One Big Danger At Death Valley National Park Is The Last Natural Disaster You'd Expect

Death Valley doesn't do anything halfway. This is the hottest location in North America, with summer temperatures soaring as high as 134 degrees. If you've ever heard stories of candles melting into goop or cans of soda exploding in back seats, this is a place where that can happen. Visitors can easily dehydrate or pass out in such withering heat, leading to an emergency situation. Death Valley is also gigantic, straddling the Nevada-California border and covering more than three million acres; many are startled to hear that Death Valley is the largest national park in the contiguous U.S. More surprising, it's also the lowest point in North America; the salt flats of Badwater Basin lie 282 feet below sea level.

The most shocking fact feels too surreal to be true: One of the hidden dangers of Death Valley is flooding. This national park may be the driest place on the continent, receiving only two inches of rain per year; but when it does rain, torrents of muddy water may pour down the parchment-colored slopes.

True to their name, flash floods can surge out of seemingly nowhere; precipitation doesn't even have to fall where you're standing, but somewhere farther up, often miles away. For overland travelers, the possibility of floods adds yet another potential danger to your drive through the desert, right after curving roads, precipitous drops, and car trouble in the middle of nowhere. Here are tips for a safe road trip through Death Valley.

You might think that such arid land would be desperate for water, soaking up as much of a passing storm as it can. But the truth is, desert soil isn't permeable. Like the rocks and boulders that make up so much of Death Valley, the dirt is too compact to absorb fallen rain. Instead, all that water accumulates on the surface, flowing wherever gravity pulls it. These flows can gather volume and power very quickly, following trenches and ravines that have been slowly carved out over the eons.

Floods can be sudden and overwhelming, especially in recent years. The most dramatic came in August 2022, when 1.46 inches of rain brought chaos to the region. Cars were swallowed in mud, rooms were flooded, highways became impassable, and whole trees were uprooted. Bystanders were alarmed at how quickly water levels rose, filling the desert with debris. Emergency workers didn't report any injuries, but the storm put the entire national park out of commission. From this perspective, the harsh environment of Death Valley actually seems fragile; even minor storms can lead to surges of water, which can endanger wildlife, vegetation, and human settlement.

Despite the name, visitors generally take care of themselves in Death Valley. The Janda Law Firm cites 68 total fatalities between 2007 and 2023, and only one of them was a drowning. A quarter of these deaths were driving-related, and the 12 deaths caused by "environmental" factors were all due to hypothermia; low temperatures in December can hover near freezing. Even canyon visitors in Death Valley witnessing the scary, rare "desert tsunami" have survived the event unscathed.

Death Valley doesn't have a monopoly on flash floods. These events can take place almost anywhere in the world — floods are the most common natural disaster — and they're especially prevalent in deserts after a roving storm. In the southwest U.S., big storms are known as "monsoons," and can be swift, powerful, and terrifying. In the absence of trees or shelter, visitors to Death Valley can feel completely exposed to the dark cumulonimbus clouds and bolts of lightning visible from miles away. People may freeze or panic when faced with that sudden gush of water, which makes the situation even more hazardous.

If you're hoping to drive across Death Valley and hear about dangerous conditions and evacuations, as happened in 2022, you should of course change your plans. Flash floods are by definition hard to predict, though, so if you find yourself in a hilly desert during a storm, the first step is to seek high ground.

Avoid ditches or canyons, which can become natural channels for water. If you're driving, try to ascend a hill and park on solid ground until the storm clears. It's always wise to bring water, food, and spare fuel into Death Valley, even on the well-trafficked highways, as towns are spread far apart. Whether your engine overheats or a flash flood leaves you stranded, these provisions will sustain you until help arrives. Not sure what to bring? Here are some safety items you should pack for your next road trip.