLM land in the deserts out there, but Death Valley national Park proper is all national park land. The rules out there are very restrictive as far as what you can do, so read up on the website before you go.

As for camping, there are a few campgrounds in the front country that are okay. Not exactly what I would call a wilderness experience though (the exception is the Eureka Dunes campground in the north of the park). Here's the trick: you are allowed to do "dispersed camping" in most parts of Death Valley NP similarly to how you can do so in the National Forest lands. (As a term of art, Dispersed Camping" is camping by the side of the road in already-established pull outs and such.) Most national parks don't allow dispersed camping, but Death Valley does (with caveats). The area is so rugged and spread out that it works well out there, and there's too much ground for rangers to patrol anyway even if they did want to restrict dispersed camping.

The rub is that most of the areas that are off limits to dispersed camping are within the geographic Death Valley itself - ie the floor of the main valley. The website has a pamphlet somewhere that has a map of backcountry camping areas, and it shows with shading which areas are off-limits for dispersed camping. Find that pdf flyer on the website before you go.

 

We planned and spent 5 days in and around DVNP in early November 2017...it was an epic trip and we saw a LOT.

As others have noted, there is no dispersed camping inside the park, and it's boundaries are vast. If you don't see a road or a fire ring, you are risking a nice fine/donation to the NPS.

Look into the Adopt A Cabin program that offers first come/first served stays at some of the coolest sites within the park. Russell's Cabin was our favorite, but be prepared to share with lots of pack rats and be VERY mindful of hantavirus, stirred up in the dust of some of those old sites.





The Geologists cabin is a really sweet spot, but usually occupied.

The campground at Panamint Springs is really nice, might be good base camp option to allow daily 4x4 exploring which could make your first trip into the park easier, rather than trying to plan and scramble for daily campsites.

Homestake Camp in the northern locale of the park is primitive, but for the prepared camper can provide a nice spot. It is at a higher elevation, so days and nights there in the winter are cold. We experienced some of the lowest temps there during our 2015 visit, with nightime and early morning temps in the teens (*19).





Saline Valley Hot Springs is another cool spot to camp, with clothing optional hot springs, plenty of camp spots, a very eclectic/artsy/hippie vibe, and great viewing for a small sampling of the jets heading to and from China Lake NAWS. (Naval Air Weapons Station)

Eureka Dunes is another nice camp spot, primitive with pit toilets and your good ole 1 ply Park Service TP. Very exposed camping, and we encountered high winds and cold temps there as well.

Driving distances in and around the park are long point to points...with very limited services. Do your research, and don't balk at paying 5-6 dollars a gallon for fuel...much cheaper than a remote tow or worse, if you get stranded.

Plan your routes carefully, know your vehicles capabilities and mileage maximums to a T. Not the place to be pushing the limits of your yellow gas light. Always carry extra fuel, 5-10 gallons is plenty for the prepared adventurer.





Cell service is very sparce, no joke.

If you plan on traveling solo, let someone know your travel plans and have a back up emergency plan if you don't make a planned destination connection. Bad stuff happens quickly to the unprepared in Death Valley.

Other than all the planning for worst case scenarios, DVNP is one of the most remotely beautiful places on this planet. The peace and quiet found there (away from the big tourist spots, Badwater, Devils Golf Course, etc.) is unparalleled. The night time skies are incredibly dark, with a Milky Way so close it seems you can reach out and touch it.





Do your research, plan carefully, and great adventure will be had visiting DVNP...photo credits to my good friend Joe Fanaselle and yours truly.

 

Went through Death Valley a few years back in March and it snowed. Not what I expected.