Photo credit: Cyndi Souza / USFWS

Named after the galleries of ash trees described in expedition notes from 1893, this desert oasis is a rare and unique ecosystem where the desert springs to life. 

Located in the Amargosa Valley in southern Nevada, Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge is one of the last remaining oases of its kind in the Mojave Desert. The Refuge comprises over 24,000 acres with over 50 seeps and springs, wetlands, and alkali desert. Ash Meadows supports the highest concentration of endemic species in the United States and the second highest in North America, including four federally endangered fishes, seven species of threatened and endangered plants, and a threatened aquatic invertebrate. In 1986, Ash Meadows NWR became the fourth Ramsar Site in the United States, recognizing it as a wetland of international importance. As part of the Pacific Flyway, the Refuge provides habitat for multiple species of birds and is home to many reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, including pronghorn antelope and Desert Bighorn sheep.

When entering Ash Meadows, going off-trail or entering waterways is strictly prohibited at the Refuge. 

https://www.fws.gov/refuge/ash-meadows