News Release
For Immediate Release
For more information,
Contact Abbey Wines
NPS Public Information Officer
760-786-3221
Death Valley wildflowers bloom in spring
Springtime Lets Hikers See Fields of Wildflowers at Death Valley National Park
DEATH VALLEY, Ca. (FEB. 1, 2018) – Springtime in Death Valley is the most popular time for the park, due to the warm and sunny days. Hiking routes are lit well under the sun and the vegetation and animals can be seen better in these conditions. But the floral explosion every spring brings in visitors from all around to enjoy the bright colors.
Spring in Death Valley National Park gives visitors a different kind of view after a rainy winter. Every spring, wildflowers bloom in the park, but the density and range of the flowers varies based on the cooler months. With enough rain, wildflowers cover the grounds of the park, turning the dry desert into a colorful floral landscape.
Some years, most recently in 2016, Death Valley has a “super bloom” of wildflowers, with the flowers covering miles of land. In 1998 and 2005, the El Niño Southern Oscillation increased rainfall during the flower season, leading to the massive display of flowers.
“I saw several impressive displays of wildflowers over the years and always wondered how anything could beat them, until I saw my first super bloom in 1998,” Death Valley park ranger Alan Van Valkenburg said. “Then I understood. I never imagined that so much life could exist here in such staggering abundance and intense beauty.”
Springtime and the flowers bring a lot of visitors to the park. Rangers suggest that visitors plan accordingly and make reservations at the campgrounds and lodgings in the park.
“Right now is the best time to visit Death Valley in over a decade,” Superintendent Mike Reynolds said. “The flower display is astounding, and this is a rare time to experience one of the most incredible displays Death Valley has to offer. We don't know how long the bloom will last so come now."
The flowers belong in the park to be viewed and enjoyed by all visitors. Picking or removing wildflowers from the park is illegal.
Death Valley National Park is located in Death Valley, California. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/deva and www.facebook.com/DeathValleyNP. Rangers park regular updates about the wildflowers online at these sites, and a 3-minute wildflower video is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJbcWFTBn08.
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