Death Valley Hiking, Wildflowers, and… (trip)
Death Valley Hiking, Wildflowers, and Natural History
- Las Vegas Airport, NV, United States
- Active & Adventure
| from $2,250* per person | 6 Days | March |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Naturalist Journeys | 12 people max | |
Nearly 1,000 different species of plants have been recorded in the diverse habitats of the Death Valley, including 19 species of cacti and 23 species endemic to the park. More than 380 springs in the park provide habitat to five species of Desert Pupfish, relict populations from a wetter time in the region’s long history. The valley is a geologist’s paradise, with nearly two billion years of history recorded in the rocks. Layers of sandstone and limestone tell of times of great inland seas while volcanic features bear testimony to centuries of dynamic change. Learn these stories as we hike some of the park’s most popular trails, and some favorites where we see few other visitors.
Walk amid sand dunes, water-sculpted canyons and salt pans remaining from ancient seas, lush hidden springs and cool mountain forests. Look for Ring-tailed Cats, Kit Foxes, Kangaroo Rats, Black-tailed Jackrabbits, and Desert Bighorn Sheep. Listen for sounds of desert birds in the clear morning air: Gambel’s Quail, Rock Wrens, Western Kingbirds, phoebes, and flycatchers. Photographic opportunities abound, particularly in the magical, subtle light of dawn and dusk. Blue skies frame the rugged Panamint Mountains of Death Valley, a sister range to the Sierras that reaches over 11,000 feet. On the mountain slopes ancient bristlecone pines cling to windy ridges and Desert Bighorns find refuge from summer heat.
We also take in some local culture and color – visiting local restaurants and the Amargosa Opera House. Miners, ranchers, and the Western Shoshone people all have left traces of their lives in the Mojave Desert Region; we pass by old mine sites and look for petroglyphs etched in rock walls on our hikes. The average temperatures in March are in the 70s to 80s (though cooler in the mountains) – perfect weather for our hikes. So, shed your winter gear, get out the boots, and join us as we explore spectacular Death Valley National Park and surrounding areas of the Mojave Desert in this spring.
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Locations visited/nearby
Nevada, United States, North America
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3 testimonials about the provider, Naturalist Journeys:
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Reviewer: Ed and Beth Morsman, Deephaven,
located in
MN
"What keeps us returning? For us Naturalist Journeys provides a holistic focus on flora and fauna, geology, history and culture without being obsessive about any one aspect. We travel in small groups of interesting, like-minded people with easy access to highly trained, caring naturalists. Superb destinations, knowledge, camaraderie, convenience, and caring professionals. For us Naturalist Journeys does it all!"
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Reviewer: Rolla Wagner, Grove,
located in
OK
“Peg Abbott is a pro – full of knowledge and diplomacy, generous with her time and attentive to our questions. Local guides add a new dimension to our learning with immediate local knowledge to share. I can hardly wait to go again!”
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Reviewer: Frances Kemper, Lynchberg
located in
VA
“Highlights were Costa Rica itself, the guides, birds and variety of activities. I had a chance to see this beautiful country with people in the know and to interact with people and environments that are not offered to ‘common’ tourists.”
Itinerary
Sun., Mar. 24 Arrival in Las Vegas / Red Rock Canyon / Death Valley National ParkAfter arrivals at the airport (by 2PM please), we travel west to Death Valley National Park. En route we pass through colorful Red Rock Canyon State Park, where we stretch our legs on a warm-up walk. Then it is on the park, for stunning views of Telescope Peak and the Panamint Range. Travel through the park's scenic landscape to the date palm oasis at Furnace Creek, where we have accommodations for the next four nights. Enjoy a welcome dinner tonight at the Ranch's Steakhouse.
Accommodations at Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley National Park (B,L,D)
Mon., Mar. 25 DVNP: Sand Dunes / Mosaic Canyon / Golden Canyon / Artist’s Drive
We start early in the morning with a walk among and atop the park’s amazing sand dunes. There is no set trail, and we wander dune ridgelines and valleys. At this time the light is dramatic, animal tracks are fresh and the world beckons us to explore. We then drive a short way to Mosaic Canyon to hike amid a tapestry of rock colors and patterns. In this cooler, shaded ravine we can learn about the complex geology revealed in the rock walls. This is a good place to find Rock Wrens which nest in the area.
