Death Valley Basecamp Tour
Camping Hiking Tours
4 Days, 3 Nights 17-24MI / 27-39KM
Trip Highlights
With six mountain ranges and 93 percent untrammeled wilderness, Death Valley National Park—the largest national park in the contiguous United States—is best discovered in a pair of hiking boots. Discover narrow canyons, vast dune fields, ancient lava flows, high alpine forests, scenic mountains, and the rich history of the American West.
We’ll spend our days hiking the park’s extraordinarily diverse landscapes. At night, we’ll rest easy at our basecamp and enjoy delicious dinners by campfire before retiring to our tents under a stunning blanket of stars that adorns some of the darkest skies in the country. Join us for this Death Valley Tour of a lifetime.
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Amazing Hikes
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Narrow Canyons & Petroglyphs
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Camp & Enjoy Delicious Meals
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Colorful Volcanic Deposits
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Iconic Mining & Pioneer History
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Alpine Hike with Sweeping Views
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Unique Desert Oasis
Book This Trip
View Dates
Trip Details
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Trip Type
Camping Hiking Tours -
Trip Length
4 Days, 3 Nights -
Daily Hiking Distance
4-9 mi -
Group Size
2-10 Guests
- day by day itinerary
- logistical and travel information
- gear and clothing lists and more
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Is This Trip Right For me?
The most challenging day of this tour is the 8 mile roundtrip / 2,200 ft climb up to Wildrose peak (9,064 ft). Other days are lighter, but most trails in the park are rugged with some heights exposure and little sun protection.
Difficulty Level
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Solitude Level
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Trip Itinerary
Please Note: We always do everything in our power to follow the set itinerary, however it can change occasionally based on temporary access restrictions, weather, lodging/campground availability, guest ability/injury, natural events like fires and flooding, and other potential causes. Normal terms and conditions apply to trips with itinerary changes.
Day 1
Shuttle to Death Valley: 2.5 hours
Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 680 feet
Accommodations: Campground at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, or Emigrant Pass
This multi-day Death Valley hiking trip begins with a morning pick up from the Tuscany Inn and Suites in Las Vegas, Nevada. We’ll depart Vegas and embark across the fabled Mojave Desert’s basin-and-range landscape. Upon entering Death Valley National Park, we will be treated to morning views of the Badlands: jagged hills dazzlingly colored by volcanic metals. At the edge of the Badlands, we will walk to the top of Zabriske Point where we’ll first gaze upon Death Valley and the towering Panamint Mountains.
After a quick stop at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, we’ll head to the trailhead of Golden Canyon and Gower Gulch: a classic Death Valley hiking loop that takes us deep into the Badlands of the Amargosa Mountains. After a hilltop lunch with panoramic views, we’ll hike down into the water-carved Gower Gulch which will spill us out onto a slanted desert landscape at the edge of Death Valley itself.
Time allowing, we may stop at one of many historic points of interest near Furnace Creek before heading to our campsite. After establishing our basecamp, we’ll enjoy a delicious camp-cooked dinner and relax by the fire as the stars light up the sky.
Day 2
Drive Time: 80 minutes
Hiking Mileage: 9 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2088 feet
Accommodations: Campground at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, or Emigrant Pass
Today’s hike up Mt Perry will be the most challenging but also the most rewarding. The guests will hike a rocky route along Dante’s Ridge in the Black Mountains, offering jaw dropping views 5,000′ straight down into Badwater Basin and as far away as Mt Whitney and the Sierras. Depending on time and the group, the guide may serve lunch at the summit or may elect to return to the vehicle and head to a picnic spot back at Dante’s View. The day will finish in the afternoon.
Day 3
Drive Time: 1 hour
Hiking Mileage: 6 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1400 feet
Accommodations: Campground at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, or Emigrant Pass
Today is a welcome easier day after yesterday’s peak ascent. Today’s hike takes us onto the peaceful Mesquite Sand Dunes and to a miracle in the desert — the stunningly beautiful 1-mile out-and-back hike (2 mi total) hike to the highest Mesquite Sand Dune. Then we’ll enjoy a 4-mile hike through Mosaic Canyon, into Death Valley Wilderness. This canyon is filled with breccia – a type of rock made of broken fragments of minerals and rocks cemented together by a fine grained matrix, creating a mosaic-like display. It’s absolutely gorgeous!
