Overview
- The National Park Service reports 2.41 inches of rain from September to November, including a record 1.76 inches in November that broke a 1923 mark.
- Water has pooled in Badwater Basin, 282 feet below sea level, creating a lake that in most spots reaches only shoe-top depth and sits about a mile from the Badwater parking lot.
- Park officials say some roads are impassable due to debris and flood damage, though popular areas such as Zabriskie Point, Dante's View, Badwater Basin, and Mesquite Sand Dunes remain accessible.
- Ranger Nichole Andler describes this iteration as smaller than last year and says it could remain visible into early 2026 depending on wind, temperatures, and additional rain.
- An employee at the nearby Death Valley Inn reports a 20% to 30% bump in business since the lake reappeared, reflecting heightened visitor interest.