Death Valley Wilderness
Death Valley National Park is the lowest and possibly hottest and driest spot in North America. The 134 degrees recorded on July 10, 1913 is the highest temperature recorded on the planet. The park is...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | National Park Service |
| States | California, Nevada |
| Size | 3.2 million acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1994, by Congress |
| Center point | 36.4811, -117.1430 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 25) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 5 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedAmr Pile Rx Fy26
49 mi from the center point
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Death Valley Wilderness?
3.2 million acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Death Valley Wilderness?
The National Park Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Death Valley Wilderness in?
The boundary crosses California and Nevada.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Death Valley Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1994.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Death Valley Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Emigrant Campground, 0.4 miles out. 5 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Death Valley Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 36.481, -117.143. Death Valley National Park is adjacent. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Death Valley Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-18, the nearest Amr Pile Rx Fy26 at 49 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Death Valley Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 25 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Death Valley Wilderness?
Death Valley National Park (adjacent) and Manzanar National Historic Site (15 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.