Beatty, Nevada

03/03/2025

The Amargosa Toad is unique to the Oasis Valley and Beatty area. It is found in the Amargosa River, and in the seeps and springs in the foothills along the river valley. The Amargosa River is the longest underground river in the world; the headwaters are in the north end of Oasis Valley and winds south through Beatty, then (mostly underground) through Amargosa Valley. It surfaces again in Ash Meadows Wildlife Refuge, Shoshone and Tecopah, California, then ends in the south end of Death Valley, California.

The springs and wetlands through the Oasis Valley and Beatty are ideal for the survival of the Amargosa Toad and other flora and fauna, native or unique to the area. This is also a "flyway" for migrating birds, and is the nesting-ground for numerous seasonal and year around resident birds.

03/02/2025

03/01/2025

People don’t tend to associate Death Valley with fungi, and with good cause–it’s the driest place in North America. Yet, they find a way!

One mushroom in particular, Podaxis pistillarus, or the desert shaggy mane, is an unusual mushroom that thrives in dry and hot desert landscapes. These eye-catching white-to-brown fruiting bodies carry spores to help the fungus reproduce, while most of the organism lives underground. If you visit Death Valley, keep an eye out for these desert weirdos, and please leave them in place for others to enjoy!

📍 Death Valley National Park

Alt Text: A white mushroom with a shaggy cap and stem grows out of sandy soil. NPS/B. Garcia

02/28/2025

: Remick's Garage in Beatty was a popular place for fuel, tourist info and even campgrounds and cabins in its 1930s heyday.

📸: UNLV Libraries Special Collections & Archives

02/28/2025

🚙 Attention Off-Roading Enthusiasts! 🚙

Check out this amazing map that’s a fantastic resource for our off-roading trails.

Know which trails are public and which are private before you head out!

Plan your trip to Beatty and enjoy the beauty and splendor of our desert!

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02/26/2025

Are you ready for the BigHorn Outback Explorers 4th annual Poker Run. Set for Saturday, April 26, 2025. The course is approximately 52 miles and is another new course. Last vehicle out 10am, must be back by 3pm.

Pre-registration is available online from our website is available. The flyer below has a convenient QR code that takes you directly to our site. Lunch this year is catered by Chaz with Papi's BBQ. You may recognize his as he has catered several events here in Beatty and Las Vegas. The smell of his smoked chicken and ribs will grab you, the taste will excite you.

This year, we will be using an electronic card dealing program, eliminating the need to open envelopes and speeding up that process. Best hand - $500.00, Second best hand $300.00 - cash prizes. Must be present to win. Winners announced at 4:00 pm.

For those spending the night in Beatty, the Ringle Properties are offering a discount when you register. Please use promo code POKERRUN25, valid on stays 4/25 - 4/27. Offer valid only at Stagecoach Hotel & casino, Death Valley Inn and Exchange Club Motel. http://www.stagecoachnotelandcasino.com.

At this time, we would like to ask for a donation from AGA, as you have graciously provided in the past. And since we are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we can offer a tax receipt for the donation, if needed.

Also, one last reminder that this is a slow speed event. You have 7-5 hrs. to enjoy our backyard and the new course our Trailmaster Karl & team have created for you.

02/26/2025

Just Wow!

02/26/2025

When Shorty Harris and Ed Cross discovered gold in the Bullfrog district in the summer of 1904, they had no idea what kind of chaos they were about to unleash. Their ore samples, assayed at an incredible $700 per ton, set off a gold rush like no other.

As soon as they brought their samples to Goldfield, the town went wild. People dropped everything—clerks, waiters, cooks, and timekeepers all quit on the spot, desperate to get to the new strike. Wagons, buckboards, and even wheelbarrows rolled out of town in a frenzy. Some men just grabbed whatever they could carry and started walking the 75 miles across the desert.

When Harris and Cross returned to their claim a week later, they found over a thousand people already camped around it, with more arriving every day. Tents were rare—most just slept under the stars. From that moment, Bullfrog took off at breakneck speed, growing so fast that even the most experienced prospectors could hardly believe their eyes.

02/23/2025

We're having an absolute blast at the Death Valley Dark Sky Festival 2025! 🚀 It's incredible to see so many people join us during this special event, celebrating and exploring one of our most precious natural resources – the breathtaking dark sky!

