Furnace Creek Airport (DTH)

Furnace Creek Airport (L06) serves as an extraordinary general aviation gateway to Death Valley National Park in California, located 0.75 miles west of Furnace Creek within the boundaries of one of Earth's most extreme desert environments. The airport covers 40 acres with a single runway positioned at 282 feet below sea level in North America's lowest, hottest, and driest location, where the world record air temperature of 134°F was recorded on July 10, 1913, and ground temperatures have reached 201°F. The facility provides basic terminal services and aircraft parking for private pilots, charter operations, and specialized desert aviation tours accessing Death Valley National Park's mesmerizing badlands, salt flats, and geological formations spanning the vast Mojave Desert landscape. While no commercial airlines operate from the airport, it serves as a unique and memorable aviation experience for pilots and passengers seeking direct access to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, and the park's spectacular desert wilderness. Operational considerations include extreme heat management procedures, aircraft performance calculations for desert conditions and high density altitude effects, and coordination with Death Valley National Park services for visitor transportation and emergency operations. The airport provides an unparalleled opportunity for aviation enthusiasts to experience landing in one of the world's most challenging environments, offering access to scientific research activities, photography expeditions, and adventure tourism in this remarkable desert ecosystem that attracts visitors from around the globe seeking to experience Earth's most extreme terrestrial conditions.