Death Valley

Inyo County

Altitude: 280ft/86m-11,050ft/3,368m

Location and importance

The Death Valley region, low in rainfall and protected as a national monument, (land area 3,000sq.mi/7,770sq.km), lies in central southeast California, extending slightly into the U.S. federal state of Nevada, and includes the 140-mi (225km)-wide and 4-16-mi (6-26km)-wide desert valleys of the Amargosa River and Salt Creek, as well as the surrounding chains of mountains known as the Panamint Range in the west, and the Amargosa Range in the east.

How to get there

The valley can be reached from three sides: From Los Angeles it is 300mi/480km, via the U.S. 15 Highway as far as Baker, then via the CA 127 as far as the sign for Dante's View and thence to the Visitor Center via the CA 190. From Las Vegas in Nevada, 140mi/224km away, you take the U.S. 15, then the 127 to Death Valley Junction and the 190 direct to the Visitor Center in Furnace Creek. From Lone Pine on the CA 395, you drive direct to Death Valley on the CA 136 and 190.