Death Valley Nevada is home to Death Valley National Park, which is one of the hottest and driest national parks in the United States. While most of Death Valley National Park is in California, a small area known as Devil’s Hole is actually in Nevada.
The history of Death Valley
Nevada is somewhat grim. In 1849, Americans who were searching
for gold in California
had two choices. They could either face the snow storms
in the Sierra Nevada or face the burning sands of the
desert. Many of those who chose the desert never lived
to see the shining light of the alleged gold. Thus, the
area became known as Death Valley Nevada. Since this happened
in the year 1849, these optimistic gold seekers became
known as the Death Valley 49ers.
If you decide to do some Nevada hiking in Death Valley National Park, you should keep in mind that it is one of the hottest places on earth. Summer temperatures will often average well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Its location at 282 feet below sea level also makes it the driest place in North America. The average rainfall is a mere 1.96 inches a year. However, with the proper precautions, Nevada hiking in Death Valley National Park can be an exciting experience. Remember that proper hydration is essential on all Nevada hiking trips, so be sure to bring along a sufficient water supply.
Until you acclimate to the heat, you should begin your Nevada hiking trip with short, easy trails. For example, the Salt Creek Interpretive Trail is 0.5 mile round trip. It crosses a boardwalk that goes over a small stream. This is a great trail for viewing various forms of wildlife. When you have acclimated a bit, you can gradually build up to longer Nevada hiking trails. The Natural Bridge Canyon is a one mile round trip trail. There is only a moderate uphill climb.
For seasoned climbers, there are also some advanced Nevada hiking trails in Death Valley National Park. However, since many of these trails involve advanced rock climbing, make sure to bring along the proper gear. You may also want to consider a Death Valley camping trip. There are nine campgrounds in Death Valley National Park: Emigrant, Furnace Creek, Mahogany Flat, Mesquite Spring, Stovepipe Wells, Sunset, Texas Spring, Thorndike and Wildrose. The Furnace Creek, Mesquite Spring and Wildrose campgrounds remain open all year round.
If you would like to do some serious Death Valley camping, think about heading out into the backcountry. Backcountry Death Valley camping is permitted in any location that is two miles beyond a developed area. Also, your Death Valley camping must be more than 200 yards from any water source.
