Death Valley National Park 2024 Wildflower Season

Plan your trip to Death Valley with our Death Valley Introduction Package

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Please share your wildflower pictures, including the date and location. We will post your photos on our Wildflower Reports page, so others can learn where and when to view the spectacular displays.

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Maps and more information on where to stay and what to see in Death Valley

2024 Wildflower Reports - Death Valley Area

May 22, 2024 Mary Reports: The higher elevation bloom is in progress at Death Valley. The Magnificent Lupine, with its three to four foot spikes, is at peak along the road to the charcoal kilns at Wildrose. Mariposas are blooming in the Wildrose area though it takes effort to find them. One of my favorites, the hard to find tiny Lilac Sunbonnets, is blooming in a few places along the road to Wildrose and I saw a few between Salsberry and Jubilee Passes. Upper Emigrant Canyon has areas with good blooms including Princes Plumes that can also be found at Wildrose and Daylight Pass. Towne Pass has a good Desert Globe Mallow show and in places it has turned the hills orange.

April 17, 2024 Mary Reports: Seeing some great pockets of wildflowers at Death Valley. The first part of the road to Dantes view has great fresh desert gold and golden primrose and views of hills of gold. The big display at the Panamint Valley is still pretty, but likely past its peak. Saw some small pockets of wildflowers on the Mud Canyon and Beatty Cutoff roads, mostly golden primrose and desert gold. The beavertail cactus are blooming along the Beatty Cutoff and other places in the park. I saw some desert gold and other flowers on the Painted Desert loop. There are green shoots and small flowers in a variety of places in the park. When I stop at what looked like just gavel from the car, I have been surprised by what was there. 4/12 - 4/14

April 9, 2024 Aaron Reports: I took these pictures (Sunday 4/8) while leaving Death Valley National Park. These were taken on Panamint Valley Road just south of the intersection with Highway 190.

April 3, 2024 Frances Reports: 4/1/24 - 4/2/24 Searls Valley and Panamint Valley, CA We were traveling to Death Valley from Ridgecrest, CA. Hwy 178 to Trona/Wildrose Rd to 190. Can't miss Sand Verbena and Desert Gold. Many, many other varieties are blooming, just not as profuse. Lots of Desert Gold in Searls Valley.

Watch for desert burros, as you leave the last residential area and enter Inyo country. They hang out mostly on the West side. We spoted four hurds and a couple stragglers on 4/2. The burro hurd that hangs out shortly after the pass into Panamint, has NO fear of traffic. We (locals), have seen them, stand in the road or cross slowly, when cars are coming. They really don't care. Very hard to see at night! Amazing amount of Desert Gold as you travel North toward Hwy 190. Nice wide places to stop and take pictures near intersection of Pamamint Valley Rd and Hwy 190.

Panamint Valley - Trona/Wildrose Rd

Panamint Valley - Panamint Valley Rd

April 1, 2024 Linda Reports: Most of Death Valley flatlands look scrubbed bare – very little vegetation.
Best flowers within Death Valley.
March 27, #840 – purple flowers on road’s edge, just before Badwater.
March 27, #898 – many flowers in Artist’s Drive, and creosote in bloom.
March 28, #955 – road up to Dante’s view.

Best flowers are on the perimeter of Death Valley.
March 26 - #792 – Panamint Valley, both sides of the road, with the salt flat between.
March 28 - #903 – Route 373, just south of the Longstreet Hotel, Amargosa Valley.
March 28, #917, #963 – off Route 190 heading into the valley
March 29, #1018 – south part of Ash Meadows.

April 1, 2024 Rick and Margarita report: Rick and Margarita report Mar.29th: A tip of the hat to Bob for his report on the Desert Gold blooming close to Tecopa, CA. We decided to take a quick Good Friday trip there and to Shoshone, CA. It was just too windy to spend more time in the area. We did not go down to the southern end of Death Valley. The bloom centers around The Old Spanish Trail Hwy and CA127. The bloom is contained in an area maybe 5 miles north, south, and east.

March 27, 2024 Bob Reports: A superbloom on CA127 at the junction of Old Spanish Trail Hwy near Tocopa Hot Springs. Desert Gold as far as the eye can see. Parking right at the junction Also nice Desert Gold blooms on the road up to Dante's View. Furnace Creek Wash Rd. The view from Dante's View of Bad Water and the lake is spectacular.

March 27, 2024 Rena Reports: These photos were taken on 3/25/24 going towards the city of Trona off the 178 Highway and kind of across the street from Trona Pinnacles. The geographic coordinates that would take you near this area are 35.68143, -117.39033

March 25, 2024 Elizabeth Reports: These pictures were taken yesterday, March 23 in the evening along Panamint Valley Road. Great showing of desert gold all along Panamint Valley Road in the park, and just south of Trona.

March 14, 2024 Terry Reports: Not a upper bloom year, but there are plenty of wildflowers to see. The alluvial fans along highway 190 and the Badwater Road seem pretty barren. Right now, the best displays along paved roads are near Ashford Mill and heading up towards Dante’s View. More options for 4WD and back country travelers.

3/13/2024 - We went down Furnace Creek Wash/Greenwater Road into Gold Valley. The road was a bit gnarly (4WD, high clearance absolutely required), but it was well worth the journey. The hills along Dantes View Road were covered in Yellow Cups. Not much along Greenwater Road, but Gold Valley was full of flowers. California Tickseed was dominant, but when you stop and look, there were many species including Chia, White Aster, Mojave Pincushion, Checker Fiddleneck and Death Valley Phacelia.

Westside Road to Johnson Canyon. There was not much in bloom in the Western Panamints, but the alluvial fans and hills are tinged in green with plants getting ready to put on a show.

