Death Valley National Park, Where You Can Find Solitude Despite The Crowds

By Compiled From N... - February 28th, 2023

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes are one of the park’s most popular destinations. In spite of this, people can find solitude with just a short stroll into the dunes/NPS

You wouldn't think you could find solitude in a national park that draws more than 1 million visitors a year, but it is possible at Death Valley National Park.

As Abby Wines, the park's public information officer points out, while January, February, and March last year were extremely busy compared to past years, visitation in August, September, and October was about half of normal levels, in large part because many park roads were closed due to flash flood damage.

Visitation picked up in November, and the park had its fourth-busiest December ever. In all, more than 1.1 million people visited the park last year.

The largest park in the lower 48 states, Death Valley National Park has 3,400,000 acres for people to explore. This means that even during the busiest times, people can avoid crowds by choosing less-popular hikes, notes Wines.

The park is busiest during spring breaks and winter holidays (Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Martin Luther King Junior Day, and Presidents Day. The park has very low visitation between Thanksgiving and Christmas, and in early January.

During busy periods, lodging at Stovepipe Wells Resort, Panamint Springs Resort, and The Oasis at Death Valley are often fully booked in advance. Many of the park’s campgrounds fill, but space is usually available in Sunset Campground, near Furnace Creek.

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Death Valley National Park

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