Death Valley Inn Based Tour
Las Vegas, NV
5.0 (21 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Wonderful Hikes
- Casual or Premier Lodging
- Salt Flats & Sand Dunes
- Alpine Hike with BIG View
- Colorful Volcanic Deposits
- Mining & Pioneer History
- Narrow Canyons & Petroglyphs
Description
With secluded mountain canyons and alpine peaks towering over surreal, below-sea level salt flats, Death Valley National Park is a land of contrasts that captivates the imagination. Our Inn-based Death Valley Tour allows you to enjoy the best backcountry trails in the park while returning to the comfort of contemporary lodging and relaxing restaurant meals each evening.
Death Valley—the largest national park in the contiguous United States—is 93 percent untrammeled wilderness, making it a paradise for hikers and nature enthusiasts. Discover narrow canyons, vast dune fields, ancient lava flows, high alpine forests, scenic mountains, and the rich history of the American West. After spending your days exploring this diverse landscape, enjoy your evenings in historic Furnace Creek lodging where you can clean up, eat a fine dinner, and relax by a crackling fire under incredible starlight.
NEED TO KNOW: WINTER TRIPS
If you want to get out hiking this winter, Death Valley is a great place to do it! Winter temperatures are wonderful for hiking and enjoying being outdoors and surrounded by vast wilderness. We invite you to read more about Death Valley climate info.
$1025/620 Single Supplement
The single supplement guarantees your own room. If you would like to forego the single supplement, you can request to be paired with a roommate of the same gender. If we are unsuccessful in pairing you with a roommate, the single supplement will apply.
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 2
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
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.
Hiking Distances:
4-9 mi
Backpack Weight:
8-12 lbs
Terrain:
Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
2000 ft
Heights Exposure:
Moderate
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 8-12 lb backpack for 5-7 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on moderately rugged terrain (more rugged on the Wildrose Peak hike)
- Hiking with occasional, moderate heights exposure
SOLITUDE LEVEL 3
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Death Valley hike a solitude 3. You can expect hours of solitude at a time while hiking.
UTAH SALES TAX
Utah is the only state we are based in that charges sales tax to outfitters and guides. The sales tax is based on the St. George, UT municipality rates, which are adjusted occasionally but are in the 6-7% range. For all of our hiking and backpacking tours that originate from our St. George, Utah base (Utah, Joshua Tree and Death Valley trips), the sales tax will be applied automatically to your payments. Feel free to call us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) with any questions!
Private Trips
Travel in perfect company by booking a private trip exclusively for your group!
Our sliding scale for private trips is based on the final number of guests in your group. Rates are per person and do not include sales tax, national park fees or guide gratuity. The final rate is based on the actual number of guests on the trip and may adjust based on cancellations or additions.
Please Note: you can also enjoy a private trip at our normal scheduled rates by filling any empty tour to capacity. However, if group members drop from the tour those spots will automatically become available on our website for instant booking. By purchasing a private trip at the rates listed below, your trip will remain exclusive to your group regardless of cancellations.
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 2
- 4 People: Rate x 1.5
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person and single supplements apply
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Minimum 2 Guests
MINIMUM OF 2 GUESTS
If a trip does not reach the minimum number of guests, you may choose to transfer to another trip date or another trip, be refunded your payments in full, or you may have the choice to pay a supplemental fee to run the trip with fewer guests. We make the final determination for these trips 4-6 weeks before the departure date, and notify guests of changes and options immediately.
Learn About Our Private Trips
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Itinerary
Day 1
- Shuttle to Death Valley: 2.5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 5 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 680 feet
- Accommodations: Inn at Furnace Creek (Premier) or Ranch at Furnace Creek (Casual)
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 settling in at our lodging where we’ll enjoy a fine dinner at the historic dining room of the Inn at Death Valley.
