Death Valley: Flash Flood Watch in Effect, Use Caution on the Roads

If you're planning a trip to Death Valley over the next few days, here's something you shouldn't ignore. The park is under a flood watch that's currently in effect. The cause is a surge of tropical moisture moving over the desert, and it changes the picture for anyone heading out there.

The main threat has a name that's all too familiar around here. It's the flash flood. In a park this dry, water doesn't soak into the ground. It runs off and gathers in minutes inside the canyons and low spots. A distant rainstorm can be enough to turn a dirt road into a torrent, sometimes far from where the rain is actually falling. That's exactly what makes these events so dangerous for a visitor who isn't expecting them.

Our advice is simple. Before you hit the road, check access conditions and the latest weather with the park, because the situation changes fast. The secondary roads and dry-wash crossings are the first to go. A route that's passable in the morning can be impassable by afternoon. If you see water on the road, never try to cross it, even a few inches deep, because the current is stronger than it looks.

In practical terms, it's best to keep your plans flexible and stick to higher ground if a storm is brewing. Stay out of narrow canyons as long as the watch is active. These events are usually brief, but they call for staying alert and not stranding yourself on a remote road without recent information.

To put this advice in the context of your whole trip, taking time for the easy trails and the safe overlooks, we've pulled together the essentials in the Death Valley park guide. If Death Valley is part of a bigger journey, it also holds a prime spot in our road trip itinerary that runs through the park, which you can adjust based on the current weather.