Titus Canyon Road - Death Valley National Park

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This page last updated on 12/09/2018

(Fig. 01)

Directions: Directly from Las Vegas, drive north on Highway 95 to Beatty, 117 miles. At the stoplight in Beatty, turn left onto Highway 374. Drive west 6.2 miles to Titus Canyon Road (Fig. 01), on the right; watch for highway signs. Turn here; this is the roadhead.

Titus Canyon Road Elevation Profile

Road Overview:  Titus Canyon Road is a one-way, dirt road normally suitable for 2WD-HC vehicles. The road starts outside the National Park on Daylight Pass Road near Beatty, Nevada. Running west into the park, the road climbs over two high points in the Grapevine Mountains (including Red Pass at 5,240 ft elevation), drops past the ghost town of Leadfield, and finally descends through the narrow and sinuous canyon for which the road is famous. Finally, the road descends onto the alluvial fan to Scotty's Castle Road.

Trip Summary: Normally hiking is my favorite part of every road trip, however, driving Titus Canyon Road turned out to be one of my favorite experiences. I can see why this is the most popular back-country road in Death Valley National Park. The 27 mile, often washboard adventure was much more than a drive! It has astounding mountains, steep twisting roads with hairpin turns, gorgeous colorful rock formations, bighorn sheep, lush plant life and cacti, a ghost town, abandoned mines, a dry waterfall, ancient petroglyphs, and breathtaking canyon narrows. It takes an average of three hours to drive Titus Canyon Road from its start near Beatty, Nevada to it’s finish in Death Valley. But, according to Bob's GPS, it took us 4 hours and 44 minutes including a picnic lunch. We stopped frequently to enjoy the dramatic and stunning desert landscapes, scout for bighorn sheep, hike and climb on nearby rocks, visit several abandoned mines and explore the ghost town of Leadfield and petroglyphs. The road was so bumpy, uneven, and rocky that we also drove really, really slow, especially on the steep switchbacks along sheer cliffs!  Once we got into the mountains, the road is lined with vibrant, colorful rock deposits in reds, pinks, golds, yellows, greens, and purples. In places it reminded me of Artist’s Palette. As the road winds through sagebrush and rock outcroppings, it begins to climb several switchbacks up the curving mountainside covered in red dirt and red rocks to Red Pass. In many places, the road is bumpy, uneven, and very narrow, with tight hairpin turns on steep grades with sheer cliffs that drop hundreds of feet. The steep dirt road to Red Pass that was barely wider than my jeep. On a couple of occasions the jeep jerked sideways as I navigated the potholes, rocks, and uneven road. This 27 mile road provides sightseers with spectacular scenery, views of the old mining ghost town of Leadfield, a petroglyph panel, and it provides hiker access to Titanothere Canyon, Thimble Peak, and Leadfield, and myriad other unnamed mines and destinations.

12/07/2018 Trip Notes: Today Bob Croke, Jim Herring and I drove to Beatty to get to Titus Canyon Road. From its trailhead, about 1.9 miles out, the road narrows as it crosses a cattle guard. the sign announces entry into Death Valley National Park (Fig. 02). The signs that should announce that this is a one-way road were missing. At about 6.2 miles out, the road turns to the south and starts up into a broad canyon (Fig. 03). From about here to the end of the road, the road runs in a 100-ft wide corridor of non-wilderness with designated Wilderness on both sides of the road. Because it was a little overcast, the further and higher we drove, the clouds were touching the tops of the mountains (Fig. 04). At one spot we got out and hiked to the top of a small ridge for a better view of the mountain in the distance (Fig. 05). At about 12.4 miles out, as the road runs up onto Red Pass (Figs.  07 thru 08). Parking is limited, but there is space for 3-4 vehicles on the south side and parking for another on the north side. Views in both directions are grand, but the view north is worth pulling out the folding chairs. From the small parking area there is a short hike up to a spot that provided and even better view of the surrounding area (Figs. 09 thru 11). As you can see, this area provides some of the most colorful views on the whole trip. We spent a lot of time here, along with others, soaking in and taking pictures of the beautiful views. This is also the trailhead for Thimble Peak, which lies some 3 miles to the south-southwest along the ridge. (Notes con't below)

