Written By: David Blacker, DVNHA Executive Director
Latest Update: 2/1/2026
Gravel Ghost (2023)
Current Overview
The theme for this report is “Things are getting better every day!” We are seeing increased levels of greenery and more isolated blooming flowers than in our last report. The following reconnaissance of the park begins at the Park Entrance sign coming from Death Valley Junction. It follows Highway 190 through the park to the North Highway, including Badwater, Mud Canyon Road, and Beatty Cutoff Road.
Park Sign to Badwater Road
For now, the best and largest area of blooming flowers that I have found in the park is just down from the Park Entrance sign. Park your car at the Entrance Sign pullout, walk to the flood control berm that you can see from the pullout. When you get on top of the berm, turn left, and you can see the first spray of flowers on the back side of the berm. Since our last report, this bloom has increased by about 50%. There has been a noticeable increase in isolated yellow flowers between the 40 mph turn below the entrance sign and the information pullout. From there to Zabriskie Point, there are patches of low-lying greenery in disturbed areas along the road and many hillsides with enough greenery to be seen from the road. Just before Zabriskie Point, we begin to see larger and more densely packed areas of greenery, and as you descend into Furnace Creek, the wash on the left shows strong signs of greenery.
Desert Gold (2023)
Badwater Road
The first mile is sparse but there is a nice bloom of yellow before and after mile marker 1. From mile marker 3 to just past mile marker 9, large areas of greenery appear in disturbed areas along the road and up the alluvial fans. This tapers off until you get to about two miles from Badwater. About two miles out from Badwater, you can see the alluvial fans on the left and what is left of Lake Manly on the right. These fans are so covered with low greenery that they look like they could be mowed! The gate is currently closed just past Badwater, but the alluvial fan I could see from the parking lot was just as green as the ones before the parking lot. The bottom half of Badwater (mile 17 to Ashford Mill) reopened on 1/31, and we will add this section to our next report.
Mojave Aster (2023)
Furnace Creek to North Highway Turnoff
The area next to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center is covered with new greenery since the last report. Over the next six miles, low-level greenery increases on the alluvial fans and hillsides to the right. Additional greenery lines the roadsides. It becomes sparse until you pass Salt Creek, and then the greenery along the road becomes thicker as you reach the top of the hill, continuing to the North Highway turnoff.
Golden Suncup (2023)
North Highway
North Highway just reopened last week. The first two miles contain good low-level greenery. This is an extension of what we see from Mud Canyon. The rest of the way up to Grapevine Ranger Station is sparse with isolated yellow flowers on the alluvial fans.
Brown-eyed Primrose (2023)
Mud Canyon to Hells Gate
This continues to be the best stretch of greenery I’ve seen in the park. Every hillside is covered with greenery, which continues as the terrain opens above Mud Canyon and extends to Hells Gate. When this area pops, it will be incredible!
Desert Globemallow (2023)
Hells Gate to Highway 190 (Beatty Cutoff Road)
Coming down from Hells Gate, good low-level greenery continues. The middle portion of the Beatty Cutoff Road is fairly sparse, followed by another good display on the bottom third of the road down to Highway 190.
Desert Five-Spot (2023)
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Wildflower Season
Death Valley is poised for a better-than-average bloom, and with a little luck (and maybe another rain), it could even be better than that. We are looking at good weather continuing through February 7, with highs in the upper 70s to low 80s. This could kick off the beginning of the bloom, but I think we are still at least two weeks from seeing flowers. How long they will last after they come up will depend entirely on the weather. We need mild temperatures and mild winds. If we get them, we could have flowers into May. Make sure you get your reservations soon and keep your fingers crossed. Until next time.
