Jail Canyon in Death Valley National Park is closed after a 40-acre illegal marijuana crop was discovered late last week. Park rangers found the 40-acre grow site in the rarely visited canyon located about 115 miles from Las Vegas. The illegal grow is one of hundreds that authorities have found in Death Valley over the last decade. We want to remind people growing weed in wilderness areas isn’t a harmless crime. Illegal marijuana crops on National Parks can significantly damage and destroy public land by introducing pesticides, land clearing, poaching and waterway modifications.
Death Valley National Park PRESS RELEASE:
Do you notice anything unusual about this image taken from an overflight of Death Valley’s remote Jail Canyon? The perfectly aligned “shrubs” are part of a recently discovered illegal marijuana grow approximately 40 acres in size. Marijuana grow sites such as this significantly damage and destroy public land by introducing pesticides, land clearing, poaching and waterway modifications. Jail Canyon is currently closed to visitors due to safety concerns. Notice illegal activity in the park? Leave the location immediately and inform a ranger or call the National Park Service tip line: 888-653-0009.
Photo: Aerial photograph looking straight down on a ribbon of bright green vegetation flanked by gray canyon slopes. A wide, lighter-green area has evenly-spaced green dots.
