Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Furnace Creek (Death Valley), Worldwide. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
- Region
- California, USA
- Country
- Worldwide
- Biome
- Mojave desert (-58 m)
- Best season
- October – April
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Backpacking
- Hiking
- Desert Hiking
- Canyoneering
Key takeaways
- Biome: Mojave desert (-58 m)
- Best season: October – April
- Difficulty: moderate
- Top activity: backpacking
Photos of Furnace Creek (Death Valley)
Topic summary
Below-sea-level camping in Death Valley — historic date grove and pool.
Key takeaways
- Difficulty: moderate
- Best season: October – April
Intended uses
backpacking
Climate suitability
Mojave desert (-58 m)
Tools for a trip here
Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.
- Sleep System Temp CalculatorCold nights: check your bag and pad add up to a safe sleep.
- Base Weight CalculatorEvery ounce is carried — total your kit and find your base weight.
- Pack Volume SizerSize the pack for your trip length and season.
- Water Purification MatrixTreat water from streams and lakes on trail.
- Layering CalculatorCold-season miles: layer for climbs and camp.
Plan with verified data
Furnace Creek (Death Valley) trip tools
How to get there
Furnace Creek is in Death Valley, California. Death Valley National Park lies mostly in the Southern California Desert and extends into Nevada. Confirm the approach roads and current access conditions before travel.
- Furnace Creek
The destination focus for this profile. Confirm the specific arrival location and suitable starting points before planning outdoor activities; this is not a named trailhead.
- Death Valley National Park
The broader park setting for a Furnace Creek visit, spanning mostly California desert with a smaller portion in Nevada. Select and verify an entrance appropriate to the trip rather than treating the park name as a precise access location.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
Popular pursuits at Furnace Creek (Death Valley)
- Backpacking
Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.
- Hiking
Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.
- Desert Hiking
Water carries and heat management drive the plan.
- Canyoneering
Narrows, downclimbs, and flash-flood timing.
Animals around Furnace Creek (Death Valley)
Maps, GPS & compass for this trip
Carry a waterproof paper map and a compass you can steer by, and treat the GPS as the backup — not the other way round. Buying links go to Amazon; Wild10 earns a commission at no cost to you.
Waterproof topo maps
- Waterproof topographic map — Furnace Creek (Death Valley)Amazon search for waterproof, tear-resistant topo maps covering this area.
- National Geographic Trails IllustratedThe waterproof Trails Illustrated series — check for a sheet covering this area.
- Waterproof map case & compass lanyardKeep a paper map readable in rain, spray and a swamped boat.
Fishing at Furnace Creek (Death Valley)
Planning to fish Furnace Creek (Death Valley), California? Fishing licenses, open seasons and catch limits in California are set by the local wildlife authority and change every year — check the official source before you cast a line.
Do I need a fishing license at Furnace Creek (Death Valley)?
- A California fishing license is normally required for anyone over the local youth age.
- Read the current California fishing regulations for special waters, barbless-hook or catch-and-release rules.
- Clean, drain and dry boats and gear between waters to stop invasive species.
Hunting near Furnace Creek (Death Valley)
Thinking about hunting Furnace Creek (Death Valley), California? Hunting seasons, tags and draws in California are set by the wildlife authority each year. Confirm the rules for your species and unit before you go.
Is hunting allowed at Furnace Creek (Death Valley)?
- Confirm the land around Furnace Creek (Death Valley) is open to hunting and which management unit it falls in.
What do I need to hunt in California?
- A California hunting license — most jurisdictions also require hunter education certification.
- Species tags or draw results for big game such as deer, elk, moose or bear where they occur.
- Knowledge of firearm and bow transport rules, which differ by land type and border crossing.
Furnace Creek in context
Furnace Creek is a destination within the Death Valley landscape of California, where extreme heat and the scale of the surrounding desert should shape any outdoor plan. Death Valley National Park lies mostly in the Southern California Desert, with a smaller portion extending into Nevada. The park covers 3.4 million acres and is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. That scale matters: a visit centered on Furnace Creek is not the same as exploring the whole park. Keep the scope of each outing realistic rather than treating the wider valley as a single stop. Furnace Creek makes the most sense as the focus of a carefully bounded visit, with any exploration farther into Death Valley planned separately around conditions and verified access information.
Heat is the defining planning constraint
Furnace Creek recorded temperatures of 130°F (54.4°C) on August 16, 2020, and July 9, 2021. Those measurements make the heat here more than a general desert caution. Death Valley’s better-known 134°F (56.7°C) reading from 1913 is contested because nearby stations did not provide corroborating evidence. For trip planning, the distinction between records matters less than the practical reality: outdoor exposure can become dangerous. Check the forecast before committing to a walk, carry water, and keep plans flexible enough to abandon an outing when conditions are unsuitable. Do not treat a short outing as automatically safe in extreme temperatures. Favor cooler conditions over a fixed itinerary, and avoid making a temperature-record visit the reason to spend unnecessary time outside.
A valley framed by steep ranges
Death Valley is about 130 miles long and between 6 and 13 miles wide, with steep mountain ranges enclosing the valley. The Panamint mountains stand to the west; the Black, Funeral, and Grapevine mountains lie to the east. These are landscape dimensions, not hiking distances, and they underline why route selection needs more detail than a destination name alone. The park also contains 3 million acres of wilderness and a rich cultural history, so its character extends well beyond temperature records. For a Furnace Creek trip, distinguish between seeing the valley landscape and undertaking a mountain or wilderness outing. The latter requires a separately verified route and access plan. Choose terrain and exposure that match both the weather and the group’s abilities.
