Darwin Falls
Encyclopedia
Darwin Falls is a waterfall
located on the western edge of Death Valley National Park
near the settlement of Panamint Springs, California
. Although there exists a similarly named Darwin Falls Wilderness
adjacent to the falls, the falls themselves are located in and administered by Death Valley National Park and the National Park Service
. There are several falls, but they are mainly divided into the upper and lower with a small grotto
in between. At a combined 80 feet (24 m), it is the highest waterfall in the park. The canyon is walled by dramatic plutonic rock.
Darwin Creek is one of the four perennial streams in three million acre (12,000 km²) Death Valley National Park. Darwin Falls and Creek are fed by the Darwin Wash, which is in turn fed by the volcanic tableland of the Darwin Bench between the Inyo Mountains
and the Argus Range
. The small, narrow valley where the creek and falls are located features a rare collection of riparian greenery
in the vast desert
and is home to indigenous fauna such as quail
. The falls themselves support several small fern
gullys.
Darwin Falls, the Darwin Falls Wilderness, the nearby town of Darwin, California
and all other areas named "Darwin" in the vicinity are named after Dr. Darwin French
(1822–1902), a local rancher, miner and explorer.
. Access to the trail to Darwin Falls is a dirt road located on the south side of State Route 190
, approximately ¼ mile (400 m) west of Panamint Springs. The lower falls (themselves approximately 20 feet (6 m)) are accessible with a short hike through Darwin Canyon that become moderately difficult towards the end. While this access point is usually accessible with a 2WD vehicle, there is an option to drive further with a 4WD vehicle to a spot further along the path around the canyon. The upper falls are viewable with moderate climbing.
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
located on the western edge of Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is a national park in the U.S. states of California and Nevada located east of the Sierra Nevada in the arid Great Basin of the United States. The park protects the northwest corner of the Mojave Desert and contains a diverse desert environment of salt-flats, sand dunes,...
near the settlement of Panamint Springs, California
Panamint Springs, California
Panamint Springs is an unincorporated community in Inyo County, California. It lies at an elevation of 1926 feet .Panamint Springs is located along State Route 190 between Old Toll Road and SR178/Panamint Valley Road...
. Although there exists a similarly named Darwin Falls Wilderness
Darwin Falls Wilderness
The Darwin Falls Wilderness is a wilderness area in the northern Mojave Desert, and part of the National Wilderness Preservation System established by the California Desert Protection Act and managed by the Bureau of Land Management...
adjacent to the falls, the falls themselves are located in and administered by Death Valley National Park and the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
. There are several falls, but they are mainly divided into the upper and lower with a small grotto
Grotto
A grotto is any type of natural or artificial cave that is associated with modern, historic or prehistoric use by humans. When it is not an artificial garden feature, a grotto is often a small cave near water and often flooded or liable to flood at high tide...
in between. At a combined 80 feet (24 m), it is the highest waterfall in the park. The canyon is walled by dramatic plutonic rock.
Darwin Creek is one of the four perennial streams in three million acre (12,000 km²) Death Valley National Park. Darwin Falls and Creek are fed by the Darwin Wash, which is in turn fed by the volcanic tableland of the Darwin Bench between the Inyo Mountains
Inyo Mountains
The Inyo Mountains are a short mountain range east of the Sierra Nevada mountains in eastern California in the United States. The range separates the Owens Valley to the west with Saline Valley to the east, extending for approximately 70 mi SSE from the southern end of the White Mountains,...
and the Argus Range
Argus Range
The Argus Range is a mountain range located in Inyo County, California, southeast of the town of Darwin, between the Coso Range and the Panamint Valley, with the Panamint Range to the east .-Geography:The range contains Maturango Peak, at above sea level...
. The small, narrow valley where the creek and falls are located features a rare collection of riparian greenery
Riparian zone
A riparian zone or riparian area is the interface between land and a river or stream. Riparian is also the proper nomenclature for one of the fifteen terrestrial biomes of the earth. Plant habitats and communities along the river margins and banks are called riparian vegetation, characterized by...
in the vast desert
Desert
A desert is a landscape or region that receives an extremely low amount of precipitation, less than enough to support growth of most plants. Most deserts have an average annual precipitation of less than...
and is home to indigenous fauna such as quail
Quail
Quail is a collective name for several genera of mid-sized birds generally considered in the order Galliformes. Old World quail are found in the family Phasianidae, while New World quail are found in the family Odontophoridae...
. The falls themselves support several small fern
Fern
A fern is any one of a group of about 12,000 species of plants belonging to the botanical group known as Pteridophyta. Unlike mosses, they have xylem and phloem . They have stems, leaves, and roots like other vascular plants...
gullys.
Darwin Falls, the Darwin Falls Wilderness, the nearby town of Darwin, California
Darwin, California
Darwin is a census-designated place in Inyo County, California, United States. Darwin is located southeast of Keeler, at an elevation of 4790 feet . The population was 43 at the 2010 census, down from 54 at the 2000 census. It is named after Dr...
and all other areas named "Darwin" in the vicinity are named after Dr. Darwin French
Darwin French
Doctor Erasmus Darwin French was an American man of adventure. He was born in 1822 in New York State, trained as a doctor and then enlisted in the army, later becaming a silver prospector. He married Miss Cornelia S. Cowles, daughter of Judge Cowles of San Diego in 1858. They had two sons Alfred...
(1822–1902), a local rancher, miner and explorer.
Access
Darwin Falls is accessible to the public. The falls are located in a small,narrow valley near Panamint ValleyPanamint Valley
The Panamint Valley is a long basin located east of the Argus Range and Slate Range, and west of the Panamint Range in the northeastern reach of the Mojave Desert, in eastern California, United States.-Geography:...
. Access to the trail to Darwin Falls is a dirt road located on the south side of State Route 190
California State Route 190
State Route 190 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that is split into two parts by the Sierra Nevada. The western portion of begins at Tipton at a junction with State Route 99 and heads east towards Porterville before ending at Quaking Aspen in the Sequoia National Forest...
, approximately ¼ mile (400 m) west of Panamint Springs. The lower falls (themselves approximately 20 feet (6 m)) are accessible with a short hike through Darwin Canyon that become moderately difficult towards the end. While this access point is usually accessible with a 2WD vehicle, there is an option to drive further with a 4WD vehicle to a spot further along the path around the canyon. The upper falls are viewable with moderate climbing.