Another unexpected turn in the story of Death Valley is the abundance of water that seems to show up right where it’s needed, before disappearing and dispersing back beneath the rugged surface. Salt Creek Interpretive Trail’s wooden boardwalk takes you alongside a stream and through vast amounts of Pickleweed and Saltgrass.
This waterway breaks to the surface at over 200 feet below sea level. Its origins can be traced back to brackish springs and marshes at a distance of a mile away.
With the added rainfall of the winter months, the water becomes more saline than seawater and flows into the salt flats of Cottonball Basin.
Due to the evaporation, the same process that caused the demise of Lake Manly, this water becomes far too salty for humans. But Nature’s pets are far more hearty, and a lot of wildlife depend on this Salt Creek.
Once upon a time, this area was covered with reeds and palm trees. Fossilised tracks have been found of ancient camels, lion-sized cats, primitive horses and mastodons.
There is something scarce and once thought to be extinct lurking in the clear shallow waters of Death Valley Salt Flats.
Salt Creek Pupfish
Rare Salt Creek Pupfish have called this area home for millennia.
More than 250 million years ago, and during the last ice age, Lake Manly, a large body of freshwater covered Death Valley. As the waters retreated and evaporated, only small pockets remained.
These small fish were stranded, and, over time, have evolved into ten distinct subspecies.
How Did The Pupfish Get Their Name?
Dr Carl Hubbs, “father” of Western ichthyology named these tiny creatures as he thought they played like puppies.
Pupfish need to drink, or they become dehydrated. They are incredibly hardy, surviving temperatures from near to freezing to over 100 degrees.
During the summer months, the creek evaporates, leaving even smaller puddles of water. Some of the Pupfish are marooned and end up being dinner for other desert wildlife.
Our Takeaway
We enjoyed the half-mile loop trail and found it very interesting. There is a lot of information on the boards to digest.
It was fun learning about the tiny fish that call this area home. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to see any of the Pupfish, although another walker said he saw a small shoal.
Salt Creek Trail is an excellent spot for a stroll. We would suggest wearing a hat and long sleeves as there is no shade and remember to take water with you.
One thing we did find upsetting was all the human footprints (small and adult) in the mud and stream. It clearly states to keep on the boardwalk as it is such a delicate area. Why are people so ignorant? Don’t they realise the damage they have done to this fragile landscape?
salt creek trail – in a nutshell
- Address: 13 miles NE of Furnace Creek off of Highway 190
- Signposted
- A 1.5-mile unpaved road to the parking lot
- Toilets at trailhead
- 0.5-mile interpretive trail
- Take drinking water with you
- Stay on the boardwalk – this is very important
- Suitable for wheelchairs
- No pets – this is a wildlife area
- Please do not go into the water or throw anything into the water
- Do not feed the wildlife
- Leave no trace. Pack it in – pack it out
location map
- For more inspirational sites and places to discover in Death Valley, click the link below.
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