Spring in Nevada comes with pure magic: longer days, more sunshine (but doable heat), and nature coming to life. It’s the perfect time to go for a hike and see the wonderful wildflowers bloom, right here in the desert – plus the little ones love it too! Without further ado, here are our favorite spots to see the wildflowers near Vegas this spring!
Red Rock Canyon
A favorite for Vegas residents, Red Rock Canyon is always an amazing choice for a nature getaway. And it’s even more stunning when the wildflowers bloom! During the month of March, you can usually witness a beautiful sea of fiery red flowers, called Desert Paintbrush. Later on, milky-white Desert Anemone and Dune Primrose will appear. Globe Mallow shows up with its orange flowers, and Giant Four O’clock flowers paint the trails purple. Don’t forget to look out for pastel pink blooms on the Manzanita bushes.
During the spring season (through May 31), you need a timed entry reservation to enter the Scenic Loop at Red Rock Canyon between 8 AM and 5 PM. Currently, day passes are $20 per vehicle, and $5 for pedestrians or cyclists.
Valley Of Fire State Park
This stunning (recently renovated) park offers great hikes year-round, even some special ones: don’t miss the night time or sunrise hikes.
This area gets less rain than other spots, hence the wildflowers you’ll find are mostly cacti, like the Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus, Beaver Tail, or Cholla. They’re bursting with beautiful pink and purple flowers.
Also commonly found in this park is the Bladder Sage, or Paperbag Bush, which is an amusing plant whose flower is shaped like a tiny purple bag. Along the park roads, keep your eyes peeled for the bright yellow Desert Marigold, the orange Desert Mallow, and the Indigo Bush.
Currently, a day entrance fee costs $10 per Nevada vehicle.
Death Valley National Park (superbloom!)
If you’re in for an adventure that’s just a little bit further away (but still just a 2-hour drive) check out Death Valley National Park. The best time to visit for wildflowers is usually between March and mid-April.
Also – we have amazing news for 2026: Death Valley is currently experiencing a historic, once-in-a-decade superbloom! Thanks to record-breaking rains, it is the best bloom we’ve seen since 2016. Unlike drier years, the lower altitudes are currently exploding with color right now. You can spot endless carpets of bright yellow Desert Gold, white Evening Primrose, and the spikey purple Phacelia. Various cacti are blooming throughout the park, too. Head there around the end of April and into May as the heat rises, and you can spot amazing flowers at higher elevations. Look out for Mariposa Lilies and Paintbrush.
Here’s what’s blooming right now and where (as of March 10):
- North Badwater Rd (between CA190 and Badwater Basin): Desert Gold, Brown-eyed Primrose
- South Badwater Rd (near Ashford Mill): Desert Gold, Sand Verbena, Five Spot, Brown-eyed Primrose
- Highway 190 (between Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek): Gravel Ghost, Phacelia, Desert Gold, Mojave Desert Star
- Beatty Cutoff: Phacelia, Desert Gold, Gravel Ghost
A daily pass for a private vehicle at Death Valley National Park is $30. Please note the park entry gates are now totally cashless.
Please keep in mind to never leave a trace of your visit. Never pick or crush a wildflower, don’t litter, and respect the beautiful nature we have around us. Enjoy these beautiful wildflowers near Vegas!
