The hike to Telescope Peak takes you along an exposed ridge line through starkly beautiful and windswept terrain. You pass by pinyon pine, juniper, and 3,000 year old bristlecone pine trees before topping out at 11,049 ft. The summit views treat the hardy hiker to 360 degree views, including the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains to the west and desert salt flats 11,000 ft. below to the east. Telescope Peak is also the highest point in Death Valley National Park.

Location: Panamint Range, Death Valley National Park, California

Trailhead: Mahogany Flats Campground

Length: 14 miles

Elevation Gain: +3,000 feet

Trail Type: Out and back

Difficulty: Strenuous

Best Season to Hike: Summer, Fall

Parking: Limited parking at trailhead, fee/interagency pass required for entry to park

Nearby Camping: Wildrose (free, water), Thorndike (free), Mahogany (free)

Concerns: Elevation is a concern when hiking this trail, especially if you have spent time at or below sea level. If you start to feel the effects of altitude sickness (headache, nausea, etc.), immediately turn around and get to lower elevation. Since there is no water available at the trailhead or along the trail, be prepared to carry all your water for the hike. Due to the elevation, temperatures are significantly lower than other parts of the park. Make sure to bring appropriate insulating and wind layers. In early spring, winter, and late fall, there may be ice or snow on the trail. Shoe traction and ice axes may be required for winter or shoulder season travel. There are pit toilets available at the trailhead.

Note: The NPS lists the hike as 7 miles one-way. When I hiked it, I measured it at 6.2 miles one-way. I decided to go with the official mileage since it is better to error on the side of caution and not underestimate distance.

Map: I recommend the National Geographic Death Valley National Park Trails Illustrated Map. It’s informative, durable and accurate.

When I fall in love with a place on my first visit, I often leave a big-ticket item unchecked so I have strong motivation to come back.  When I lived in Japan, I didn’t climb Mt. Fuji. When I traveled to southeast Asia, I didn’t visit Thailand. When I visited Death Valley for the first time in 2015, I climbed Wildrose Peak instead of Telescope. In October 2017, I made my way back to Death Valley and set my sights on climbing the highest peak in the park.

The night before our hike, my partner and I spent the night camping at Wildrose Campground. At 4,100 feet, it is cooler than the lower parts of the park, but can still be chilly in fall and cold in winter. We woke up early and drove up the half paved half graded road to the Charcoal Kilns.  The official trailhead begins at Mahogany Flats, but I was unsure of the road conditions so we left my low clearance car at the kilns and walked the .75 miles to the official trailhead. On arriving, I saw a Ford Focus parked in the trailhead parking lot so I probably could have made it.

The trailhead is well signed and has a nice information board with about local flora and fauna as well as the views that await. We set off at a quick pace to help warm ourselves in the chilly morning air. Soon we were walking past pinyon pine and juniper as the wind picked up and we pulled on our jackets and we hurried to put on gloves. The trail was in excellent condition and composed of rock fragments and hard dry packed earth.

The first 2 miles of trail have you walking on the eastern side of a slope below the ridge line that you will eventually be riding in the latter half of your hike. You gain 1,500 feet over this section and curl around Rodgers Peak, which you can summit via a cross-country route just after the 2-mile mark. The views to the east drop down 9,000 feet to the desert floor and you can see white salt flats standing out starkly against the brown of the desert. You will also pass by some bristlecone pines, some of which are 3,000 years old!

The trail then flattens out and hops over the ridge to the western slope as you pass below Bennett Peak at about the 3-mile mark. You will then make your way to the top of the ridge and continue another mile over flat terrain. Enjoy the views to the east and west for the next mile, because once the climbing starts it won’t stop until you reach the summit. If visibility is good, you should be able to see the eastern Sierra to the west and even spot Mt. Whitney if you have a good eye.

The Sierra in the background.

The final leg of the hike climbs 1,500 feet over a little more than 2 miles. With a little less than a mile left, the trail starts to switchbacks to the summit. Once you reach the top, you are at the highest point for miles around and have unimpeded views of the Sierras and the desert floor over 11,000 ft. below! Find some shelter from the wind and enjoy a nice lunch or snack.  You earned it.

The view from the summit back down the trail.

Heading back to the trailhead.

Helpful Links:

Death Valley National Park

Death Valley National Park Campsites

Death Valley National Park NPS Map

NPS Telescope Peak Trail Information