Death Valley's Lake Manly is a lake again!
Death Valley, one of my favorite National Parks, is also my favorite day drive out of Las Vegas (except in the summer).
It is also one of the most extreme geographic anomalies we have in the United States, if not the world. It is a land of record-breaking heat and punishing drought, where the lowest point in North America sits hundreds of feet below sea level.
Badwater Basin, one of the most popular stopping points in the park, is also the lowest point in the western hemisphere. The basin is dry, covered and crusted with silt and sediment from its millions of years as a series of basins, lakes, and oceanic inlets.
The entire basin is named Lake Manly. The lake was named in honor of William Lewis Manly, who rescued his traveling party stranded in Death Valley in 1849. They later called a potential northern lake for his Daeth Valley companion, John Rogers. The name “Lake Manly” was coined in 1932
After decades of being just a flat slate of slat and silt, the last three out of four years, it, like the rest of Death Valley, has had to deal with record rainfalls and flash flooding. Closing this popular stop for weeks, sometimes months.
For about a month, major sections of the valley were closed for cleanup. Thankfully, access is rapidly improving: Badwater Basin, which is once again a shallow lake, has been open for about a week. Its otherworldly neighbor, the Devil’s Golf Course, reopened just yesterday.
However, scenic routes like Artist’s Palette Drive remain closed for the foreseeable future while the National Park Service makes necessary repairs. Always check the NPS website for the latest road status immediately before your visit.
Ok, it doesn't always happen, actually, except for the last five years, it usually doesn’t occur for decades. So this may be the last time to see it as a lake in our lifetime. (or not)
Desert Safety Still Applies: Despite the water on the valley floor, Death Valley remains an extreme environment. Bring a gallon of water per person per day, pack plenty of high-energy snacks, and fill your gas tank outside the park, as in-park fuel is limited and expensive.
READ THIS: Cell service is unreliable, so download offline maps (like on Google Maps) before you enter the park. And good luck finding an EV charging station. Death Valley is notorious for eating up EV batteries or melting the car entirely!
Your Thoughts?
Mark Anthony
The Vegas Tourist
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P.S. Don’t forget, our Vegas Survival Kit, featuring chargers, cooling gear, and more, is a must-have before your trip. Click here to pack smarter
P.S.S. Have you booked a tour yet? The future you will thank you for saving the hassle! Visit MrMarkTours.com