Death Valley National Park Wildflowers - spring wildflower park information

Death Valley National Park Wildflowers

Death Valley National Park wildflowers start as soon as you enter the park on highway 190. You can't see the extent of the wildflowers from the road, so park, get out, and walk over the gravel berm. The berm was built to redirect floodwaters away from the road, which in turn may have stirred up the seeds, therefore producing a beautiful hidden treat for the senses. Along with the wildflowers come droves of people to see these wildflowers. Not every spring produces an abundance of wildflowers, but when it does people want to witness it. If you have ever been to Death Valley any other time of the year then it is highly advisable to visit the park again to see this breathtaking contrast.

Death Valley National Park is 3.4 million acres and the secret to this park is to get out and walk. The park rangers encourage you to walk into the fields of wildflowers. This way you can see dozens of species of flowers intermixed with the more obvious ones. If you really want to identify each of the flowers you are witnessing then buy the color brochure they sell at the visitor center bookstore. Park rangers also provide wildflower walks as well.

Desert Gold is the most abundant of the wildflowers in Death Valley.

To make the desert of Death Valley bloom it needs fall and winter soaking rains, not floods or drizzles. Only when soaked with the right amount of rain or eaten by a specific kind of bird or insect, the seeds are washed from their special thick or waxy coating and start to bloom. The hardiest seeds can lie in wait for 10 to 20 years or more. From 282 feet below sea level at Badwater to the Sand Dunes to the 11,049-foot summit of Telescope Peak, hundreds of different wildflowers blanket Death Valley's landscape.

Click any picture to see a bigger version.

Most of the wildflowers don't last too long, especially if it gets hot quickly. A few varieties will bloom, produce seeds, and start to fade in only two days. The brown-eyed evening primrose will bloom for one night only and start making seeds in a matter of hours. The Desert Gold is the most abundant flower seen throughout Death Valley National Park. The purple blossoms of the Phacelia's, also called scorpionweed, can produce a skin rash similar to poison oak; therefore taking pictures only is the smartest action plan and that way everybody enjoys the color.

There are plenty of activities to do if you are not interested in driving the park to see the wildflowers. Furnace Creek Ranch has a gift store, restaurants, museum, and a very, very large swimming pool. Even if you are not staying at Furance Creek Ranch you can still swim. All you need to do is get a pool pass for the day. The pool at Furnace Creek Ranch is a mineral pool, and that means no chlorine, just clean natural spring water coming up out of the desert floor. Right next to the pool is a large grassy area with some shade trees to relax by or kick the ball around with some friends.

Jason's thoughts - March, the time of year made a huge difference in our hiking fun. We were able to walk for miles off the regular trails, laughing and pointing things out like strange cactus formations, special flower blooms, wierd rocks, and more. It never got hot and the quiet breeze and great long distance views only the desert can provide gave us the peace and quiet we sought.
Kelly's thoughts - It is not very often you are in the right place at the right time, so I am glad that I was able to take advantage of this opportunity. I'm sure the look on my face when I saw the all the yellow flowers trailing for miles was like a kids smile when they get their way. Thank you Jason. The two things that made my day were seeing the miles of flowers and the bags of dates from China Ranch we bought that were on sale in the gift shop.

Travel Info - From Las Vegas, take state Highway 160 through Pahrump and turn left on Bell Vista Road. Continue to Death Valley Junction, turn right on California Route 127 for about 1,000 feet, and then turn left on California Highway 190.
Map of Death Valley National Park - Death Valley National Park Wildflowers.

Click for more information on the Sand Dunes, Zabriskie Point, and Salt Creek.
Click for information on backcountry camping, driving, and hiking.
Click for information on RV camping.

 
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