today for the first time in about 10 years. You may have never heard of it, but you have probably heard of its most famous inhabitant- the Devil's Hole Pupfish. Ash Meadows is about 23,000 acres that within it contains an incredible 26 endemic desert species. Its a neat place to visit but a couple of caveats: 1) unless you are able to spot 1 inch fish from 50 feet high and 200 feet away you will not be able to see the Devils Hole Pupfish (I can't). But you can see Devil's Hole (or at least where it breaks the surface). 2)You will not be able to see a second endangered pupfish -the Warm Springs Pupfish as none of the springs it lives in are open to the public, You can fairly easily see two endemic fish -the Ash Meadows Armagosa pupfish and the speckled dace. 3) If you want to see most of the endemic plants you will need to go in the summer and I assure you it will be much hotter than you ever really care to be. 4) the Nature Conservancy is currently developing facilities to see the nearby Armagosa toad , but currently they don't exist (facilities- the toad does). 5) It is a good place for birding as it contains two large spring fed lakes particularly for migratory fowl and water birds in the spring and fall. If you are ever in that neck of the desert, it is worthwhile seeing for any nature nerd, and is pretty decent even for most ordinary folk.
