Scenic pullout · Death Valley National Park
Quirky arrowweed mounds that look like shocks of corn
Overview
Devil's Cornfield is a quirky roadside stop along CA-190 where clumps of arrowweed punctuate a broad, sandy plain. From a distance, these bundles look like shocks of harvested corn—hence the name. It sits a few miles east of Stovepipe Wells and near Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, making it an effortless add-on between bigger sights.
This spot is more about desert ecology and geology than drama. The arrowweed’s odd, bundled growth and the wind-carved landscape tell a story of survival and erosion in one of the harshest environments around. Knowing what you’re looking at makes the stop far more rewarding.
Parkwolf’s verdictWhy It’s InterestingMap
Local know-how
Use the pullout and never stop in the travel lane.
Bring water and sun protection; there’s no shade and it gets hot.
Early or late light makes the arrowweed shapes pop in photos.
Step carefully and avoid trampling vegetation when you wander out.
Combine with a visit to nearby Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Death Valley Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Death Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Death Valley audio tourRecorded for this place
Devil's Cornfield: A Landscape Shaped by Wind“That strange-looking landscape you're seeing is known as the Devil's Cornfield. Those aren't corn stalks, but clumps of a tough desert plant called arrowweed.”
Plays as you drive up to Devil's Cornfield in the Parkwolf Death Valley Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Expect a flat, open expanse dotted with bushy, stick-like mounds of arrowweed rising from the sand. Many sit on little pedestals with exposed roots; wind has scoured away the looser sand over time, leaving the plants perched above the current surface. The area lacks protective desert pavement, so it’s a classic deflation basin sculpted by relentless winds.
Wildlife isn’t the headline here, but you might notice insects or small desert reptiles using the sparse cover. Don’t expect marquee wildlife encounters.
Treat it as a photo break and stretch-your-legs moment rather than a destination. Wander a short distance from the pullout for cleaner compositions, but avoid trampling vegetation.
There are no restrooms, water, or services here—just a small roadside pullout and the view. Summer heat can be intense; bring water and sun protection, even for a short stop.
Wildlife
71 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
101 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
458 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
28 sightingsFeral BurroMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
30 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
62 sightingsKit FoxMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
EasyMesquite Flat Sand Dunes2 mi · 1.5 hr · 3.6 mi awayCross-country dunes to Death Valley’s tallest dune, with wide-open sunrise and sunset views.
ChallengingGrotto Canyon3.4 mi · 4.5 hr · 3.9 mi awayUnmarked desert-canyon scramble through polished narrows to a high chokestone
EasySalt Creek Interpretive Trail0.8 mi · 30 min · 4.1 mi awayAn easy, flat boardwalk loop through Salt Creek’s rare desert wetland and pupfish habitat.
Sight · 3.4 mi awayMesquite Flat Sand DunesEasy-access dunes for golden-hour photos, stargazing, and sandboarding
Trailhead · 4.1 mi awaySalt Creek Interpretive SiteShort boardwalk to a rare desert creek with pupfish
Sight · 4.6 mi awayGrotto CanyonSculpted slot narrows and serious scrambles with big solitudeParkwolf’s Death Valley ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
