Death Valley’s Wildrose Area Closed Due to Emigrant Canyon Road Repairs

Death Valley National Park officials announced that Emigrant Canyon Road will close on January 6 for critical repairs and will remain inaccessible until at least early March 2025, cutting off road access to the entire Wildrose area.

The project is designed to protect the road from increasingly severe flash floods that have plagued the park in recent years, including those caused by the remnants of Hurricane Hilary in August 2023. That storm left some sections of Emigrant Canyon Road washed out with drop-offs up to six feet deep where pavement once existed.

The National Park Service is collaborating with the Federal Highway Administration on the improvements, which will involve installing concrete barriers and rock-filled gabions underneath the road shoulders. This work comes on the heels of temporary fixes carried out in spring 2024 to fill in road segments with aggregate and cold patch asphalt.

Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds emphasized the urgency of moving forward with these more robust reinforcements, noting that climate change has led to more frequent and severe flood events.

“This construction includes armoring to protect the road from flash floods,” he said in a press release. “Climate change is increasing the frequency of severe floods. Unfortunately, we need to close the road now so the work can happen.”

With Emigrant Canyon Road closed and Lower Wildrose Road already shut down due to flood damage, there will be no vehicle access to Wildrose Campground, Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, Wildrose Peak Trail, Thorndike Campground, Mahogany Flat Campground, or the Telescope Peak Trail for the duration of the construction period.

These sites are popular for their cooler high-elevation climate and their unique features, such as the historic beehive-shaped Wildrose Charcoal Kilns built in 1877 to produce fuel for silver and lead smelting operations. Several hiking opportunities, including the Wildrose Peak and Telescope Peak trails, likewise draw outdoor enthusiasts seeking stunning panoramic vistas and a cooler escape from Death Valley’s lower elevations.

The announced closure adds to a series of repair and restoration efforts underway throughout Death Valley National Park, following repeated heavy flood damage since late 2023. Although main routes like Highway 190 remain open, park officials advise visitors to check current conditions before traveling, as weather or additional road damage could delay construction timelines or force further closures.

Crews plan to complete the installations and reopen Emigrant Canyon Road by early March 2025, but the project’s progress will depend on weather conditions and contractor availability.

This work is funded in part by the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads program, as well as the National Park Service’s Disaster Supplemental funding. For now, hikers and campers who frequent Wildrose will need to make alternate plans. Those planning a trip to Death Valley should consult the National Park Service website or call the park’s visitor center for real-time conditions.

Death Valley still offers vast deserts, salt flats, canyons, and other geologically remarkable areas for exploration, and park rangers encourage visitors to take advantage of open trails and viewpoints while reconstruction efforts are underway.