Brutal heat doesn't keep visitors from Death Valley and other parks. Here's what to know.

Warnings to Death Valley summer visitors are ominous: Expect high temperatures of 100°F to 130°F. Minimize time outside in heat. Do not hike after 10 a.m. Drink plenty of water. Travel prepared to survive; cellphones do not work in most of the park.

This advice is given to those who venture into the 3.4-million-acre Death Valley National Park, the largest American national park outside Alaska, the National Park Service says.

Protect yourself: Symptoms of heatstroke and heat exhaustion.

But the heat wave hitting now hasn't stopped visitors from flocking to Death Valley, the Guardian reports.

Though Death Valley, the hottest, driest and lowest national park, is the best-known landscape for extreme heat, some of our Western national parks are facing temperatures that will challenge visitors and rangers alike this summer.

Which national parks are the hottest?

Common summer temperatures in Western national parks:

Death Valley may break 130 degrees during the July Fourth holiday week. That has happened before, in 2020 and 2021, but the park's Furnace Creek area has the world's highest air temperature of 134 degrees, recorded on July 10, 1913, according to the National Park Service. 

How hot are the Grand Canyon and other parks?

Other Western national parks are reporting high temperatures:

• Joshua Tree: Rangers are telling visitors to take extra precautions because of high temperatures at the park, which can reach 120 degrees.
• Grand Canyon: A hiker collapsed and died on a trail in temperatures topping 90 degrees on June 29.
• Big Bend: An extreme heat warning is in effect with temperatures of more than 100 expected.
• Saguaro: The park service issued an excessive heat watch with temperatures forecast to hit 108 to 113 degrees.
• Arches: The park service issued an extreme heat warning with daily high temperatures nearing 100.
• Zion: The park recorded multiple days of more than 100 degrees in June, with high temperatures predicted to persist, the St. George News reported.

How should I stay safe in the heat?

When visitors are outdoors in the heat, the park service has these recommendations:

National parks shut down in severe weather events, such as heavy snow or extreme rain, but they don't close for hot temperatures. Instead, park rangers ask visitors to be aware of weather conditions, pay attention to advisories, and protect themselves for hiking or other activities. But park visitors still die of heat every year. 

Source: USA TODAY Network reporting and research; National Park Service; Reuters