We return to our lodgings for lunch, a mid-day break, and – if you wish – a swim in the pool. Trees around the facility may harbor Northern Mockingbirds, wintering Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Hermit Thrushes, and more. Later in the afternoon we enjoy a walk through Golden Canyon, perfect at this time of day. Common Ravens dance overhead in spacious skies; on the trail we find a variety oflizards. We end the day with a scenic drive to Artist’s Point, stopping for photos and to enjoy the cooling air and the spectacular late afternoon light. Dinner tonight is at your leisure.
Accommodations at the Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley National Park, CA (B,L)
Tues., Mar. 26 DVNP: Salt Creek / Mountain Vistas / Wildrose Peak Trail
Salt Creek, one of Death Valley’s major drainages, is home to the unique Desert Pupfish as well as a host of interesting birds and aquatic invertebrates. We take a peek at the area on a short boardwalk trail. Raptors, migrants, and waders often frequent this small valley. With luck we may find Northern Harriers, Common Yellowthroats, American Avocets, and Greater Yellowlegs, as well as other species.
From here we continue up in elevation for our full-day hike today, the most challenging of our trip, in the mountains above Death Valley. Be prepared, for at this elevation in March, we mayencounter snow! The higher elevations quite a contrast to our hikes on the valley floor. Today’s walk is a well-graded climb to Wildrose Peak with great, scenic rewards at the summit and along the way. The summit is 9,064ft. and the round trip is 8.4 miles for those that wish to go the full way. Others can linger over their picnic lunch and enjoy the views. On the trail we find conifer-loving birds such as Juniper Titmice, Red-naped Sapsuckers, Townsend’s Solitaires, Mountain Bluebirds, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Mountain Chickadees. Listen for calls of Clark’s Nutcrackers, Pinyon Jays, and Common Ravens, which may fly in to investigate our picnic lunch. At the trailhead (6800ft), learn more about local mining history as we visit the picturesque remains of charcoal kilns left from the boom-and-bust endeavors in Death Valley. Dinner tonight is at another of the park’s restaurants at Stovepipe Wells.
Accommodations at the Furnace Creek Ranch (B,L,D)
Wed., Mar. 27 DVNP: Zabriski Point / Dante’s View / Mt. Perry
We start the day with a trip to Zabriski Point and Dante’s View, where we can scan theentire panorama of DeathValley. In this dramatic setting, we outline the geologic events that created this stunning environment and you’ll have time to take some spectacular photographs in the morning light. This is the start of an 8-mile round trip hike to Mt. Perry, onewith rewarding views. We can go to the summit, or just as far as the group wishes today. Along the route, we look for wintering White-crowned Sparrows, and newly arrived Ash-throated Flycatchers, Western Kingbirds and Green-tailed Towhees. Gambel’s Quail and possibly another quail relative, the Chukar are year-round residents which should make an appearance. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the trail.
Return to the lodge to relax, or some may want to return to the Sand Dunes area if the light is great, where we can stop for photographs and a wander! Dinner tonight is at your leisure.
Accommodations at the Furnace Creek Ranch (B,L)
Thurs., Mar. 28 Titus Canyon / Badwater
This morning, we head out early, to the mouth of Titus Canyon which is cut deep into the Amargosa Mountains. We then walk into this remote and boldly sculpted canyon where we read the geologic story in the rock walls and, for those who wish to hike up a way, look for the rock art of early cultures along the waterways. Plants in this canyon exhibit many adaptations to the environmental extremes. We can hike as far up this winding canyon as the group would like, returning to the lodge for lunch or a swim at your leisure.
In the afternoon, we take two hikes from Badwater, and time to explore the amazing salt pan to marvel at the immense sense of space! The permanent spring-fed pool here is not poisonous, but does contain large amounts of chloride, sodium and sulfate.The Sunrisesurrounding area may be the hottest place in the world with temperatures reaching over 120+ degrees for more than thirty days each summer. Our first hike is a moderate three-mile loop through the colorful badlands of Desolation Canyon and the second, an easy 1-mile walk to the Natural Bridge. We return to our accommodations at dusk, and driving back enjoy the sunset over Telescope Peak, followed by our farewell dinner.
Accommodations at Furnace Creek Ranch (B,D)
Fri. Mar. 29 Departures from Las Vegas
We return to the airport in Las Vegas today, a drive of about 3 hours. We plan to arrive by 10:30 AM so please plan on flights out after NOON – important as we simply cannot get there any earlier! If you wish to take an earlier flight, plan on going out the next day, and we’ll be happy to drop you at a hotel near the airport, or you can use the convenient shuttles of many of the casinos. This is Easter weekend, and you may just want to enjoy time in this iconic American city! (B)
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