Two motorcyclists following a map app bypassed the locked gate, concrete barriers, and road closed signs to Titus Canyon Road and ultimately needed rescuing by helicopter in Death Valley National Park / NPS file photo

If a map app leads to a road closed by a locked gate with “road closed” signs, that probably means the road really is closed. 

Two men were rescued by helicopter after they illegally drove on a closed road in Death Valley National Park. The National Park Service (NPS) closed Titus Canyon Road temporarily due to hazardous conditions caused by flood damage.  

On the afternoon of November 18, two men from California allegedly bypassed a locked gate, concrete barriers, and closure signs to drive motorcycles on Titus Canyon Road. They stated that they were following a map app that showed the road as open, so they bypassed the closure signs.   

Many roads in the park have not been repaired yet after the remnants of Hurricane Hilary damaged them. Damaged roads are temporarily closed to due to safety and resource management concerns. The closures are listed on the park’s website and marked with signs.  

NPS employee walking through an eroded section of Titus Canyon Road, Death Valley National Park / NPS file photo

One of the men crashed his motorcycle. He broke his collarbone and had other non-life-threatening injuries. The men called 911 via a satellite phone just before sunset.   

Park rangers were not able to reach the injured man in a timely manner due to the road conditions, so they called for helicopter assistance. The US Navy’s VX-31 helicopter responded from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. They transported the injured man and his companion to Ridgecrest Regional Hospital.   

Charges are pending.