(Fig. 02)

(Fig. 03)

(Fig. 04)

(Fig. 05)

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(Fig. 07)

(Fig. 08)

(Fig. 09)

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(Fig. 11)

Trip Notes Continued: As you begin to descend from Red Pass the slopes become more gentle and eventually the road descends towards rusty metal buildings and mine tailings of the ghost town of Leadfield. You can see some of the buildings in the distance in the picture in (Fig. 12). Along the way down to the town, we past several mine sites, several of which we got out and explored (Figs. 13 thru 17). At one point we hiked up a long wash to try and reach one of the mines only to be thwarted by a high polished rocky spillover that we were unable to climb (Fig. 18). Bob climbed up a little to see what was on the other side (Fig. 19). At about 15.6 miles out we finally reached the ghost town of Leadfield. (Notes con't below)

(Fig. 12)

(Fig. 13)

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(Fig. 17)

(Fig. 18)

(Fig. 19)

Trip Notes Continued:  This old town boomed and died in 1926 (Fig. 20). Its old mines, buildings, and other materials serves as silent testament to the efforts of some 300 people that once lived here (Fig. 21 - click to enlarge).

Side Note: History of Leadfield: Leadfield was an unincorporated community, and historic mining town in Inyo County, California. It is now a ghost town located in Titus Canyon in the Grapevine Mountains, east of Death Valley in Death Valley National Park. Leadfield lies at an elevation of 4,058 feet. It is on the National Register of Historic Places. Gold was discovered in Leadfield around 1904. The townsite of Leadfield at the head of the canyon dates to the years 1925 and 1926. It was the product of extensive and fraudulent advertising by the Western Lead Mine Company and C.C. Julian, and the town boomed in 1925. His advertising posters showed steamboats navigating the Amargosa River to Leadfield, ignoring the fact that the Amargosa River is dry much of the time and does not run within 20 miles of Leadfield. The town's big boom was in 1926-27. Fifteen miles of road were built up the canyon to connect with the road to Beatty, Nevada. Titus canyon road was built at a cost of $60,000 at the time.Charles Julian sold stock in the mine and was very successful at it. It seemed, though, that he jumped the gun and had not obtained a permit for selling the stock. Despite having sold 300,000 shares, and the town having 93 blocks, by 1927 it was all gone. After the auto road was built to the town, businesses sprang up from nothing in months. A concrete foundation for a stamp mill was poured, and the beginning of a series of power poles for electric lines were installed. Historic photographs show some frame and corrugated metal buildings and there is evidence of a few dugouts, but the majority of the denizens of Leadfield lived in tents of varying sizes and construction. The population peaked at around 300 in 1926, with a post office opening in August of that year. However, by February 1927, the post office closed down and the town quickly died. After the gold ran out, Julian disappeared and the inhabitants soon became disillusioned and quickly drifted away. Julian fled eventually to Shanghai where he died at the age of 40. The significance of the site lies in the fact it was an example of one of the get-rich-quick schemes of the wild 1920s. His greatest legacy seems to be the Titus Canyon road.

We spent considerable time exploring its remaining buildings (Figs. 22 thru 25) and some of its mines (Figs. 26 thru 29). Some remains were almost totally destroyed and unrecognizable. Upon closer inspection Bob notice the "cutouts" on one of the planks (Center of the picture) identifying it as a two-hole outhouse (Fig. 30). We decided that this was a good spot to enjoy a "bag" lunch and sat on some concrete foundations to eat lunch. As it turns out these foundations were for a stamp mill.

Side Note: Stamp Mill: A stamp mill (or stamp battery or stamping mill) is a type of mill machine that crushes material by pounding rather than grinding, either for further processing or for extraction of metallic ores. Californian stamps were based on Cornish stamps and were used in the Californian gold mines. In these stamps the cam is arranged to lift the stamp from the side, so that it causes the stamp to rotate. This evens the wear on the shoe at the foot of the stamp. They were more rapid in action and a single head could crush 1.5 tons of ore per operation.

