Wildrose Campground

Overview

About Wildrose Campground

If you want Death Valley camping without the blast-furnace heat, Wildrose sits around 4,100 feet on the flank of the Panamints and feels like a different world—cooler, quieter, and dotted with desert hills instead of salt flats. It’s free, first‑come, and simple: water spigots, tables, fire rings, and vault toilets. The tradeoff is remoteness and minimal services, but the payoff is star‑studded skies and sunrise/sunset light on the ridgelines.

Why stop

Free, first‑come sites with potable water, picnic tables, and fire rings
Cooler high‑elevation setting with big views and dark‑sky stargazing
Great base for nearby hikes to Wildrose Peak, Telescope Peak, and the Charcoal Kilns

Heads up

No flush toilets or dump station; no hookups
Can be very windy with little natural shade
Remote with a long, curvy drive and often limited/no cell service

Map

Where it is

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Full map

CampgroundWildrose Campground36.26579, -117.18818

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Local know-how

Tips for visiting Wildrose Campground

Arrive by early afternoon; the 23 free first‑come sites fill toward evening.
Bring all food, water containers, and fuel—services are a long drive away.
Stake and guy‑out tents; afternoon and nighttime winds can be fierce.
Pack a wash basin and do dishes at your site, not at the spigots.
Check current status and any advisories before you go at [nps.gov](https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/wildrose-campground.htm).

Plan your stop

Before you go

Best time to visit

Spring and fall are the sweet spot for temps; winter can bring cold nights at this elevation. In summer, it’s often much cooler here than on the valley floor, which is a lifesaver. For snagging a site, arrive by early afternoon—these free spots get “coveted” toward evening. Photographers: sunrise and sunset paint the surrounding ridges beautifully, and nights are prime for astrophotography.

Campsites & Amenities

There are 23 first‑come sites spread along a hillside loop. Expect hard gravel pads, a picnic table, and a fire ring at each site. You’ll find potable water via spigots, and vault toilets serve the campground. There’s no dump station and no hookups, so plan accordingly.

3 active Death Valley alerts

ClosurePark roads closed or hazardousPlan around multiple closed roads and use extra caution on damaged routes. - Paved roads: North Highway and Beatty Cut-off are closed due to flooding and debris from the October 22 storm.Official details
ClosureSaline Valley Lower Springs closed after wildfireLower Springs at Saline Valley Warm Springs remains closed after the September 15 wildfire; stay out because the fire left safety hazards, including potential hazardous chemicals.Official details

See all 3 alerts

A park ranger sits on a dash-mounted phone, talking, as Parkwolf’s Tour Guide plays “Army Cutworm Moths: A Grizzly Bear Buffet” on Grand Loop Road below Dunraven Pass in Yellowstone — Parkwolf Tour GuideThe highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.

Death Valley Tour Guide

Your drive to Wildrose Campground, narrated.

Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Death Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.

See the Death Valley audio tour

Recorded for this place

Wildrose Campground: A Cooler Camping Spot

Listen

“You're now passing the turn for Wildrose Campground.”

Plays as you drive up to Wildrose Campground in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.

More about Wildrose Campground

Setting & NearbyWildrose lives in Wildrose Canyon near the Panamint Range, with wide desert views and easy…

Wildrose lives in Wildrose Canyon near the Panamint Range, with wide desert views and easy access up the road to the historic Charcoal Kilns and the trailheads for Wildrose Peak and Telescope Peak. It’s a solid staging spot if you’re here to hike the high country rather than bake on the valley floor.

What It Feels LikeThe vibe is laid‑back and spaced‑out compared to the busier Furnace Creek area.

The vibe is laid‑back and spaced‑out compared to the busier Furnace Creek area. It’s wind‑prone, especially in the afternoons and at night, and there’s little natural shade—bring your own. On clear nights, the sky shows off in a big way.

WildlifeYou may hear or see wild burros roaming the area; give them space and keep food locked down.

You may hear or see wild burros roaming the area; give them space and keep food locked down. Smaller desert residents—mice, lizards, birds—are common around camp. Stay aware around structures and pack out trash to avoid attracting critters.

Know Before You GoIt’s a long, curvy climb to get here; from Stovepipe Wells it’s roughly 31 miles and typically…

It’s a long, curvy climb to get here; from Stovepipe Wells it’s roughly 31 miles and typically 45–60 minutes. Plan to arrive in daylight.
No flush toilets, no dump station, no hookups. Bring a wash basin for dishes and don’t wash at the spigots.
Winds can be strong—stake tents deeply and secure gear.
Services are far away, so stock up on food, water containers, and fuel before you come.
Don’t collect firewood; bring your own and follow fire rules.

Wildlife

Wildlife in Death Valley

All Death Valley wildlife maps

71 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

101 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map

458 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map

28 sightingsFeral BurroMost seen around 5 PMSighting map

30 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

62 sightingsKit FoxMost seen around 7 PMSighting map

Sighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.