Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park. . , Upon feeling the intense heat rising from the Death Valley floor, the first travelers may have been overcome by a sense of foreboding believing they had indeed arrived at the gates of hell. These travelers also recount that even their horses were frightened, refusing to move forward as they inhaled the hot air. , , Hells Gate is a historic gateway to Death Valley and a major east-west route. , , Plan your visit carefully. The park is very large, and short distances on the map translate into hours of driving. Take time to safely enjoy the valley's intense beauty, diversity, and solitude. , , photo captions: , · Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes - 9.6 miles from here. , Exploring the dunes reveals countless tracks of small animals, whose nocturnal journeys are recorded in the sands. , , · Salt Creek Boardwalk , 12.2 miles from here. , Pickleweed and saltgrass define the vegetation of this highly saline ecosystem. , , Safety Information , . Do not rely on cell phone service in Death Valley. Coverage is extremely limited. , . GPS is not always dependable and may lead you where you do not want to go. , . Backcountry travelers are encouraged to stop at the visitor center for latest weather and safety information, and to obtain a backcountry permit. , . Stay on the established roads. , . Maintain at least a half tank of gasoline. , . Check your spare tire and tire-changing equipment before you start out. , . Stay with your vehicle in the event of a breakdown. , . Carry plenty of water, especially during summer months. , . Flash floods can occur when heavy rain falls over higher elevations. It is best to stay out of canyon washes when thunderstorms threaten. , . No collecting, removing, or disturbing natural features or historic artifacts. , , , Geology in Motion , The east-west highways throughout much of the West follow a vast, alternating pattern, crossing flat, straight stretches of valley-like basins and winding over mountain ranges. This area known as the Basin and Range Province extends from Utah to California and Idaho to Mexico. , , The north-south-trending basins and ranges begin miles below our feet, as the Earth's crust "floats" on the near-molten mantle. As the West Coast slowly pulls away from the Rocky Mountains and the Colorado Plateau, the crust stretches and cracks to accommodate the movement. , , Fractures often result from the stress, forcing large blocks of the crust up and pushing others down along the fault zones. Looking across the floor of Death Valley to the Panamint Range on its western side, you can see the results of this massive movement.