Prior to reaching the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes from the Furnace Creek side of CA-190, you’ll notice an interesting feature on either side of the road. This is the Devil’s Cornfield. During the early days of Death Valley National Park, promoters gave interesting landmarks and features unusual names. This particular sight was “thought to resemble bundled corn left to dry in rows at harvest time.” What you are looking at is arrowweed, the root system of which “binds the soil around each plant … Arrowweed does well in soils that are only slightly salty and is an indicator of a shallow water table. As the name suggests, Native Americans used the ridged stems of the arrowweed as arrow shafts.”
Alluvial Fan and Devil's Cornfield, Death Valley National Park
Rebecca Latson
Monday, June 26, 2023
Support Journalism about National Parks!
National Parks Traveler is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
The Essential RVing Guide
The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.
This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.
You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.
So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.
Add comment