Overview
- Death Valley logged its wettest fall on record with 2.41 inches of rain, including a record 1.76 inches in November, according to the National Park Service.
- Lake Manly has partially reformed at Badwater Basin, with water in most places described by the NPS as not rising above the tops of your shoes and unsuitable for boating.
- Many park roads are debris-covered or closed, though major viewpoints such as Badwater Basin, Dante's View, Zabriskie Point and Mesquite Sand Dunes remain accessible.
- Ranger Nichole Andler says the pool is smaller than in 2023–2024 and its duration is uncertain, with persistence depending on wind, temperatures and any additional rain.
- Local businesses report a tourism bump, with a Death Valley Inn employee estimating a 20%–30% increase in visitors since the lake reappeared.