I drove out to Death Valley National Park over the weekend — and knew exactly where to find wildflowers by listening to this episode of City Cast Las Vegas 👍 The superbloom will be around for another week or two, so retrace my route for an efficient and effective day trip.
🌵 Gettin’ Started
Set your GPS for the “Ashford Mill Ruins” — a two-hour route from Vegas that bypasses the park’s main entrance for the “back way.” You’ll cut through a corner of Pahrump and drive through Shoshone, a former mining town with a semi-historic saloon and diner (Crowbar). I stopped by the free Shoshone Museum and the owner (a former chef at Ferraro’s 👀) was super cool, supplying a free map, advice, and time expectations. Check out the exhibits, including mammoth and mastodon bones, and leave some moolah in the donation box.
🌼 After Entering the Park …
The bloom becomes more apparent between Jubilee Pass and Ashford Junction on CA-178. Here’s my advice: If it looks cool, pull over. Snap photos and enjoy the scenery. If you move on and keep driving, don’t panic. You’ll see more flowers in due time as the vast, mountainous landscape opens up. The crumbling remains of Ashford Mill and its office building date back to 1910. It’s a popular spot to see wildflowers and rare evidence of civilization in the park.
Wildflowers near Badwater Basin. (Rob Kachelriess/City Cast Las Vegas)
🏜️ The Greatest Hits Tour
Continue north to the salt flats of Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. (During my visit, quite a bit of real water was on the flats — somewhat rare without rainy weather.) The official parking lot fills up quickly during wildflower season. Save time by parking safely on the side of the road and explore at your own pace. From there, detour to the jagged salt formations of Devil’s Golf Course, (easy to view without leaving the car) and Artists Palette, a nine-mile scenic route where the terrain takes on pastel color tones. You’ll see more purple wildflowers here, contrasting nicely with the more common yellow ones.
🍔 Time to Eat
The Inn at Death Valley is a historic property that’s been around almost 100 years. The on-site restaurant takes a break between lunch and dinner, but you can order food and drinks in the lounge, beginning at 3 p.m. Just a mile away, the Ice Cream Parlor at the Ranch at Death Valley sells surprisingly good burgers as of 3 p.m. and the Last Kind Words Saloon has a full menu ready by 5 p.m. The ranch is near the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, which has a free museum and the famous digital thermometer out front.
👀 If You’re Down for One More View …
Stop by Zabriskie Point, a short but steep roadside hill before exiting the park via CA-190. You’ll pass by Death Valley Junction (and the Amargosa Opera House) before driving through Pahrump, where you can always stop for dinner — maybe at the new Charleston Peak Winery 🍷 — before returning to Vegas.
😎 More to Know
Cell phone service is spotty in Death Valley and the park’s admission fee operates on a trust system — paid at the visitor center or at kiosks near Badwater Basin or the main entrance. Enforcement seems rare, but you could be fined if visiting the park without paying. I was warned about large crowds slowing down traffic during wildflower season, especially on weekends, but didn’t have too much trouble getting stuck behind other cars.
