Death Valley National Park in Inyo County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Devil’s Cornfield

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 4, 2022

1. Devil’s Cornfield Marker

Inscription. Seeking to capitalize on the mystique of Death Valley, early promoters attached dubious names like "Devils Cornfield" to its strange and unusual features. Thought to resemble bundled corn left to dry in rows at harvest time, the root system of the arrowweed binds the soil around each plant. The mesquite trees at the base of the sand dunes in the distance have made similar adaptations, hoarding the soil to support their growth. 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.

Erected by National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 36° 36.984′ N, 117° 4.309′ W. Marker is in Death Valley National Park, California, in Inyo County. It is on California Route 190 6 miles east of Stovepipe Wells Village, on the left when traveling east.

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Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Death Valley CA 92328, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sierra Nevada.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Old Stovepipe Wells (approx. 3 miles away); McLean Spring (approx. 3 miles away); Transportation Traces (approx. 3.4 miles away); Death Valley’s First Tourist Resort (approx. 4.1 miles away); Burned Wagons Point (approx. 4.2 miles away); Road To Adventure (approx. 4.2 miles away); Eichbaum Toll Road (approx. 4.3 miles away); Death Valley National Park (approx. 9.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Death Valley National Park.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Wagon Wheel History (was approx. 3.4 miles away).

Marker Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 4, 2022

2. Marker Detail

Wind scours the surrounding sand away, leaving the plants stranded on a pedestal of root and earth.

Devil’s Cornfield and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 4, 2022

3. Devil’s Cornfield and Marker

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 4, 2022

4. Devil’s Cornfield Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 3,075 times since then and 84 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 12, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.