ash meadows national wildlife refuge

beautiful wildlife preserve. looks like flat desert, but once you are inside there is a long boardwalk leading to a live spring. lots of wild life to observe, backdropped by gorgeous mountain ranges

A lot of work has gone into this reserve to restore its natural diversity and it is a treat to visit. We saw many desert birds, at least two different kinds of lizards, pupfish and beautiful scenery, even if it was only early February. The board walks make it easy to walk through the area without disturbing anything, the deep springs are amazing and the visitor center held our interest for over an hour. I would definitely recommend taking the time to enjoy this learning experience.

My father in law, puppy and I went to Ash Meadows today and it was awesome. It's a great little wildlife refuge and reservoir.The new visitors center is very nice and the staff are very helpful.The boardwalks that are installed for you to walk around the protected areas are great. We all had a really good time. Give yourself a couple of hours to take it all in.

A place to visit and learn about how this area use to be wetland and supported a diversity of life before civilization destroyed a lot. They are working to restore it. Of course the pupfish and the beautiful springs are a great surprise

On a tip from the B&B we stayed at in Pahrump, Nevada (K 7, already reviewed), we stopped by expecting to rush in and out, but stayed for several hours. The visitor center had been opened for only three weeks - finishing touches were being made to an exhibit. The exhibits were among the best we've seen. In back of the center is a 1.5 mile boardwalk that goes to a crystalline spring that puts out 2800 gallons of water per minute. All the springs in the reserve put out about 11,000 gallons per minute. The boardwalks are wonderfully designed for minimal environmental impact and have very informative signage. The reserve is run by the federal Fish and Wildlife service. It is among the best national properties we have ever visited. Who knew the desert could be so interesting?

The newly opened visitor center is nice. The board walks are well constructer and necessary for the preservation of this jewel. Devil's hole and the Amargosa Pupfish are world famous. The waters in the pools I the area are very beautiful. And to think they wanted to build a resort on this. We explored the park did a little hiking and walking on the boardwalks. Love this park.John & LynNita Ellis

Ash Meadows preserves an isolated desert marshland environment that is home to at least 26 endemic species, species found nowhere else in the world, which is the highest concentration in the United States. Probably the most well known endemic species is the Devil’s Hole Pupfish which live in a tiny water filled cavern, technically a part of Death Valley National Park, at the base of a mountain and feed and spawn on a small rock ledge near the surface. As the level of the ground water dropped, exposing this critical ledge, due to increased farming and development in the area, this tiny fish, less than 1 inch (2.54 cm) long, became famous when the US Supreme Court decided in 1976 to limit groundwater pumping to ensure enough water to keep part of the critical rock shelf submerged. Today, the fish and their “hole” are protected by fencing that would remind someone of a small, maximum security prison and there is little to see. While the Devil’s Hole many be the most famous, this is not the reason to visit this wonderful environment as there are many more plants and animals that are much easier to see including the much more colorful endemic Ash Meadows Amargosa Pupfish that is easily spotted in a number of springs including a beautiful travertine (a type of limestone that imparts a beautiful turquoise color to the water) spring along the boardwalk behind the visitor center. About 45 miles (73k) from Furnace Creek in Death Valley, we made a side trip here during our visit to the National Park. Being considerably higher in elevation than the valley floor, we decided to visit early in the afternoon, to avoid the valley heat, during the spring and found the temperatures here to be quite warm but pleasant. Spring offers the best experience with the best weather, the most endemic wildlife activity, wild flowers and other plants in bloom; and migrating birds visiting the mash and reservoirs. We found the dirt roads to be in good condition and passable in our rental car; arriving at the visitor center at lunch time, we enjoyed a picnic lunch at one of several shaded picnic tables adjacent to the parking area. After lunch, we stopped by the visitor center, where the rangers were very friendly and helpful, then walked the Crystal Spring Boardwalk adjacent to the center which was simply beautiful with its crystal clear, almost fluorescent, turquoise waters, the Amargosa Pupfish and marsh vegetation surrounded by the harsh, alkaline desert environment. If you have time only to visit one part of the refuge, this is where you want to come. If you have more time, visit Kings Spring, while not as pretty as Crystal Spring, the colorful Amargosa Pupfish are easier to see and more numerous and, if you still have additional time, the third recommended stop would be the Longstreet Spring and Cabin that preserves the homestead of a colorful, early 20th century prospector and gunslinger.