March 12, 2024 Todd Reports: Death Valley National Park, Ubehebe Crater Road, about 1/2 mile from Ubehebe Crater. Several patches of dense flowers along the roadside. Photo 3/11/24

March 11, 2024 Justine Reports: This is from 3/9/24 in Death Valley. There is a huge desert gold bloom before Panamint Springs, along 190 and at junction Panamint Valley Rd and we saw the flowers extend every direction along Panamint Valley Rd going south as well. There are scattered desert gold along Artist's Palette Dr as well but nothing substantial.

March 11, 2024 Terry Reports: Panimint Valley Rd, 03/09/2024. Ashford Mill Ruins site, Death Valley, 03/10/2024. Nice display of Desert Gold and Sand Verbena at Ashford Mill ruins site. On the hills West of Ashford Mill, and heading up towards Jubilee Pass, there is a lot of green. It could be very nice in a couple of weeks. There was also a lot of Desert Gold and we even saw a couple of desert Five-Spot coming in on Panimint Valley Rd from Trona the last few miles before 190.

March 4, 2024 DV Park Reports: 'Lake Manly' closed to boating Water levels dropped at Badwater. It is not possible to get to the water without leaving extensive social trails through the mud that will be visible until the next time the lake refills. Lake Manly is now closed to boating.

March 1, 2024 Steve Reports: I went to DV Feb 4 when it rained most of the day and we saw quite a few desert sunflowers up around Ubehebe Crater and a few at artists palette. We returned this past Saturday Feb 24 to go kayaking at Badwater where the water was at least 2.5’ deep about a mile or so out. We saw more sunflowers along 190 near Zabriski then again on the way out at higher elevations going along the south route over Jubilee pass.

Feb 27, 2024 James Reports: Found some large stands of desert gold in Panamint Valley on Minietta Rd on Sunday, February 25. All playas in the valley contained water.

Feb 27, 2024 Death Valley NP Reports: Death Valley is the driest place in North America, typically receiving about 2 inches of rain per year. The official weather gauge at Furnace Creek has measured 4.9 inches in the past six months, with most of that happening in just two events: the remnants of Hurricane Hilary (2.2 inches on August 20) and the recent atmospheric river (1.5 inches from February 4-7).

Snowcapped mountains against a clear blue skyline a valley floor
that holds water so still it reflects the mountains. NPS/ K.Skilling

Feb 20, 2024 Richard Reports: Nice desert gold flowers between Shoshone and Amargosa Opera House!

Feb 14, 2024 Pat Reports: Death Valley NP , 2/7/2024. Panamint Valley

Death Valley NP, 2/6/24 1st -Artist's Drive 2nd - CA 190, E of 20 Mule Team Drive

Feb 10, 2024 DV Reports: The flower season on the valley floor and alluvial fans is late February through early April. Park rangers say a “good bloom” is likely, but not a superbloom. Flowers have been blooming in isolated middle-elevation areas of the park since late November. Death Valley is the driest place in North America, typically receiving about 2 inches of rain per year. The official weather gauge at Furnace Creek has measured 4.9 inches in the past six months, with most of that happening in just two events: the remnants of Hurricane Hilary (2.2 inches on August 20) and the recent atmospheric river (1.5 inches from February 4-7).

Feb 5, 2024 DV Reports: Death Valley National Park is under a flood watch through Tuesday 2/6. An atmospheric river is bringing large amounts of rain. Expect flood debris on roads, at least through Wednesday. Do not drive though active flooding. Turn around - don't drown. Access to most major points of interest along paved roads is possible, however, many secondary and backcountry roads in the park remain closed due to storm damage.

Jan 22, 2024 DV Reports: It is too early to know if there will be an impressive bloom during our normal wildflower season (mid-February through mid-April). However, there are already a few patches of wildflowers blooming out of season. As of January, the best places to see flowers are Panamint Valley and Ubehebe Crater. Sprouts are starting to pop up near Furnace Creek Visitor Center and in washes throughout the park.

Jan 10, 2024 DV Reports: There are a few wildflowers, but the park is NOT having a major flower bloom. Currently, the best place to see flowers is Panamint Valley. There are also nice pockets of flowers near Ubehebe Crater. It is too early to know if there will be an impressive bloom during our normal wildflower season (mid-February through mid-April). - NPS

Jan 1, 2024 DUSA Reports: It should be a good wildflower year.

Peak Blooming Periods for Death Valley are usually...

Mid February - Mid April at lower elevations (valley floor and alluvial fans)

* Best Areas: Jubilee Pass, Highway 190 near the Furnace Creek Inn, base of Daylight Pass * Dominant species: desert star, blazing star, desert gold, mimulus, encelia, poppies, verbena, evening primrose, phacelia, and various species of cacti (usually above the valley floor).

Early April - Early May at 2,000 to 4,000 ft. elevations

* Best areas: Panamint Mountains * Dominant species: paintbrush, Mojave desert rue, lupine, Joshua tree, bear poppy, cacti and Panamint daisies.

Late April - Early June above 4,000 ft. elevations

* Best areas: High Panamints * Dominant species: Mojave wildrose, rabbitbrush, Panamint daisies, mariposa lilies and lupine.

Books on the Death Valley area.

More on Death Valley Park

When will the desert wildflowers bloom? We start our report in January, plan your visit to coincide with the peak of the bloom - keep up to date with DesertUSA's Wildflower Reports. Be sure to bookmark this page for weekly updates.

We'd like to see your pictures too. E-mail your digital photos and reports to Jim@desertusa.com. Use Wildflower Report as the subject of your e-mail. Let us know where you took the photo and the date. We will post them on our wildflower reports. Thanks for your support and photos.

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