Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth, regularly reaching temperatures of over 120 degrees F in summer months. With over 3.4 million acres and over 1,000 miles of roads, it’s also the largest national park in the lower 48, making it a great place for motorcycle touring — but only at certain times of year.

On May 23, Death Valley National Park (DVNP) issued a warning ahead of its hottest and most inhospitable season. It urged motorcyclists not to ride in the park from May to September. It warned that once temperatures exceed 99 degrees, the air no longer provides a cooling effect “even while riding at speed.”

Add a helmet, long pants, boots, and a riding jacket to the equation, and it can spell disaster — as it did in July 2024, when temperatures reached a record 128 degrees near Badwater Basin. The heat spike made a group of six motorcyclists ill, killing one of them and sending another by ambulance to a hospital.

“Motorcycle riders are injured or killed due to the extreme conditions every year in Death Valley. Your safety is our priority, and we want you to return home safely so you can ride for the long haul,” Death Valley Superintendent Mike Reynolds said in a press release. “We encourage riders to visit between October and April, when temperatures are significantly cooler and safer for motorcycling.”

Death Valley National Park: Summer Heat Can Be Fatal

The extreme environment of DVNP is compounded by a lack of resources within the park. There is limited shade and water, and vast tracks of uninhabited roads separate rest stops and visitor centers. Cellphone service is limited throughout the park, making it impossible to call for help in many locations.

Medical evacuation is also tricky. DVNP notes that helicopters generally cannot fly safely in temperatures at or above 120 degrees. That means ambulances are often the only way to extract someone suffering from a medical emergency. So if you do fall ill or get hurt, help could be a long way off.

As Reynolds alluded to, motorcyclists are some of the most at-risk of any park visitors. The exposure to the elements and the safety equipment required for riding make them acutely vulnerable to the heat.

Despite the park’s warning not to ride in DVNP between May and September, it included a handful of tips for staying safe if motorcyclists choose to do so anyway. DVNP recommended checking for active park alerts, having your route mapped ahead of time, riding during cooler times of day, taking breaks (with air conditioning if possible), staying hydrated, slowing down on curves, and riding in the center of the lane.

To learn more about heat safety, check out DVNP’s guide to Beat the Heat.