The Salt Creek Trail comprises a 1-mile (1.6-kilomter) wooden boardwalk loop over a rare sight of water in Death Valley National Park. The salty creek provides a welcome change from the vast arid bowl surrounding it. Enjoy the views of the water, with a backdrop of the park’s dramatic mountains.
Take a leisurely stroll along the wooden planks of the boardwalk and inspect the information boards to learn more about the local ecosystems. The Salt Creek pupfish is an unusual aquatic creature that is most frequently spotted here in spring. Get a closer look at this bizarre fish, which has golden translucent skin and is endemic to the region.
Bring the whole family on this gentle walk that barely changes in elevation as it meanders between the scrub bushes along the creek. After about 1,300 feet (400 meters), the trail splits into two, before later reuniting as a loop.
Take advantage of the tranquility to listen to the calls of the great blue herons and songbirds. Set up a picnic on a dry area amid the pickle weed and salt grass.
This creek is thought to be a leftover from the enormous freshwater lake that once filled the entire valley. Consider how the Salt Creek pupfish evolved to prosper here, when the lake dried almost entirely and became salty about 10,000 years ago. The fish is formidable and can live in freezing or hot conditions.
There is a fee to enter the national park to gain access to the hike. You’ll find the Salt Creek Trailhead between Stovepipe Wells and Beatty Junction in the northeastern part of Death Valley. Drive north from Furnace Creek for 15 miles (24 kilometers) to get here in roughly 20 minutes. Make sure to see other nearby attractions such as the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, the Mosaic Canyon Trail and the Stovepipe Wells Ranger Station.
