Death Valley, Proposed Wilderness & National Park Addition

Bowling Alley; © John Dittli

Size: Approximately 32,611 acres

Management Agency: Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest Field Office

Location: Contiguous with the extreme southern boundary of Death Valley National Park.

Maps: BLM Desert Access Guide Owlshead Mountains

Landscape and History

On the extreme southern boundary of Death Valley National Park, the narrow strip of land between the Park and Fort Irwin, known as the ʺBowling Alley,ʺ is a remote area featuring rugged mountains and deep canyons, separated by open valleys, bajadas, and pristine dry lake beds. The geological history of the area dates back nearly two billion years, and the earliest human inhabitants appeared about 1,000 years ago. The land is a natural, common‐sense extension of Death Valley National Park.

Wildlife and Plants

For the patient visitor, this desert reveals her charm slowly. The one permanent spring, Quail Spring, exists at an elevation of 4,000 feet creating a rich riparian area while attracting a wide variety of birds. Owl Hole Spring provides intermittent water for an array of animals and a green oasis for visitors. Sparse rainfall may drain into Owl Lake or Lost Lake‐‐dry lakes that see water just a few days a year, or not at all. These ephemeral lakes offer a changing landscape based on the season and the yearʹs rainfall. The diverse topography and vegetation support a variety of wildlife, including two protected species, the desert tortoise and the desert bighorn sheep.

Activity Highlight

This areaʹs vast, rugged terrain offers outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive recreation, including backpacking and hiking. Its pristine and isolated nature offers unique opportunities for geological, archaeological and ecological research.

For More Information

Monica Argandoña, Desert Program Director, California Wilderness Coalition
margandona@calwild.org | (951) 205 6004