In this photo provided by the National Park Service, cars are trapped in mud and debris from flash floods at The Inn at Death Valley in Death Valley National Park on August 5, 2022.
National Park Service via AP
hide captions
switch captions
National Park Service via AP
In this photo provided by the National Park Service, cars are trapped in mud and debris from flash floods at The Inn at Death Valley in Death Valley National Park on August 5, 2022.
National Park Service via AP
DEATH VALLEY National Park, California – Death Valley National Park’s most popular sites will reopen to the public on Saturday, two weeks after the massive flash flood, but the National Park Service warn travelers there will be delays and further road closures.
Sites that will reopen include the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, Badwater Basin, Zabriskie Point and Mesquite Dunes, according to the park Facebook page.
Access to the park will be limited to State Road 190 and Panamint Valley Road.
Death Valley was hit on August 5 by historic downpours from monsoon thunderstorms that caused millions of dollars in damage to roads and facilities.
State Route 190 through the park reopened around 5 p.m. Friday, two weeks after it was closed because flash flooding damaged miles of shoulder, the California Department of Transportation announced.
Crews will continue to fill in sections that have been washed away, and motorists may experience some slowing down and lane closures in the fall to allow for repairs, Caltrans said.
Recent rains have created conditions for many species of green vegetation, allowing wildlife such as desert turtles to come out to feed on an abundant food supply on August 12, 2022, in Mojave National Reserve, California.
Mike Gauthier / AP
hide captions
switch captions
Mike Gauthier / AP
Recent rains have created conditions for many species of green vegetation, allowing wildlife such as desert turtles to come out to feed on an abundant food supply on August 12, 2022, in Mojave National Reserve, California.
Mike Gauthier / AP
Visitors have been warned to plan ahead and not rely on GPS devices as all other paved roads will remain closed for repairs and as country roads are still being assessed.
This summer’s intense monsoon has also damaged roads elsewhere in California’s desert, including Mojave . National Reserve and south of Joshua Tree National Park.
Joshua Tree park officials advise visitors to drive carefully and watch out for desert turtles because the water encourages them to rise and they can be mistaken for rocks in the road.
The National Weather Service Office in San Diego said another increase in monsoon humidity would increase the likelihood of mountain and desert thunderstorms over the weekend. Another rally is expected in the middle of next week.
