https://edition.cnn.com/travel/death-valley-national-park-kayaking-temporary-lake/index.html CNN values your feedback 1. How relevant is this ad to you? ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) 2. Did you encounter any technical issues? [ ] Video player was slow to load content [ ] Video content never loaded [ ] Ad froze or did not finish loading [ ] Video content did not start after ad [ ] Audio on ad was too loud [ ] Other issues [ ] Ad never loaded [ ] Ad prevented/slowed the page from loading [ ] Content moved around while ad loaded [ ] Ad was repetitive to ads I've seen previously [ ] Other issues [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Cancel Submit Thank You! Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much appreciated. Close Ad Feedback Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video More Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video Log In My Account * Settings * Topics You Follow * Log Out Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account [ ] Search Log In My Account * Settings * Topics You Follow * Log Out Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account --------------------------------------------------------------------- Destinations Food & Drink News Stay Video Follow CNN Travel * * * --------------------------------------------------------------------- * World + Africa + Americas + Asia + Australia + China + Europe + India + Middle East + United Kingdom * US Politics + SCOTUS + Congress + Facts First + 2024 Elections * Business + Tech + Media + Calculators + Videos * Markets + Pre-markets + After-Hours + Market Movers + Fear & Greed + World Markets + Investing + Markets Now + Before the Bell + Nightcap * Health + Life, But Better + Fitness + Food + Sleep + Mindfulness + Relationships * Entertainment + Movies + Television + Celebrity * Tech + Innovate + Gadget + Foreseeable Future + Mission: Ahead + Upstarts + Work Transformed + Innovative Cities * Style + Arts + Design + Fashion + Architecture + Luxury + Beauty + Video * Travel + Destinations + Food & Drink + Stay + News + Videos * Sports + Football + Tennis + Golf + Motorsport + US Sports + Olympics + Climbing + Esports + Hockey * Watch + Live TV + Digital Studios + CNN Films + HLN + TV Schedule + TV Shows A-Z + CNNVR * Features + As Equals + Call to Earth + Freedom Project + Impact Your World + Inside Africa + 2 Degrees + CNN Heroes + All Features * Weather + Climate + Wildfire Tracker + Video * More + Photos + Longform + Investigations + CNN Profiles + CNN Leadership + CNN Newsletters + Work for CNN Ad Feedback Death Valley National Park now offering a rare opportunity - kayaking By Forrest Brown, CNN 3 minute read Updated 3:59 PM EST, Mon February 19, 2024 Link Copied! Follow: Federal agencies See all topics Amazingly, this is a shot of a kayak being taken out at Badwater Basin in normally dry-as-a-bone Death Valley National Park on February 9. Amazingly, this is a shot of a kayak being taken out at Badwater Basin in normally dry-as-a-bone Death Valley National Park on February 9. Michael Kohler/NPS CNN -- Because of excessive rainfall in California, a temporary lake is giving folks a rare chance to do some actual kayaking of all things in the driest place in the United States, the National Park Service said in a recent news release. The aquatic adventure is taking place at Badwater Basin, which lies at the bottom of Death Valley National Park. It is the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet (86 meters) below sea level. Badwater Basin is normally a dry salt flat, the NPS said. "You might think with no drain to the sea, that Death Valley would always have a lake," said park ranger Abby Wines in the news release. "But this is an extremely rare event. Normally the amount of water flowing in is much less than the evaporation rate." Death Valley National Park averages about 2 inches of rain per year, the NPS said in the release. But the valley floor has gotten 4.9 inches in the past six months. The surrounding mountains have seen even more rain. 'It's a great time to come' Most of the rain came in just two events: 2.2 inches during the remnants of Hurricane Hilary on August 20, 2023, and 1.5 inches during an atmospheric river February 4-7, the release said. "The lake was deep enough to kayak for a few weeks after Hurricane Hilary, but unfortunately people couldn't come enjoy it then," said Wines. "Every road in the park was damaged by flash floods, and it took two months to open the first road into the park. "Now most of the main roads are open, so it's a great time to come visit!" Some secondary and backcountry roads are closed, so be sure to check for the latest weather information before setting out. But adventurers can currently reach Badwater Basin via paved road. death valley tarantula accident Death Valley National Park Tarantula sighting results in car accident in Death Valley National Park Welcome to Lake Manly Informally known as Lake Manly, the fleeting pool is about 6 miles long, 3 miles wide and just 1 foot deep. It might be deep enough to kayak only for a couple weeks, the NPS said. "However, park rangers believe the shallow lake will still create beautiful reflections through April," the release said. Park rangers ask that would-be visitors follow park rules and minimize their impact on the fragile desert environment. "Parking lots may be full. If parking on a road shoulder, drivers should be cautious of soft shoulders and ensure they are fully out of the driving lane. Footprints in the lakeshore can last for years. People should walk on established pathways," the release said. All hotels and most campgrounds in the park are open, the NPS reports. You'll need to provide your own kayak. "Death Valley does not have any kayaks available for rent. If folks are planning on paddling in the park, they will need to bring their own gear. We also recommend bringing some water to wash the salt of your gear or person," the park told CNN Travel on Monday. If you're hoping for a bonanza wildflower bloom from all that rain, you might may be disappointed. There are scatterings of wildflowers in Panamint Valley and Ubehebe Crater, the NPS reports, but no major blooms have been sighted yet. Typical wildflower season is late February through mid-April, the NPS says. And if the wonders of the Earth aren't enough to lure you there, the park plans to hold its annual Death Valley Dark Sky Festival from March 1 to March 3 for some epic star-gazing. Related Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Ad Feedback Ad Feedback [ ] Search Log In My Account * Settings * Topics You Follow * Log Out Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account --------------------------------------------------------------------- Live TV Listen Watch --------------------------------------------------------------------- * World + Africa + Americas + Asia + Australia + China + Europe + India + Middle East + United Kingdom * US Politics + SCOTUS + Congress + Facts First + 2024 Elections * Business + Markets + Tech + Media + Calculators + Videos * Health + Life, But Better + Fitness + Food + Sleep + Mindfulness + Relationships * Entertainment + Movies + Television + Celebrity * Tech + Innovate + Gadget + Foreseeable Future + Mission: Ahead + Upstarts + Work Transformed + Innovative Cities * Style + Arts + Design + Fashion + Architecture + Luxury + Beauty + Video * Travel + Destinations + Food & Drink + Stay + News + Videos * Sports + Football + Tennis + Golf + Motorsport + US Sports + Olympics + Climbing + Esports + Hockey * Watch + Live TV + Digital Studios + CNN Films + HLN + TV Schedule + TV Shows A-Z + CNNVR * Features + As Equals + Call to Earth + Freedom Project + Impact Your World + Inside Africa + 2 Degrees + CNN Heroes + All Features * Weather + Climate + Wildfire Tracker + Video * More + Photos + Longform + Investigations + CNN Profiles + CNN Leadership + CNN Newsletters + Work for CNN --------------------------------------------------------------------- Watch Listen Live TV Follow CNN Travel * * * Log In My Account * Settings * Topics You Follow * Log Out Your CNN account Log in to your CNN account --------------------------------------------------------------------- Terms of Use Privacy Policy Ad Choices Accessibility & CC About Newsletters Transcripts (c) 2024 Cable News Network. A Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All Rights Reserved. CNN Sans (tm) & (c) 2016 Cable News Network.