Death Valley: Saline Valley Warm Springs Campground Partially Reopens After Fire

Good news if you're planning a trip out to the remote corners of Death Valley. The National Park Service has reopened part of Saline Valley Warm Springs Campground. The reopening took effect on September 17, 2026, following a fire that had burned through the area.

This campground makes you work for it. It sits in Saline Valley, one of the most isolated stretches of the park, known for its hot springs out in the open desert. Getting there means hours of rough dirt road and a vehicle that's genuinely up to it. If you had this spot on your route, the way in is partly open again, and that really changes how you plan your trip.

One important caution here. The reopening only covers a portion of the site. The burned area at Lower Springs stays closed to the public by order of the Death Valley National Park superintendent. In other words, some of the facilities aren't accessible, and entry there is prohibited, not just discouraged. Follow the signs on the ground. These closures protect both visitors and land that the fire left fragile.

Here's our advice before you head out. Check the exact status of the roads and the springs when you go, because things could still shift over the coming weeks. Bring water, fuel, and a backup plan, since Saline Valley doesn't forgive improvisation. Don't count on any cell service once you're out on the dirt road.

To place this area in the context of the whole park and plan out the rest of your itinerary, keep our Death Valley park guide handy. And if you're putting together a bigger loop through the West, this spot fits nicely into our road trip route that runs through the park. It's an easy way to slot Death Valley in between two stops without giving up the rest.