SeasonMapWhat's on in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley), United States through the year
Death Valley National Park, United States has 6 curated events through the year — 2 festivals, 1 natural spectacle, 1 season and 2 hazard seasons. The ones to plan around: Badwater 135 (July) and Desert wildflower bloom (February). November to April are its peak-crowd months.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Best time to visit Death Valley National Park (Death Valley): weather, crowds and notes →
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) events and crowds by month
| Month | What starts | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | Peak crowds |
| February | Desert wildflower bloom | Peak crowds |
| March | — | Peak crowds |
| April | — | Peak crowds |
| May | Summer extreme heat | Busy |
| June | — | Busy |
| July | Badwater 135, Monsoon flash floods | Busy |
| August | — | Busy |
| September | — | Busy |
| October | Death Valley '49ers Encampment | Busy |
| November | Peak visiting season | Peak crowds |
| December | — | Peak crowds |
January in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in January →Peak crowds — Peak visiting season, Winter / Christmas break in United States
Nothing new starts in January.
Still on: Peak visiting season (1 Nov – 15 Apr)
February in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in February →Peak crowds — Desert wildflower bloom, Peak visiting season
- Nature
Desert wildflower bloom
10 Feb – 15 Apr · usuallyWildflowers & bloomsCrowdedLow elevations along Badwater Road go first in February and March and the higher canyons follow into April, but only after a wet autumn and winter. A real superbloom is roughly a once-a-decade event, not an annual one.
Still on: Peak visiting season (1 Nov – 15 Apr)
March in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in March →Peak crowds — Desert wildflower bloom, Peak visiting season
Nothing new starts in March.
Still on: Desert wildflower bloom (10 Feb – 15 Apr (usually)), Peak visiting season (1 Nov – 15 Apr)
April in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in April →Peak crowds — Desert wildflower bloom, Peak visiting season
Nothing new starts in April.
Still on: Desert wildflower bloom (10 Feb – 15 Apr (usually)), Peak visiting season (1 Nov – 15 Apr)
May in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in May →Busy — one of its best months for weather
- Hazard
Summer extreme heat
15 May – 30 SepClosuresThe hottest reliably measured place on Earth, and the park closes its lower trails and warns people off walking after ten in the morning. Cars overheat on the climbs and there is no phone signal to call it in. Source ↗
June in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in June →Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in June.
Still on: Summer extreme heat (15 May – 30 Sep)
July in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in July →Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
- Festival
Badwater 135
5–25 Jul · usuallyMajor festivalA 135-mile foot race from the salt flats to Whitney Portal, started in waves at night in the middle of July, deliberately in the worst heat of the year. Spectating means driving Highway 190 in the dark. Source ↗
- Hazard
Monsoon flash floods
15 Jul – 30 Sep · usuallyFlood seasonClosuresLate summer storms tear out the unpaved canyon roads most years, and some stay shut for months afterwards. Check road status before committing to Titus Canyon or the Racetrack. Source ↗
Still on: Summer extreme heat (15 May – 30 Sep)
August in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in August →Busy — Summer break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in August.
Still on: Summer extreme heat (15 May – 30 Sep), Monsoon flash floods (15 Jul – 30 Sep (usually))
September in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in September →Busy — Summer break in United States
Nothing new starts in September.
Still on: Summer extreme heat (15 May – 30 Sep), Monsoon flash floods (15 Jul – 30 Sep (usually))
October in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in October →Busy — Death Valley '49ers Encampment
- Festival
Death Valley '49ers Encampment
28 Oct – 10 Nov · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedBook earlyA pioneer-history gathering at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells at the start of November, running since 1949 with cowboy poetry, wagon trains and a horse parade. It fills what little lodging the park has. Source ↗
November in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in November →Peak crowds — Death Valley '49ers Encampment, Peak visiting season
- Season
Peak visiting season
1 Nov – 15 AprWinter-sun seasonCrowdedBook earlyThe valley floor is only comfortable for walking in the cool half of the year, so this is when everyone comes. The handful of rooms at Furnace Creek and Stovepipe Wells book months out for the spring weekends.
Still on: Death Valley '49ers Encampment (28 Oct – 10 Nov (usually))
December in Death Valley National Park (Death Valley)
Death Valley National Park (Death Valley) weather in December →Peak crowds — Peak visiting season, Winter / Christmas break in United States
Nothing new starts in December.
Still on: Peak visiting season (1 Nov – 15 Apr)