Death Valley National Park Reopens Salt Creek Boardwalk After Flood Damage

Visitors to Death Valley National Park can once again stroll the Salt Creek Boardwalk, three and a half years after flash flooding destroyed the popular, wheelchair-accessible trail.

A powerful storm in August 2022 washed away the boardwalk, interpretive signs, and vault toilet. The remnants of Hurricane Hilary in August 2023 further damaged the road and parking lot. Park officials announced this week that reconstruction is now complete, restoring public access to one of the park’s most distinctive ecosystems.

The recovery project included rebuilding the boardwalk, improving the parking area and trailhead, installing new vault toilets, removing debris, and conducting flood cleanup. Engineers from the National Park Service and the Federal Highway Administration designed the new facilities to better withstand future storms. Some boardwalk footings extend as deep as 20 feet, and the parking area has been armored to protect against high water events.

Officials said the design and construction process required careful environmental review and coordination among multiple agencies to protect the fragile habitat of the Salt Creek pupfish, a small desert fish found only in this harsh environment.

Five pupfish species or subspecies inhabit Death Valley National Park. Their ancestors once swam in large freshwater lakes that covered the region during the last Ice Age. As ancient Lake Manly receded, isolated populations adapted to shrinking desert waterways. Today, Salt Creek pupfish survive in waters that can be saltier than the ocean. During the spring breeding season, males display vivid coloration and aggressively defend territories to attract females.

New interpretive signs explaining the pupfish’s ecology and history are expected to be installed in the coming months.