Day 4
Hiking Mileage: 4-7 miles
Elevation Gain/Loss: 200-500 feet
Shuttle to Las Vegas: 2.5-3.5 hours
For our final day in Death Valley, we’ll hike one of several mountain canyons of the Amargosa Range. Desolation Canyon, Sidewinder Canyon, Virgin Spring Wash, and Kaleidoscope Canyon each offer their own taste of sublime Death Valley wilderness. We’ll have lunch on the trail or, if time allows, atop the expansive vista of Dante’s View—the best overlook of Death Valley itself—while celebrating and reflecting on our amazing journey.
Trip Dates
Click on a date to register. You can also click here to request new dates or book through customer service.
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What's Included
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Top-of-the-line tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and day pack
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Use of trekking poles
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All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
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Shower and pool passes at the wonderful Furnace Creek Ranch warm springs pool (walking distance from our camp of approximately 3/4 mile)
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Trained hiking guide(s) with years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. See Guide Bios.
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Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Las Vegas and back
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All necessary entrance fees and permits
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Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device
What's Not Included
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Clothes, raingear, and footwear -
Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
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Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
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Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Accommodations
PREMIER CAMPGROUNDS
3 NIGHTS
On our basecamp tours we hand pick wonderful campgrounds that put us right in the action for exceptional hiking and camping vacations. They may be national park, state park, or private vehicle-accessible campgrounds. They may vary by trip date depending on availability and seasonality.
FANTASTIC MEALS
11 MEALS
Basecamp trips include meals for the duration of the tours beginning with breakfast the first day through lunch the final day. Meals are prepared by your guide(s) using fresh ingredients, exclusive Wildland recipes, and we adhere to all department of health outdoor cooking codes.
COMFORTABLE CAMPING
CAMPING AMENITIES
What amenities do basecamp tours include? Cold and hot drinks, campfires (where/when allowed), camp chairs, access to showers, fresh food, roomy tents, comfortable sleeping pads, comfy sleeping bags, camp pillows and more! Camp comfortably, eat like royalty, and hike til your heart’s content!
Trip Logistics & FAQs
Where Do We Meet?
This trip originates from Tuscany Suites and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Your guide will be in contact approximately 10 days before the trip start date to coordinate the pre-trip orientation, which will be at 5:00 PM at a hotel in Las Vegas. Your guide will then pick you up at your hotel the next morning for transport to the trailhead. For Private Death Valley Tours your guide will meet you at your hotel in Las Vegas at an agreed upon time.
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about flights, shuttles, recommended lodging and more.
Travel to Las Vegas
Las Vegas’ McCarran Airport is one of the most easily accessed destinations in the country. Many major cities in the United States and internationally offer direct flights into Las Vegas. A company named Airline Shuttle (1-888-554-1156) can help you with economic transport to most hotels. Taxi cabs run about $40 to downtown, and the city is also Uber- and Lyft-friendly.
Start/End Times
Your guide will inform you of the first day’s pick-up time at the orientation meeting. Generally, you can expect it to be between 5 and 8 am, although the exact time will depend on current weather and road conditions. We will drop you off at your hotel on the final day normally before 5 PM (this time is not guaranteed, as a variety of circumstances can influence our exact return time).
Safety Precautions
Your safety is our top priority. Our hiking tours are led by professional hiking guides, all of whom are wilderness-certified first responders or EMT’s, each with years of guiding and wilderness experience. Guides adhere to standardized risk management protocols in case of any potential or actual incident, and all tours carry an emergency communication device and comprehensive first-aid kit. Additionally we have a “24/7” system through which guides or guests can reach Wildland support personnel at any time.
If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
Age Restrictions
Age restrictions on this trip are as follows:
- 12 and older to join scheduled tours (mixed groups)
- 5 and older to join private tours, with final approval and specific logistical requirements (such as porter or stock assist) determined on a case by case basis
Reviews
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John D
7 months agoMajestic sights
Fantastic hike with Wally and the group of six! Majestic sights and awesome guidance, with great meals and tons of fascinating information about our beautiful parks! Can’t wait for the next one!
Michael B
8 months ago5 stars without question
Fantastic trip. Park was amazing, food and guides even better. Definite home run. Planning next trip as I type
Denise C
8 months agoAwesome Experience
3rd trip with Wildland. Casey was a great guide, very informative and knowledgeable.. .Great meals.. accommodating to everyone's needs.. great people.. all in all an awesome trip...all in all was an awesome experience.
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