Flash flooding temporarily trapped Death Valley visitors, rangers

(Facebook/Death Valley National Park)

(Facebook/Death Valley National Park)

Scotty‘s Castle at Death Valley National Park in California as seen in this 2013 photo. (Henry Brean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A ribbon of salt left behind by evaporation snakes through the hills outside the tiny town of Tecopa, Calif., at the eastern edge of Death Valley National Park. (Henry Brean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

A ribbon of salt left behind by evaporation snakes through the hills outside the tiny town of Tecopa, Calif., at the eastern edge of Death Valley National Park. (Henry Brean/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

(Facebook/Death Valley National Park)

Twenty-three Death Valley National Park visitors and rangers were trapped overnight Monday in flash flooding that damaged several buildings at the Death Valley Scotty Historic District, the National Park Service said Tuesday.

No one was injured and trapped visitors, who were at nearby campground and crater, were able to leave the park Monday afternoon, the park service said. The park is about 180 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Scotty’s Castle, a popular tourist attraction, was not damaged, but four other buildings were impacted by mud and debris, the park service said. It could be months before the district reopens to the public.

The district, which is managed by the park service, was being checked by preservation experts.

The flooding also closed Grapevine Canyon, washed out Scotty’s Castle Road and knocked down several power poles, the park service said.

Contact Ricardo Torres at rtorres@reviewjournal.com and 702-383-0381. Find him on Twitter: @rickytwrites