News Release
![Three photos of the same view of Badwater Road . Photo on left shows just the top of a speed limit sign sticking out of gravel. The middle photo shows one lane plowed through gravel. The photo on right shows the road fully cleared.](/deva/learn/news/images/Badwater-Road-3-stages-of-clearing.jpg)
National Park Service & Federal Highway Administration
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Contact: Abby Wines
Contact: Jennette Jurado
DEATH VALLEY, Calif. – The southeast entrance to Death Valley National Park is now open. Badwater Road provides direct access from Shoshone, CA to the temporary lake at Badwater Basin.Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads program (ERFO) funded emergency repairs of Badwater Road. National Park Service (NPS) employees cleared debris off the northern end of Badwater Road and contractors cleared the southern end.
Only emergency repairs have been completed. Drivers should use extra caution park-wide due to loose gravel. The park’s primary viewpoints, hikes, campgrounds, and lodging are open via CA-190, Badwater Road, Dantes View Road, and Daylight Pass.
Many of the park’s secondary roads and backcountry areas remain closed. NPS, FHWA, Caltrans, and Inyo County continue to repair flood damage.
During the remnants of Hurricane Hilary on August 20, the park received over 2 inches of rain in one day, which is more than the park typically sees in an entire year. Extensive flooding caused catastrophic damage to roads and trails throughout the park.
Check the park’s website for current conditions and closures: nps.gov/deva.
![Photo of a road partially covered by sand and gravel. Just the top of a white speed limit sign is sticking out of the debris on the right side of the road.](/deva/learn/news/images/Badwater-Road-speed-limit-sign-buried-in-sand-NPS-photo-by-AJ-Becraft-2023-09-04_2.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
NPS photo taken on 9/4/2023 by AJ Becraft
![One lane plowed through brown dirt covering a desert road.](/deva/learn/news/images/Badwater-Road-speed-limit-sign-FHWA-photo-single-lane-cleared.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
Federal Highway Administration
![Desert road and speed limit sign with no dirt on the road.](/deva/learn/news/images/Badwater-Road-speed-limit-sign-fully-cleared-FHWA-photo.jpg?maxwidth=1300&maxheight=1300&autorotate=false)
Federal Highway Administration
Last updated: November 20, 2023