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More Access Opened At Death Valley National Park

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By NPT Staff - February 12th, 2023

North Highway in Death Valley National Park, which leads to Ubehebe Crater, has reopened after months of reconstruction/NPS, Hannah Pauley

Six months after torrential rains spawned historic flash floods across parts of Death Valley National Park, the North Highway that leads to the Mesquite Springs Campground and the Ubehebe Crater in the park has reopened after some concerted reconstruction work.

The National Park Service reopened the highway this past Thursday. This paved road had been closed since August 5 due to extensive flood damage. A contractor replaced washed-away asphalt and road base, removed up to 3 feet of debris from the road surface, and filled in undercut shoulders. Drivers should use caution until the end of February as road striping and other detail work will continue with delays possible.

The project was funded by Federal Highway Administration via the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads (ERFO) program. ERFO assists federal agencies with the repair or reconstruction of federally owned roads that are open to public travel, which are found to have suffered serious damage by a natural disaster over a wide area or by a catastrophic failure.

A three-hour rainstorm last August dumped nearly 1.5 inches of rain on Death Valley, causing widespread flooding that tore up roads, blew out water systems, and shut down the park. It has been classified as a 1,000-year event by the National Weather Service.

The storm caused major impacts across the park that straddles the California-Nevada border. A critical portion of the Cow Creek water system that serves some park residences as well as park facilities, including the Emergency Operations Building and maintenance yard, was heavily damaged, a park release said. More than 600 feet of the water main was blown out by flash floods. 

Additionally, many miles of roadway received moderate to severe asphalt damage, with hundreds of miles of roadways impacted by debris, the release added. 

Some northern park roads are still closed. Mud Canyon, Racetrack Road, and the two-way end of Titus Canyon Road are likely to open by late February. Scotty’s Castle will remain closed through August 2024.  

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