While we were sitting and eating, a bird flew in and sipped some water out of a small puddle of water. He stayed for the whole time we ate and allowed us to get within inches to take picture without flying away. Each of us took one of the three pictures in (Figs. 31 thru 33). It is a Cedar Waxwing (Bombycillidae cedrorum). You decide who captured the best shot.

Side Note: Cedar Waxwing (Bombycillidae cedrorum): The Cedar Waxwing is a medium-sized, sleek bird with a large head, short neck, and short, wide bill. Waxwings have a crest that often lies flat and droops over the back of the head. The wings are broad and pointed, like a starling’s. The tail is fairly short and square-tipped. Size: Their Length is 5.5-6.7 in; their Wingspan is 8.7-11.8 in. Color Pattern: They are pale brown on the head and chest fading to soft gray on the wings. The belly is pale yellow, and the tail is gray with a bright yellow tip. The face has a narrow black mask neatly outlined in white. The red waxy tips to the wing feathers are not always easy to see. They sit in fruiting trees swallowing berries whole, or pluck them in mid-air with a brief fluttering hover. They also course over water for insects, flying like tubby, slightly clumsy swallows.

Continuing past Leadfield, the northern-most mine can be seen with another tin building high on the hillside to to the left at about 16.3. Then the road curves hard to the left and enters the first of the narrows deeply cut into layered limestone cliffs. This is actually the last of Leadfield Canyon. The canyon feels narrow for about one more mile, but gradually it begins to feel like a deep desert canyon. As you wind through the canyon there are some very interesting geologic formations (Fig. 34). Around 18.2 miles out, the road arrives at a sign announcing petroglyphs on a large boulder beside the road and only about 100 feet before Klare Spring. The petroglyph boulder, and an adjacent boulder, have been badly marked by vandals, but the original rock art remains. The boulders are dark, probably dolomite rock, and pecking on the rock leaves a light-colored scar. Native peoples left odd shapes, humanoid forms, and glyphs thought to represent rain and the sun. There are also symbols of some little bighorn sheep. (Fig. 35). Only a few steps further down the canyon, Klare Spring wets the hillside as it follows the road. Unfortunately, the dense thicket of Arrowweed, sedges, some cattails, and even a few rushes cover almost all of the free water. Near the end of the thickets it actually trickles down the side of the road (Fig. 36). So we're sure bighorn sheep, coyotes, and birds come in here for water, we didn't spot any. (Notes con't below)

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(Fig. 27)

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(Fig. 30)

(Fig. 31) Ken

(Fig. 32) Bob

(Fig. 33) Jim

(Fig. 34) Nice shot Bob

(Fig. 35)

(Fig. 36)

Trip Notes Continued: Beyond Klare Spring, the canyon runs wide for a bit more than a mile. Wide is nice for a change because the scenery is grand with layered and colorful mountains and cliffs all around. The road eventually climbs onto a bench above the wash, then drops back into the wash. From about 19.6 miles out, the road enters into the lower narrows. At around 21.8 miles the lower narrows are almost entirely narrow, and they continue to get narrower and narrowed farther down the canyon. There is a brief opening at about 21.8 miles out, but after that (22.3 miles out), the narrowest and deepest of the narrows begin. For the next 1.8 miles, the canyon runs deep and narrow. At the narrowest, the canyon walls are barely 15 feet apart - not really enough room for a road! (Figs. 37 thru 39). At about mile 23.4, the road passes a section of canyon with a black-and-white mosaic (modern art) plastered on the walls (Fig. 40). This is the result of an ancient earthquake deep within the earth that fractured the rock into shards of black stones. Eventually, water percolating through the rock dissolved some of the limestone, then deposited it around the shards in the form of white calcite. Exposed and polished smooth in recent times, we now see a cross-section slice along the fault zone (Figs. 41 thru 43). The geology here is just amazing. Beyond the mosaic walls, the road winds through the narrowest of the canyon (Fig. 44), but eventually the roads makes a final curve and suddenly the canyon ends and the bright and sunny world of Death Valley opens up again (Fig. 45).  Once you get to the paved road that leads to Scotty's Canyon, turn left and drive to Highway 374, Daylight Pass Road, and turn left again and head to Beatty.