Over the past few days, attendees have enjoyed an array of engaging in-person programs, including fascinating talks from esteemed scientists in our auditorium and at various locations throughout the park. We've also had Ranger-led astronomy programs, where our knowledgeable Rangers have guided guests through the wonders of the night sky!

And who could forget the enchanting star parties? 🌠 Participants have been looking into the cosmos through telescopes, getting up close and personal with celestial wonders!

The festival continues today (2/23), so if you're in the park, there's still plenty of fun activities waiting for you! Don't miss out on all the magical experiences!

Head over to www.nps.gov/deva for all the latest programming info. And for those who can't make it in person, check out our amazing virtual programs available online now!

📍 Furnace Creek

Alt Text: The photograph captures a night sky filled with stars above a group of people engaged in a stargazing event. A prominent green laser beam cuts across the sky, adding a bright human-made element to the natural scene. The group is illuminated by red lights, highlighting the gathering against the dark landscape. Photo/NASA's Earth to Sky

02/23/2025

02/21/2025

It's tomorrow, are you ready?

02/21/2025

Are you starting to notice small, yellow flowers across the desert?

Creosote bushes (Larrea tridentata) are starting to bloom! Creosote is a shrub found commonly throughout the Chihuahuan, Sonoran, and Mojave deserts. These bushes are incredibly hardy and have adapted to survive the harsh desert climate. Not only might you see their cheerful blooms, but, if you’re lucky, you may even get a whiff of their unique scent.

One of the creosote bush’s adaptations is a waxy oil on their leaves. This oil helps to seal in water and keep the plant from drying out. But when it rains, the oil mixes with water. This mixture is what gives creosote bush its signature scent.

This scent has been described in a multitude of ways. Some think it smells like the industrial wood preservative creosote, from which the plant gets its name. Others describe the smell as spicy, delicious, or herby. Some call the scent indescribable, and something that can only be experienced.

For the best chance at experiencing this scent in Death Valley, you will need to visit during the wet season, typically January through March. Even during the wet season, rain is very rare in Death Valley, so you may want to look to other national parks to experience this phenomenon. Joshua Tree National Park, Organ Pipe National Monument, and Mojave National Preserve all have significant populations of creosote.

📍 Death Valley National Park

Alt Text: Zoomed in photo of yellow flowers, buds, and branches of shrubby bush. NPS

02/17/2025

🎵Secret ocean! secret ocean! Beneath the ice crust! Secret, secret, secret, ocean!🎵

NASA scientists sometimes transform Death Valley National Park into a hub of innovation as they gear up for thrilling potential missions to explore, like Jupiter's icy moon, Europa! This unique desert environment serves as a valuable analog for the challenges they might face on Europa, where a hidden ocean beneath a frozen crust could be home to some surprising life forms.

The concept Europa Lander mission could aim to investigate the moon's habitability, hoping to unlock the mysteries surrounding its icy surface and underlying ocean. The work happening in Death Valley is not just preparation; it's a critical component of our broader quest to understand the potential for life beyond Earth. As we continue to look outward into the cosmos, these foundational research efforts on our home planet are paving the way for future discoveries. 🌌🔍

Learn more about Europa here: https://ow.ly/EEiN50V0E1X

📍 Europa

Alt Text: The image showcases a celestial body's upper hemisphere against a pitch-black background. The surface is predominantly a mixture of pale greys and browns, interlaced with a pattern of thin, dark lines that seem to form a cracked, web-like network. Scattered across the surface are various shades of lighter and darker areas, adding depth and dimension to its appearance. The surface appears rugged and uneven, with several indents and protrusions that hint at a geologically dynamic past. NASA

02/15/2025

Check out this amazing video of Rhyolite from Spirit Nevada! From its fascinating history to the stunning, eerie landscapes, Rhyolite captures the spirit of the Wild West like no other place. Whether you’re a history buff or just love exploring unique destinations, this video is a must-see!

Don't forget to share your thoughts and let us know if you’ve ever visited!

Nestled in the Bullfrog Hills 120 northwest of Las Vegas on the edge of Death Valley lies the once-booming town, Rhyolite. With modern works of art sprinkle...