If you must go, here’s what to know before visiting Death Valley during extreme heat

A name as ominous as Death Valley isn’t enough to scare tourists and adventure seekers away from experiencing one of the hottest places on Earth — not even during a recent heat wave that caused the death of a motorcyclist.

Temperatures rose above 125 degrees for nine consecutive days starting on the Fourth of July. And while things have slightly cooled down since then, temperatures are expected to climb back up to 125 this weekend. An excessive heat warning is in effect from 10 a.m. Saturday to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Despite the dangerous weather, an estimated 300,000 visitors flock to the area each summer — heat wave or not, according to park ranger Abby Wines. She said the staff receives several calls a week from people who need medical attention, and about 10 “full-blown” search and rescue cases each year.

“People can come to Death Valley even on the hottest days and be completely safe, as long as they respect the heat,” Wines said.

Navigating the heat

The best way to protect yourself while visiting Death Valley is to stay close to air conditioning.

“Travel in a vehicle with air conditioning, travel on paved roads, and only walk less than 10 minutes away from a car, so [you] can come back and have that air conditioned refuge to hide out in,” Wines said.

There are signs all over the area, from the highway to the trailheads, that caution visitors about extreme heat danger. Some warn that you not hike after 10 a.m. and others explain that rescues are not always possible.

A dead shrub in the desert sun.

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Courtesy National Park Service

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Why you might be on your own

Park managers will not put rangers' lives at risk for lengthy search and rescue operations in extreme heat. And in extreme temperatures, helicopters cannot get enough lift to take off and may not be able to help.

The park recommends wearing a hat and sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, and eating salty snacks. It's important to eat small amounts of food scattered throughout the day to balance the loss of electrolyte from sweating, Wines said.

How rescues work 

The vast majority of people who request medical aid in Death Valley do it because they get overheated.

If you’re feeling unwell and are within cell phone range, call 911 for help. But cell phones don’t have coverage in most of the park, Wines said, which can make it difficult to figure out where a patient is and what type of help they need.

“The park has two ambulances, and so as long as we have staff available, which is generally, we'll respond to that person, treat them, release them… or transport them to a hospital,” she said.

Visitors with the Furnace Creek Visitor Center display thermometer.

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Courtesy National Park Service

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The quickest way to get to the closest hospital in Las Vegas would be by helicopter. But the local air ambulance may not be able to fly if it's too hot outside.

“We've found that they tend to decline calls when the air temperature is above 115 degrees, and that's because warm air is thinner than cooler air,” Wines said. “The rotors of the helicopter don't have enough lift to safely land and take off.”

Why is it so hot?

The high summer temperatures are caused primarily by Death Valley’s topography, according to the park. The valley floor is below sea level. As the sun heats up the air, the hot air rises, but is trapped by the mountains around the valley.

During the summer, temperatures at midnight tend to range from 100 to 110 degrees. The coolest hours are between 3 and 5 a.m., when it can get down to 85 degrees. But the park says some nights never drop below 100 degrees.