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(Fig. 46)

NOTE: Due to the fact that I left my camera home, I took 90% of the pictures on this page with my Galaxy 8 camera. Some of the pictures shown here are from Jim Herring and Bob Croke. I thank you guys for providing me with some of your pictures.

Note: Every attempt is made to provide accurate information, but occasionally depictions are inaccurate by error of mapping, navigation or cataloging. The information on this site is provided without any warranty, express or implied, and is for informational and historical purposes only.

Death Valley National Park Flora

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This page last updated on 06/15/2017

(Fig. 01)

Background: Over the past several years I have visited Death Valley on numerous occasions trying to capture some of the park's wildflower displays. Though Death Valley can be famous for spectacular, spring wildflower displays, they are the exception. It is always very difficult to judge when it is going to be a good year for wildflowers at Death Valley National Park. Only under perfect conditions does the desert fill with a sea of gold, purple, pink or white flowers. A good wildflower year depends on at least three things: well-spaced rainfall throughout the winter and spring; sufficient warmth from the sun; and the lack of drying winds. I'm not sure if the October rains of 2015 were helpful or not. Needless to say the October flash flooding's, including the October 18th storm that dumped 3.5 inches, more than the entire year's rainfall, may have been partially responsible for this year's blooms. The good news is that even though there are years where blossoms are few, they are never totally absent. Most of the showy desert wildflowers are annuals, also referred to as ephemerals because they are short-lived. Oddly enough, this limited lifespan ensures survival here. Rather than struggle to stay alive during the desert’s most extreme conditions, annual wildflowers lie dormant as seeds. When enough rain finally does fall, the seeds quickly sprout, grow, bloom and go back to seed again before the dryness and heat returns. By blooming enmasse during good years, wildflowers can attract large numbers of pollinators such as butterflies, moths, bees and hummingbirds that might not otherwise visit Death Valley.

03/09/2016 Trip Notes:  I made a second trip to Death Valley with my friend Jim Herring who just moved to Las Vegas last week. Though Jim and I had visited Death Valley on previous trips, he had never experienced any of the valley's wildflower blooms. Even though it was a few weeks past what I considered this years "peak" period, we were still able to observe lots of wildflowers and capture some great pictures. We also had a rare spotting of a Desert Iguana.  Check out the description and pictures for this visit ... Death Valley National Park - 03/09/2016 Trip Notes.

02/23/2016 Trip Notes:  I made today's trip with Blake Smith and my wife Connie. Arriving from the East Entrance to the Furnace Creek Inn, I was encouraged by the spotting of a great color combo consisting of Golden Evening Primrose (Camissonia brevipes), Notchleaf Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata) and Purple Mat (Nama demissum) decorating Furnace Creek Wash. During some of my earlier visits I was able to obtain only a few limited pictures (2010 visit), however there was almost nothing worth stopping for on my 2011 visit. Now in our 12th year of a sustained drought, things seem even worse than in some of my earlier visits. However in 2015, even after arriving 2-3 weeks late for the best wildflower viewing, I still managed to find a few shots worth capturing. Today's 2016 visit was outstanding. From what I've heard, it appeared to revival the bloom of 2005, which was touted as the best flowers in 100 years.

