Death Valley Superbloom Underway
Death Valley National Park is reporting its best wildflower bloom since 2016 after heavy winter rains, offering a rare and vibrant spectacle for backpackers and hikers. Washington State Parks is also expanding overnight options by adding two small cabins at Bowl and Pitcher in Riverside State Park.
A rare superbloom is a result of perfect conditions, which happen about once a decade. The last major superblooms in Death Valley occurred in 2016, 2005, and 1998. This year's event was triggered by record-breaking rainfall in the fall and winter, with 2.41 inches recorded between September and November 2025, breaking a record set in 1923. The most widespread flower currently carpeting the valley floor is the Desert Gold, a bright yellow bloom. Visitors can also spot patches of purple Phacelia, pink Sand Verbena, and the unique Desert Five-Spot. Prime viewing areas are currently along Badwater Road and Highway 190. The floral display is not static; it moves up in elevation as temperatures rise. The low-elevation bloom is expected to last until mid-to-late March, with flowers in mid-elevations peaking from April to May, and the highest elevations potentially blooming into June. The 2016 superbloom attracted over 209,000 visitors to the park, leading to significant traffic and some ecological damage. In response, park officials are emphasizing a "Don't Doom the Bloom" message, urging visitors to stay on designated trails to avoid crushing the fragile flowers and dormant seeds. Meanwhile, in Washington, the two new cabins at Riverside State Park's Bowl and Pitcher area are part of a $400,000 project funded by a Recreation and Conservation Office grant. This is the second phase of an effort that saw the first two cabins completed in October 2018. The new 400-square-foot cabins will be identical to the existing ones, which can be rented year-round for $90 to $125 a night. As part of this new construction phase, air conditioning units will be added to all four cabins.
