NPS - National Park Service

12/27/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 12/27/2024 17:14

Emigrant Canyon Road to Close for Repairs

News Release Date:
December 27, 2024

Contact: Death Valley NP News

Contact: Abby Wines, 760-786-3221

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. - Death Valley National Park's Emigrant Canyon Road will close starting January 6 for road repairs. There will be no road access to Wildrose until early March 2025.

"This construction includes armoring to protect the road from flash floods. Climate change is increasing the frequency of severe floods," said Superintendent Mike Reynolds. "Unfortunately, we need to close the road now so the work can happen."

The remnants of Hurricane Hilary caused severe flash flooding in August 2023. Flooding extensively damaged Emigrant Canyon Road, leaving drop-offs up to six feet deep where pavement used to be.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) hired a contractor to fill in missing road segments with aggregate and cold patch asphalt. This allowed the Emigrant Canyon Road to temporarily reopen in spring 2024.

Starting January 6, a second FHWA contract will bury concrete barriers and rock-filled gabions in the road shoulders. These structures will protect the most vulnerable sections of the road from future flash floods.

The work is funded by FHWA Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads program and by the National Park Service's Disaster Supplemental funding.

Emigrant Canyon Road will be closed during construction. Since Lower Wildrose Road is also closed due to flood damage, this will mean there is no road access to Wildrose Campground, Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, Wildrose Peak Trail, Thorndike Campground, Mahogany Flat Campground, or Telescope Peak Trail until early March 2025.