(Fig. 02)

Because Badwater Road seems to be the "go-to" destination because it can provide huge expanses of endless flowers, we decided to head down Badwater Road toward Badwater Basin and the Ashford Mills ruins near the end of the road. On the way to Ashford Mills, we made several stops along the way, including a stop at Badwater Basin, the lowest point below sea level in North America (Fig. 03). As you can see from (Figs. 01 & 02 above) and the pictures that follow (Figs. 05 thru 07), we were not disappointed. There were blankets of Desert Gold, Gravel Ghost Atrichoseis platyphylla everywhere we looked. At many stops along the way we found a good variety of flora like those seen in the collage in (Fig. 08). (con't below)

(Fig. 03)

(Fig. 04)

(Fig. 05)

(Fig. 06)

(Fig. 07)

(Fig. 08)

(Fig. 09)

(Fig. 10)

02/23/2016 Trip Notes Continued: As you can see from the pictures in (Figs. 09 & 10) above, once we reached the Ashford Mills the area, the surrounding rolling bajadas were blanketed with row after row of flowers. Even though I have been here on several previous occasions, the ruins, framed by the thousands of wildflowers, never looked so good (Fig. 11). The wash located just below the ruins provided even more wildflower pictures (Fig. 12). Individual pictures and descriptions for six of the wildflowers seen in the collages, the Desert Gold (Fig. 13), the Gravel Ghost (Fig. 14), the Desert Five Spot (Fig. 15), the Notch-Leaved Phacelia (Fig. 16), the Rock Daisy (Fig. 17), the Brown-eyed Evening-Primrose (Fig. 18), and the Desert Sand Verbina (Fig.19) are further detailed below. Even though you can find pictures for some of these flowers from previous visits toward the bottom of this post, I have never before observed all of them in just one single visit before. Because Death Valley is the lowest, hottest, and driest location in the western hemisphere, it is hard to even imagine that this place can produce such a vivid variety of beautiful flora. This year's bloom was absolutely gorgeous.

(Fig. 11)

(Fig. 12)

                                         

(Fig. 13)

Picture Info: These sunflowers (Fig. 13) can be found in almost every area throughout the park. It is by far the most common wildflower in Death Valley.

Description: The Desert Gold (Geraea canescens) is also known as the desert sunflower, hairy desert sunflower. It is a dicot and annual of the Aster (Asteraceae) family. "Geraea" in its scientific name comes from the Greek geraios ("old man"), referring to the white hairs on the fruits. The desert sunflower has a yellow sunflower-like flower, each flower on a slender, hairy stem. It grows 1-3 feet high. The leaves are gray-green and grow to 3 inches long. It flowers February through May after sufficient rainfall. It is native to western North America, specifically Arizona, Nevada, California, and Utah. A drought-avoiding annual plant, it can be found in the California, Mojave, and Sonoran Deserts. It grows from sea level to 4,265 feet in sandy desert soil in the company of creosote brush. The flowers attract bees and birds. Seeds are eaten by birds and rodents. There are two varieties of Geraea canescens: Geraea canescens var. canescens  and Geraea canescens var. paniculata.

(Fig. 14)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 14), was taken during today's (02/23/2016) visit to the park was captured at the Ashford Mill Site. 

Description: The Gravel Ghost (Atrichoseris platyphylla), are also known by the common names tobacco weed and parachute plant. The chicory-like flowers of this plant are about 1.5 inches in diameter, have several rows of overlapping petals, yellow at the center, pinkish purple at the tips but otherwise pure white. The stamens are similarly colored. Petal tips are flat and notched, and thin grooves run lengthways. The unusual mottled leaves grow only around the base, in a flat rosette, from where the thick grey-green flower stalk rises up to 3 feet, branching a few times towards the top. The leaves may also have a pinkish purple tint. Atrichoseris is a monotypic genus. The plant grows in sandy or gravelly locations in the Southwest deserts.
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(Fig. 15)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 15), taken during today's (02/23/2016) visit to the park was captured at the Ashford Mill Site.

Description: Commonly called the Desert Five Spot, this erect annual is also known as falsemallow, lantern flower, Chinese lantern, and fivespot mallow. (It may also be listed as Malvastrum rotundifolium in some publications.) The plants are usually less than a foot high. The showy flowers are rose-pink with five purplish or deep-red spots on the insides of the petals. The leaves are often tinged with red or sometimes even completely red. The desert five-spot is found in washes and on mesas below 3800 feet. It grows in the deserts of southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Its showy flowers are in bloom between March and May. The best specimens of this flower are likely to be found where there is an abundance of black lava rock.
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(Fig. 16)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 16), taken during today's (02/23/2016) visit to the park was captured at the Ashford Mill Site. 

