Death Valley Off-Road Adventures

The wildflowers in the southern end of the park are blowing up.

http://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/wildflower-update-2016.htm

When I was there in December, it was just spark before the giant flame.

https://youtu.be/LJbcWFTBn08

 

I heard about this. We're supposed to go out the first week in March, and now I'm worried that the whole valley is going to be full of hippie-dippy yahoos with their Priuses and their yappy dogs trying to take pictures of the damn flowers.

 

Im heading there for a week at the end of march. Have about 6 days planned of trails, mines, and ghost towns to see.

 

I was just in panamint city, 7.5 mile 4500 ft elevation gain backpack. Thought we would see some blooms but it might bee too cold, there was still snow on the ground.

 

Have you been following the "Super Bloom" reports? If that happens, it'll be a great time to be in the park.

 

Hot Spring is a must. http://youtu.be/9GVhpQgQmvs

 

Park Ranger told me to slow down on that road yesterday, said the speed limit anywhere in Saline Valley and Death Valley is 25 MPH. WTF

 

Watch out for that black tacoma...he might not obey the 25mph speed limit.

 

Wildflowers are starting to get crazy out there. It is still early but a lot of fans are in major bloom in the southern part of the park. Looks like it may be a gangbusters year. Shot from Sunday:

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What area of the park is this?

 

We'll be heading out next week for a few days. Starting at Saratoga Springs, up Butte Valley, Down Mengel, Lee Flats, Hunter Mountain, Racetrack, Lippincott, Saline Hot Springs, Steele Pass and Eureka dunes.

Awesome to see that the flowers are blooming.

 

That particular photo is from where Badwater Rd. meets Harry Wade Rd. in the south end of the park. Badwater Rd. is currently closed just south of this location so you can't get to that point from Shoshone.

That was the densest field we saw, but there are flowers covering various aluvial fans from that point all the way north to Salt Creek. And there are other fields south of this location along Harry Wade Rd. I also saw on the other side of the valley some fans along West Side Road in strong enough bloom to be visible from the other side of the valley. Right now there are large blooms in various places across nearly 70 miles of the valley!

 

That's almost the exact route we're going to take two weeks later, although we're going to come in from Vegas/Pahrump and hit the touristy stuff (Dante's View, Zabriske Point, visitor center, Artist's Palette, Badwater, etc.) since my wife and kids have never been there. Also going to try to see Cerro Gordo if we can.

 

Thanks! My weekend actually lined up with my girlfriends and she wanted to camp in Death Valley. Looking at spending the night somewhere in the south, possibly Ibex or the Owlsheads then driving north through the valley. Did you drive Harry Wade Rd?

 

Yes, we entered from the south on Saratoga Springs Rd from 127. We camped a bit north of Saratoga Springs first night. Then we drove up Harry Wade Road which was in fine condition. The Amargosa River crossing was just a mud puddle. Flowers start down at Saratoga Springs area, nice patch near Amargosa Crossing too. Best displays near Ashford Mills/Harry Wade/Badwater Rd junctions. Plenty of nice fans all the way up past Badwater itself.

 

I will be hitting the park Monday, Monday night, and open to hanging and staying around Tuesday night as well. Camping and moving on to a couple other parks throughout the week.

 

I have NEVER exceeded it to the best of my knowledge.

 

Keeping your nose above water

 

Someone had their pet donkey out there...