Death Valley

A man was rappelling by himself when he fell 30 feet. Officials believe he could have been saved if lifesaving crews had reached him sooner.

This central California park is one of the hottest, driest, and lowest places in the country. It's also one of the most beautiful—a place where sculptural canyons, undulating sand dunes, abundant wildlife, and a luminous sky abound.

Public-health crises are greatly helped by accurate numbers. Why can’t we get a true count of heat deaths?

Yellowstone and Death Valley. Now Joshua Tree. What the hell is going on in our national parks?

If you’re willing to brave the cold, winter can be one of the best seasons to visit America’s best idea

Another fatality in Death Valley, ancient ski found in Norway, and Heather Hansman’s book release

Load up the car to see snow-covered volcanoes, cool desert landscapes, and empty beaches without any of summer's big crowds

These 11 beloved destinations make for ideal cold-weather trips, from soaking in hot springs at Big Bend to cross-country skiing at Rocky Mountain

Ken Layne left an influential career in digital media to create 'Desert Oracle,' a cult-favorite radio show and print periodical based in Joshua Tree that explores everything from the political to the paranormal. Now it's being released as a book.

Go to this massive California destination for the hiking, but stay for its spectacularly colorful early mornings. It's our 62 Parks Traveler's third stop on her journey to visit every U.S. national park in a year.

The jet was flying through the famous Star Wars Canyon when it went down. The NPS says some visitors may have been injured.

Photographer Ian Tuttle visited Death Valley last week and asked tourists and locals about how they see the desert park faring a month into the government shutdown

How to turn Tinseltown into a mountain town

Hand-picked by Kate Siber, author of the new children's book 'National Parks of the USA'

A semi-detailed list of everything we know (and we still have plenty of questions) about possible public land closures starting tomorrow if the lights go out for the feds

Uberman, a SoCal ultra-triathlon with a 21-mile swim, a 400-mile bike ride, and a 135-mile run, might be the most demanding challenge of its kind. But in the eyes of its founder, the physical goal is secondary to the mental one.

Can you still expect to have a comfortable summertime camping trip in the lower 48? Absolutely, but you probably need to upgrade your approach to dealing with the heat.

Matt MacIsaac has been a motor vehicle operator on the maintenance staff at Death Valley National Park for 15 years. In summer, he works in temperatures exceeding 120 degrees. For the unprepared, the heat can be deadly. We asked MacIsaac how he survives—and stays hydrated—working outside in the hottest place in America.

Belgian backpacker Louis-Philippe Loncke has taken down Death Valley and just abandoned his attempt to thru-hike Australia’s Simpson Desert. But he’s not done yet.

Scott Swaney, a former oilman and current badass a couple years shy of 70, has more first descents in Death Valley National Park than anyone on earth. He spent the past decade looking for everything from tight canyons to massive drop-offs and is believed to have led or been involved with 203 of the 258 first descents in the park. Swaney has burned through partners who couldn’t stand the heat and hard labor of exploring his hellish playground, but he continues to recruit new ones, eager to keep exploring. This spring, photographer Ian Tuttle, who had never canyoneered, stuffed his camera—a film Mamiya 645 AFDii—into a backpack and followed along.

Who needs headlamps? From a bioluminescent bay in Puerto Rico to a Japanese trail lined with glowing mushrooms, these ten hikes are at their best when it's dark out. Pack your camera (leave the flash at home) and prepare to be amazed.