Description: Notch-Leaved Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata), a.k.a. Cleftleaf Wild Heliotrope, Scorpionweed, Scalloped Phacelia and Caterpillarweed. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is an annual plant that grows from 3-24 inches tall. Its open flower clusters, coiled like a scorpion’s tail, are made up of many small, bell-shaped, purple flowers with white or light blue throats that all grow from the same side of the branching flower stalks. Flowers are 1/2 inch wide and have 5 round lobes. The petals of the flowers vary from deep violet to blue-purple in color and up to a half inch long.

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(Fig. 17)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 17), taken during today's (02/23/2016) visit to the park was captured along Badwater Road on the way to Badwater Basin. 

Description: The Rock Daisy (Perityle emoryi) is an annual herb growing 2 to 20 inches tall, its stem small, delicate, and simple, or thick, branching, and sprawling. It is usually hairy and glandular in texture. The head has a center of many golden disc florets and a fringe of 8 to 12 white ray florets each about a half inch long. Its habitat is open, sandy, gravely desert areas. It is common in the deserts of Arizona, California, Nevada and Utah.

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(Fig. 18)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 18), taken during today's (02/23/2016) visit to the park was captured along Badwater Road on the way to Badwater Basin. 

Description: the Brown-eyed Evening-Primrose (Camissonia claviformis), also known as Browneyes, is an annual forb with basal leaves and a flowering stalk that can grown to a height of 2 feet, though usually shorter. Its leafs are generally basal; generally broad and 1-pinnate, but large terminal leaflet may look like an entire leaf; lateral leaflets much smaller than terminal leaflet. The flowers are white, aging to pink, with a dark brown center. The stigma hangs out beyond the petals. Brown-eyed Evening-Primrose is a common component of desert vegetation communities in washes and other gravelly and rocky soils. So found usually in lower elevations, and canbe found in elevations up to about 6,000 feet. It is common to California (Death Valley), Idado, Utah and New Mexico.

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(Fig. 19)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 19), taken during today's (02/23/2016) visit to the park was captured at the Ashford Mill Site.

Description: The Desert Sand Verbina is an annual that spreads along the ground in an almost vine-like fashion. Many flower clusters of bright pink make this a highly noticed plant. The leaves are slightly hairy and light green. Sand verbena, as the name suggests, is often found around sand dunes and other sandy areas, such as washes, in the desert regions of southern California. This plant is also found in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Mexico, as well as along the coast. Showily pink clusters of flowers can be found from February through July. 

(Fig. 20)

02/28/2009 thru 03/28/2015 Trip Notes: The pictures that follow were taken on various visits  to Death Valley between 2009 and 2015. To the best of my knowledge, the pictures in (Figs. 20 & 21) were taken back on 02/28/2009. In 2010 I was only able to obtain a few pictures (Figs. 22 & 23), however there was almost nothing worth stopping for on my 2011 visit except for some flowers we found around the Lake Manly marker and turnoff along the western side of Badwater Road (Fig. 24). Because we had been in a prolonged drought for nearly 6 years, things seemed even worse than in some of my earlier visits. However, this visit in 2015, even after arriving 2-3 weeks late for the best wildflower viewing, I still managed to find a few shots worth capturing (Figs. 25-27).

(Fig. 21)

(Fig. 22) Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 22), taken during my 04/11/2010 visit to the park at the entrance to the wash trail that led to the Natural Bridge Canyon. From what I could tell, it appeared that we might have been just a couple of weeks late. Description: Commonly called the Desert Five Spot, this erect annual is also known as falsemallow, lantern flower, Chinese lantern, and fivespot mallow. (It may also be listed as Malvastrum rotundifolium in some publications.) The plants are usually less than a foot high. The showy flowers are rose-pink with five purplish or deep-red spots on the insides of the petals. The leaves are often tinged with red or sometimes even completely red. The desert five-spot is found in washes and on mesas below 3800 feet. It grows in the deserts of southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and northern Mexico. Its showy flowers are in bloom between March and May. The best specimens of this flower are likely to be found where there is an abundance of black lava rock.