You drive and drive and in bright sunshine and heat and barren landscape. Then you pull into the parking lot of the welcome center, then you step onto the boardwalk.You hear the gurgle of water but can't see it right away, need to walk a bit and follow the sound and then you see ribbons of water meandering through the grass. And if you stay still and look into the gently flowing water you may get lucky and see the tiny Pupfish that caused a ruckus when a developer wanted to put in a resort in the area. The area is amazing and has that wonderful smell of grass and water and life, in the middle of the desert! Nature at Her Best........This place is truly a reward for all. Just another one of those surprises that Mother Nature loves to give to those who look,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Love to go and observe the wildlife/birds. The springs are absolutely beautiful. The best time to visit is spring or fall. It is a place just to take your time. We have even seen big horn sheep here.

Passed this when looking for gas after checking into the Longstreet Inn and went back the next day. They're building a new welcome center which looks large and should be completed in early 2015. The center that is there now has a lot of information, pamphlets, video and some of the nicest people that greet you and answer questions. Ash Meadows is an oasis in the endless desert that surrounds Death valley. There are a few springs that feed streams that feed the trees and animals that reside in this wondrous place. Jack Longstreet, a pioneer of the area, had a cabin there with it's own spring however we only walked the wooden boardwalk to the spring by the welcome center as we had a time constraint. We will go back as there are many other sights that we missed at Ash Meadows. An important fact is there are quite a few endemic species found only at Ash Meadows and nowhere else. These include small fishes (yup FISHES in the desert!) in the springs and streams, shell bearing creatures in the water and plants. The water in the spring was crystal clear blue and stated to be 82 degrees year round. In Florida our springs are about 72 degrees and a bit chilly but no matter no swimming is allowed in any of Ash Meadows' springs. A beautiful place in the middle of nowhere with springs in the desert. I pine to go back there.

We visited about 6pm so didn't get to see the visitor center. We pretty much had the entire preserve to ourselves. It is very remote so make sure your car is in good condition and take your time on the park roads as they are all dirt. The preserve is still open even outside of normal 9-5 hours even if the visitor center is not.Ash Meadows is a collection of natural springs and some historic buildings. The springs contain ancient water that fell on the nearby mountains long ago. Near the visitor center you can take several different boardwalks to see the springs and spring fed ponds. Bug spray and sun screen is highly recommended. Two members of our group were chased by large, biting horse flies!We also visited Devils Hole in hopes of seeing the endangered pupfish, however the area is partially fenced off and while you can see the spring, you're not really close enough to see the pupfish. A webcam would be nice but it's understandable that given the remoteness of the area, it's not really practical.We left feeling that while we had got a good introduction to the refuge, we would like to visit again when the visitor center is open so we could get more out of our visit.

We happened to come across this place on the way to DV. Didn't even know it existed. We were very impressed with the crystal blue springs and it wasn't as hot here as in DV! :) We stopped at the visitor's center and the people who live behind it are very nice and gave us info. about other things to see and do. I'd love to visit again if I had more time. Gorgeous area!It's a good idea to take lunch or snacks and a cooler of water b/c it is literally in the middle of no where!

The Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge was a desert oasis for the Native Americans and first European settlers. Follow one of the three boardwalk trails to creeks, reservoirs and crystal springs preserved in the middle of the Mohave Desert, one of the most inhospitable places on earth. You can also view the 1896 stone house built by Jack Longstreet, an early settler and gunslinger, over one of the natural creeks. Ol' Jack knew how to keep a house cool when the temperature is over 100. The Refuge has few visitors because most Americans and Europeans drive right by on the way to Death Valley. However, it is well worth several hours of your vacation time.

Today, Sunday april 27, 2014 10:35 AM closed! So sad, after going the long way on dirt/uneven roads my family and I were so disappointed that it was closed. We will try again in a few weeks (hope to walk through before the hot weather hits).

We were on our way to Death Valley when we decided to take a side trip thru Ash Meadows. Amazing springs in the middle of the desert. Be sure to check out the old gunslinger's cabin and point of rocks walk.