Route options
- Furnace Creek–focused visit
Keep the outing centered on Furnace Creek rather than committing to wider valley exploration. This is a trip-planning option, not a specified walking or driving route; verify individual stops and access before setting out, and limit outdoor exposure according to conditions.
- Wider Death Valley exploration
Plan a separate outing around the valley and its surrounding mountain landscape. The Panamint mountains form the western boundary, with the Black, Funeral, and Grapevine mountains to the east. These are orientation landmarks, not a connected itinerary; a specific route needs to be verified before travel.
Sample itineraries
- Furnace Creek heat-aware visit · 1 day
Keep the visit centered on Furnace Creek, with brief outdoor observation only when temperatures allow. Use the surrounding valley and steep mountain backdrop to understand the landscape. Avoid committing to a long walk; extreme heat can make even a short outing unsafe.
- Furnace Creek and valley landscape · 2 days
Spend the first day around Furnace Creek and the second observing Death Valley’s broader landscape as conditions allow. Focus on the contrast between the valley and its surrounding mountain ranges. Keep plans flexible rather than treating the park’s enormous area as a sightseeing checklist.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
Forecast-dependent outdoor periods
Plan around measured temperatures rather than the season’s reputation. In this desert setting, carry water and sun protection and shorten outdoor activity whenever heat becomes difficult to manage.
Summer
Only when conditions allow safe activity
Furnace Creek has recorded 130°F (54.4°C). Treat extreme heat as a reason to cancel outdoor plans, not simply to carry more water. Do not assume a brief outing is automatically safe.
Fall
Forecast-dependent outdoor periods
Do not use the change of season as assurance of comfortable temperatures. Keep the itinerary flexible, check current conditions, and retain full desert water and sun-protection preparations.
Winter
Current-condition-dependent visits
Check the forecast rather than assuming the desert will always be hot. Pack adjustable layers alongside water and sun protection. Distinguish a Furnace Creek visit from travel into the surrounding steep mountain terrain.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | Forecast-dependent outdoor periods | Plan around measured temperatures rather than the season’s reputation. In this desert setting, carry water and sun protection and shorten outdoor activity whenever heat becomes difficult to manage. |
| Summer | Only when conditions allow safe activity | Furnace Creek has recorded 130°F (54.4°C). Treat extreme heat as a reason to cancel outdoor plans, not simply to carry more water. Do not assume a brief outing is automatically safe. |
| Fall | Forecast-dependent outdoor periods | Do not use the change of season as assurance of comfortable temperatures. Keep the itinerary flexible, check current conditions, and retain full desert water and sun-protection preparations. |
| Winter | Current-condition-dependent visits | Check the forecast rather than assuming the desert will always be hot. Pack adjustable layers alongside water and sun protection. Distinguish a Furnace Creek visit from travel into the surrounding steep mountain terrain. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm current entry requirements, permits, and booking arrangements with the managing agency before traveling.
Confirm current permits, fees, and closures with the managing agency before you go.
Hazards & regulations
- Extreme heat: Furnace Creek has recorded 130°F (54.4°C), making temperature the central constraint on outdoor plans.
- Dehydration and heat illness: carry drinking water and stop activity before symptoms worsen; water alone does not make extreme heat safe.
- Steep terrain: mountain ranges surround the valley, so do not assume the broader landscape offers easy walking.
- Scale and isolation: Death Valley National Park contains extensive wilderness. Avoid improvising excursions without navigation and a clear return plan.
What to pack for Furnace Creek (Death Valley)
- Drinking water appropriate to the conditions and planned activity
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
- Lightweight sun-covering clothing
- Map suitable for the planned area
- Offline navigation
- Charged communication device
- Basic first-aid kit
- Clearly shared trip and return plan
- Footwear suited to the intended terrain
- Adjustable clothing layers
Furnace Creek (Death Valley) FAQ
- How hot can Furnace Creek get?
- Furnace Creek recorded 130°F (54.4°C) on August 16, 2020, and July 9, 2021. Such temperatures are a serious limit on outdoor activity, not a sightseeing challenge.
- Is Death Valley’s 134°F record undisputed?
- No. The 134°F (56.7°C) temperature recorded in Death Valley in 1913 is contested because nearby stations did not provide corroborating evidence.
- Where is Death Valley National Park?
- The park lies mostly in the Southern California Desert, with a small portion extending into Nevada. Furnace Creek is in the California portion of Death Valley.
- What defines the surrounding landscape?
- Death Valley is a long valley surrounded by steep mountain ranges. The Panamint mountains lie to the west; the Black, Funeral, and Grapevine mountains lie to the east.
- Can a short visit cover the whole park?
- No. The park covers about 3.4 million acres, including extensive wilderness. A short visit is better kept focused on Furnace Creek and a limited landscape overview rather than an attempt at comprehensive exploration.
- Should outdoor plans be fixed in advance?
- Keep them flexible. Check current temperatures and managing-agency guidance before setting out, and be willing to shorten or cancel activity. The desert setting and documented extreme heat warrant conservative decisions.