The National Park Service has reopened Lower Wildrose Road in Death Valley National Park after nearly three years of closure following catastrophic flood damage. The narrow, unpaved road is restricted to vehicles shorter than 25 feet.
The road, also known as Trona-Wildrose Road, provides access to high-elevation areas of the park and was severely damaged in August of 2023 when the remnants of Hurricane Hilary triggered devastating flash floods. The storm destroyed much of the road’s asphalt and carved a nine-foot-deep drop across the roadway.
Interim repairs have made travel possible, though drivers can still see remnants of the former pavement in some sections. The road, which was previously paved, has reopened in unpaved condition. Drivers are advised to slow down, use caution when passing oncoming vehicles, and watch for soft shoulders.
The NPS is still working to repair and reopen additional roads damaged by major flooding events in 2022, 2023, and 2025. Stairs at the Wildrose Station picnic area remain unsafe due to flood erosion and have not yet been addressed.
The park plans additional stabilization work on Lower Wildrose Road in the coming years. The road will remain unpaved, but improvements are planned to reduce the impact of future flood events. Visitors should check current conditions and closures at nps.gov/deva before heading out.
