When I set out on an adventure, I hope to see things I have never seen before. My first time to Death Valley National Park gave me just that. The Death Valley National Park Superbloom Event is one of those amazing things that only happens once in a decade. Don’t get me wrong, the flowers bloom every spring like in most places. But the spectacular wildflower “superbloom” that is going on this year is nothing short of amazing. Death Valley National Park is located in California about an hour and a half from Las Vegas Nevada.
How To Get There
Whether you take the north highway or the south highway, you will want to be prepared for a few traffic jams from park visitors. Like most national parks, people drive slow in the hopes of seeing what they came to see. In Yellowstone National Park, visitors want to see the wildlife, but in Death Valley, they want to see the superbloom.
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High To Low
You will be driving from higher elevations to below sea level. The low-elevation flowers are some of the most beautiful flowers in the area and during the rare Death Valley National Park superbloom event, they are spectacular.
This year’s show definitely lived up to its name with the strong wildflower year they are having.
When to go to Death Valley
Early spring is the best time to go to Death Valley for the mild temperatures. But if you go after St. Patrick’s Day, be prepared for that late-spring heat, it will hit you around 1 pm in the afternoon, so dress in layers because it is still cold in the mornings, but the afternoons can be very hot.
For Peak Bloom and Superbloom
For the peak of the bloom, you want to visit throughout the month of March and closer to late March, possibly into early April. The Superbloom this year is because the annual average rainfall was higher than usual. The Death Valley National Park Superbloom occurs when a few things like rare, well-timed rainfall, mild temperatures, and dormant seed banks align. This triggers a massive, short-lived wildflower display that is nothing short of spectacular.
What You Will See
There are lots of flowers to be seen during the Death Valley National Park Superbloom event. The most common flowers are the yellow flowers that you will see pretty much everywhere. They are called the Desert Gold and are the star of the show. In some places they look like a sea of gold over some of the harshest landscapes. Other flowers that you may see are the little white flowers called Gravel Ghost. They aren’t as abundant as the rest, so it is a sweet surprise when you come across them. The landscape in Death Valley will be covered by around 8 different flowers, my favorite were the Caltha-leaf Phacelia. During the day they look purple, but as the sun starts to set, they almost have a dark pink look to them.
What to Expect
- Fields of wildflowers – Bring a tripod for optimal camera shots.
- Hot weather – Dress in layers, it will get very hot in the afternoons.
- Desert wildflowers – They are everywhere, but you are in the desert, so be careful where you step and stay on the trails.
- Zabriskie Point – Noted as the best place to catch a sunrise or sunset.
The Artist’s Palatte
This drivable trail is where you will see beautiful colors of various shades on the side of the mountains throughout the route.
Badwater Basin
It is the lowest spot in North America. It sits at 282 feet below sea level. There is a boardwalk that takes you out to the lake where you can walk on the salt-filled basin that is a spring-fed pool with salt crust formations. Mt. Whitney, the highest point in North America, can be seen in the background. The salt flats in Badwater Basin cover almost 200 square miles and are composed of sodium chloride (table salt), calcite, gypsum, and borax.
Great Sunsets at Badwater Basin
Badwater Basin was the site of Lake Manly, a large ancient inland lake that evaporated tens of thousands of years before it was discovered. The lake had no outlet, leading to the accumulation of sediment and salt over time. When the lake evaporated, it left behind concentrated salt deposits. Now, fascinating geometric salt polygons form on the flats as groundwater rises up through these deposits and evaporate.
Be sure to stop and visit the National Park officials at the park entrance for maps, and more information about this beautiful National Park.
Where to stop for provisions
These fill up stations and general stores are essential for fueling your vehicle. You can lose track of how much fuel you have when exploring the park, especially if you plan to visit iconic sites like Badwater Basin and Zabriskie Point.
Furnace Creek Visitor Center has a refrigerator section with drink available for purchase. Just across the street is the Furnace Creek Gas Station, it is one of three places to get fuel inside the park.
Panamint Springs Resort – Provides gasoline and diesel, operating from 8 AM to 8 PM. It has a general store on site.
Stovepipe Wells Village: Operates from 7 AM to 9 PM, offering the best gas prices within the park. It also has a general store and food options.
The Ranch at the Oasis
For a lunch or dinner, I recommend one of these restaurants. For a yummy treat be sure to stop at the ice cream shop located inside the Ranch at the Oasis Resort as well. Even if you don’t stay at the Ranch at the Oasis, these restaurants are a perfect place to grab a bite, cool off, or play a round of golf. Before to check ahead for hours and menus.
The Last Kind Words Saloon is only open in the evenings, and reservations are recommended. The menu offers a wide selection of BBQ, Seafood, Burgers, and Pasta dishes.
Wild Rose Tavern faces the golf course and offers flatbreads, salads, a full bar and more.
The General Store at The Ranch at Oasis offers a lot of make ready meals, drinks, and snacks.
1849 Restaurant offers a buffet and is perfect for lunch.
The Ice Cream Parlor offers burgers, hot dogs, fries, and a lot of ice cream selections.
Best Places To Stay
Outside The Park
Shoshone is a village located about an hour outside the park. We stayed at the rustic and adorable hotel, the Shoshone Inn. The Crowbar Cafe & Saloon is a great place to grab breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There is also a gas station market that stays open until 8:30pm. Shoshone was founded as a railroad stop on the Tonopah and Tidewater line in 1909.The town then grew into a regional stop for people traveling into the southern Death Valley area.
If you want a fun adventure, head to China Ranch where you will find a date farm and bakery just south of Death Valley. Take the short hike on China Ranch Trail along Willow Creek to Amargosa River. There are a few options for this trail, I suggest the Slot Canyon trail, it makes you earn that date shake they offer at the China Ranch Date Farm. I also recommend this stop if you are a bird watcher, there is no shortage of birds at China Ranch.
