Description

With few exceptions, the overwhelming impression one gets of the floor of Death Valley is that it is an extremely hot and dry land that is unencumbered by the burden of dirt and vegetation. To most birds, the entire area probably looks barren. Salt Creek, a stream and saltmarsh meadow that stands in stark contrast to the surrounding desert, is one of those exceptions.

Water from springs at the head of Salt Creek supports a lush saltmarsh meadow with pickleweed, saltgrass, pools, and running water, but no trees. The vegetation provides food and cover for a variety of birds and other animals. The birding can be quite good during migration because birds from miles around are concentrated around the water.

There is a 0.8-mile wooden boardwalk along the lower reaches of Salt Creek. This nice, little loop-trail runs through stands of pickleweed and saltgrass and provides viewing opportunities of the marsh, creek, pools, and the surrounding badlands.

Location

Salt Creek is located in the central portion of Death Valley National Park, about 12 miles north of Furnace Creek.

From Las Vegas, drive northwest for about 2.5 hours to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center (Table 1, Site 712) in Death Valley National Park. From the Visitor Center, drive north on Highway 190 for about 11 miles to the Salt Creek Road (Site 768). Watch for signs directing you onto a dirt road that runs down into the bottom of the valley. Turn left onto Salt Creek Road, which can be a bit washboarded, and drive west for about 1 mile to the end of the road (Site 713), which is where the boardwalk begins.

Hours

The park is always open, but Salt Creek is a day-use area.

Fees

After getting into the park, there are no additional fees.

Specialties

Salt Creek is good for finding migrants and desert species, but the species mix depends on the season, and during migration it depends on just who is moving through at the time. Review the park bird list for some ideas on what to expect during the time of year when you will be visiting. I never know what to expect there, except that there are always some little, striped sparrows that pop out of the pickleweed, flutter a short distance, and drop back the vegetation, all before you have a chance to focus your eyes on them, let alone your binoculars.