The Death Valley 49er's annual encampment

The Death Valley '49ers Annual Encampment, held every year over five days in November, is a celebration of the natural and cultural heritage of Death Valley and the surrounding areas. The event, which has been held for over 60 years now, is organized by the Death Valley '49ers, a nonprofit Death Valley preservation group consisting entirely of local volunteers. The '49ers are named for 1849, a key year when Americans moving westward landed in Death Valley and all over California. The hardworking spirit and appreciation for nature that these pioneers had is what the '49ers strive to preserve.

If you attend the Encampment this November, you will find that there are endless activities for you and your family to enjoy. The five-day festival features art shows and auctions, costume contests. fiddle and guitar contests, a gold panning event, gospel singing, horseshoe throwing competitions, singalong hootenanny breakfasts, arts and crafts booths, 4x4 tours, and a celebratory parade. Thousands attend the popular event every year, which is held in Death Valley National Park in eastern California. Death Valley National Park itself is always worth a visit - the 4 million acre park, which straddles the Nevada border, is a veritable biodome of various landscapes, including salt flats, snowy mountains, desert dunes and lush forests. The lowest point below sea level in the US is also located in Death Valley. Much of the park is closed between June and September due to dangerously high temperatures, and summertime visits to Death Valley are not recommended.

Points of Interest

Death Valley National Park in Death Valley CA

Death Valley National Park is the largest tract of park land in the lower 48 states of the US and offers its adventurous explorers a plethora of desert landscapes and beautiful wildflowers.