Get to Know the Amargosa Valley

Looking to get away from the chaos of Las Vegas? The Amargosa Valley is roughly 100 miles away, offering the right mix of natural beauty, history, and adventure.

🌵 Where Is It?

“Amargosa Valley” is a little tricky to define. It’s an unincorporated Nye County, Nevada town with a population of less than 1,500 people. Then again, it’s also a geographic region that straddles the California state line, stretching down to Tecopa between Pahrump and Death Valley.

🤠 Some History

The valley was a stop on the Old Spanish Trail between Santa Fe and San Diego in the 1800s, drawing travelers and Native tribes to its vast water supply. The Amargosa River is partially trapped underground, but also connects to a system of springs and vibrant wetlands. “Amargosa” is Spanish for “bitter,” and the name was inspired by the water’s exposure to rocks and sediment.

🐟 Animals and Plants

The Amargosa Valley is a biodiversity hotspot, believed to have the highest concentration of endemic species exclusive to one area in North America. The federally protected Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is the largest remaining oasis in the Mojave Desert, featuring boardwalk viewing platforms that extend out to spring pools throughout the lush 24,000-acre habitat.

🚘 Planning a Visit

The region is popular for bare-bones camping, but visitors can also spend the night at the Longstreet Inn & Casino, a two-story resort which seems to pop up in the middle of nowhere with a scenic backyard lagoon, chapel, petting zoo, restaurant, and RV services. Farther south, book a room at the Shoshone Inn, just across the street from the free Shoshone Museum (which has mastodon and wooly mammoth bones inside and old mining equipment outside).

🏜️ Hot Destinations

The Amargosa Opera House, founded by a New York dancer in 1967 at Death Valley Junction, remains open for tours and special events, allowing people to see its famous mural of audience members that gives the illusion of a packed house. The area has its share of sand dunes, especially the Big Dune for hiking and ATV racing. No trip is complete without a stop at the 200-acre China Ranch Date Farm, a true oasis where you can roam the tree-lined grounds and sip on a delicious date shake. It’s next to the Amargosa River Trail, a 17-mile hiking route with a waterfall and slot canyon.

😋 Food and Drink

Grab a bite at the Crowbar, a historic saloon and diner in Shoshone, or Steaks & Beer, a quaint, but cozy restaurant in Tecopa with hunks of beef that rival those served in Vegas fine-dining restaurants. Death Valley Brewing has a few experimental brews on tap and if you just want something quick and easy on U.S. Route 95, the AREA 51 Alien Center is a glorified convenience store and gift shop with a UFO theme.

🎉 Upcoming Events

Vole Fest is this Saturday, March 29, celebrating the biodiversity of the region. The day includes a tour of the Shoshone Wetlands, activities at the Tecopa Community Center, and trivia at Death Valley Brewing.

Return for the Amargosa Days Festival April 25-26 at the Amargosa Valley Park. The event dates back to 1969, featuring live music, a car show, games, food, and the world’s “shortest parade” 🥳