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(Fig. 23)

Picture Info: These sunflowers can be found in almost every area throughout the park. It is by far the most common wildflower in Death Valley.

Description: The Desert Gold (Geraea canescens) is also known as the desert sunflower, hairy desert sunflower. It is a dicot and annual of the Aster (Asteraceae) family. "Geraea" in its scientific name comes from the Greek geraios ("old man"), referring to the white hairs on the fruits. The desert sunflower has a yellow sunflower-like flower, each flower on a slender, hairy stem. It grows 1-3 feet high. The leaves are gray-green and grow to 3 inches long. It flowers February through May after sufficient rainfall. It is native to western North America, specifically Arizona, Nevada, California, and Utah. A drought-avoiding annual plant, it can be found in the California, Mojave, and Sonoran Deserts. It grows from sea level to 4,265 feet in sandy desert soil in the company of creosote brush. The flowers attract bees and birds. Seeds are eaten by birds and rodents. There are two varieties of Geraea canescens: Geraea canescens var. canescens  and Geraea canescens var. paniculata.
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(Fig. 24)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 24), taken during my 03/28/2015 visit to the park was taken around the Lake Manly marker and turnoff along the western side of Badwater Road.

Description: The Desert Sand Verbina is an annual that spreads along the ground in an almost vine-like fashion. Many flower clusters of bright pink make this a highly noticed plant. The leaves are slightly hairy and light green. Sand verbena, as the name suggests, is often found around sand dunes and other sandy areas, such as washes, in the desert regions of southern California. This plant is also found in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and Mexico, as well as along the coast. Showily pink clusters of flowers can be found from February through July. 
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(Fig. 25)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 25), was taken during my 03/28/2015 visit to the park while hiking along the lower ridgeline at Dante’s View.

Description: Notch-Leaved Phacelia (Phacelia crenulata), a.k.a. Cleftleaf Wild Heliotrope, Scorpionweed, Scalloped Phacelia and Caterpillarweed. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It is an annual plant that grows from 3-24 inches tall. Its open flower clusters, coiled like a scorpion’s tail, are made up of many small, bell-shaped, purple flowers with white or light blue throats that all grow from the same side of the branching flower stalks. Flowers are 1/2 inch wide and have 5 round lobes. The petals of the flowers vary from deep violet to blue-purple in color and up to a half inch long.

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(Fig. 26)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 26), was taken during my 03/28/2015 visit to the park while hiking along the lower ridgeline at Dante’s View.
                             
Description: Tidy Fleabane (Erigeron concinnus), a.k.a. Navajo fleabane and Shaggy daisy, is a perennial flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, native to the dry mountains of the Mojave Desert around Death Valley in southeast California and Nevada. It can also be found in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. “Erigerons”, commonly called "Daisies" or "Fleabanes", are a large and complex genus; there are 130 species in North America and 200 world-wide.
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(Fig. 27)

Picture Info: The picture above (Fig. 27), was taken during my 03/28/2015 visit to the park in the sandy desert area surrounding the road leading up to Dante’s View.
                                   
Description: Smooth Desert Dandelion (Malacothrix glabrata), a.k.a. Desert Dandelion, is an annual forb that grows in sunny, open, sandy washes and flats. Its dandelion-like flower heads are up to 1 3/4 inches wide and have numerous, slender, strap-shaped, square-tipped, 5-toothed corollas. The sparse leaves are green, alternate, mainly basal, and usually pinnately lobed with 3 to 6 or more pairs of long, threadlike lobes.

                                       

For more information on desert plants and flora, go to my site index on plants and flowers at ... Plants & Flowers - Index.

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