Day 2
- Drive Time: 3 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 9 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 2000 feet
- Accommodations: Inn at Furnace Creek (Premier) or Ranch at Furnace Creek (Casual)
After an early breakfast, we’ll head deep into the very spine of the park, the tree-clad Panamint Mountains, where we’ll take-on the 9000-foot Wildrose Peak. This rugged mountain hike offers a heart-pounding physical challenge with an equally rewarding summit. At the trailhead are the historic Charcoal Kilns: enormous stone domes used for smoking out wood fuel for Old West mining operations. With surprisingly cool temperatures, our hike will take us into a rich juniper and piñon forest as we climb the east slopes of Wildrose Peak. At the summit, we’ll have absolutely breathtaking views of Death Valley, Panamint Valley, and the snow-streaked Sierra Nevada Range on the western horizon.
Day 3
- Drive Time: appx 5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 4+ miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 635 feet
- Accommodations: Inn at Furnace Creek (Premier) or Ranch at Furnace Creek (Casual)
A welcome easy day after yesterday’s ascent, today’s hike takes us onto the peaceful Mesquite Sand Dunes and to a miracle in the desert — the stunningly beautiful Darwin Falls. We’ll drive west past the Devil’s Cornfield and stop for a quiet hike on the renowned Mesquite Sand Dunes. Atop the dunes, we’ll enjoy sweeping views of several mountain ranges, and get a greater appreciation for what the valley looked like when it was a glaciated lake during the cool and wet Pleistocene.
After the dunes, we’ll drive further west to visit one of the most tremendous sights in Death Valley National Park. Darwin Falls is an anomaly — a spring-fed waterfall of marvelous beauty in the driest place on earth. Our easy, two-mile hike to the falls is not to be missed during our time in Death Valley National Park. After the falls, we’ll enjoy a splendid dinner and make the return drive to Furnace Creek.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 4-7 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 200-500
- 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.
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.
TRIP DATES & BOOKING
AVAILABLE TO BOOK
This trip is available and bookable online! Click on the date to register now or contact us online to book through our award-winning customer service team!
GOING FAST
This trip has 1 or 2 spots remaining and is bookable online! Click on the date to book now or contact us online to book through customer service.
REQUEST A RESERVATION
This trip is exclusively booked through customer service due to logistics with lodging, permits, staffing, availability, or something else. Please contact us online or call us at 800-715-HIKE (4453) to request a reservation.
Don't see your dates? Call us! We may be able to add new trip dates.
800-715-HIKE (4453)Trip Details
What's Included
- 3 nights of double occupancy lodging at Furnace Creek Resort or equivalent Death Valley hotel (single occupancy requires an additional single supplement)
- Use of trekking poles and a day pack
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- 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.
- Comprehensive, roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Las Vegas and back
- All necessary entrance fees and permits
- Emergency equipment including a company-issued first-aid kit and communication device (InReach Explorer or satellite phone)
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- Alcoholic beverages
- Guide gratuity (industry recommendation is 10-20% of trip cost)
Click here to see a printable, downloadable trip information packet with more detailed guidance about what to pack.
Meals: What to Expect
This Death Valley hiking tour features a combination of restaurant meals and meals prepared by your guide.
We provide breakfasts and lunches for the trip. For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables. In addition, we provide you with with an assortment of trail mix, snacks, and dried fruits to eat at your own discretion.
We regularly accommodate vegan, vegetarian, kosher and non-gluten diets and will make adjustments for food allergies. These and other special dietary requests may require an additional fee.
Gear We Provide
We provide all group gear which includes the following:
- Deuter or Osprey backpacks
- Leki trekking poles
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
Guest Packing List
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with a detailed packing list specific to this trip (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, a recommended clothing system, a headlamp or flashlight, a hydration system (water bottles and/or bladder) and other items specific to each trip.
Trip Logistics
How Do I Register?
Reserve your spot today! In the Trip Dates & Booking section of this page, the green and red dates are bookable online by simply clicking on the date, and blue dates must be booked through our customer service team for a variety of possible reasons. To email our customer service team, you can click here to get the ball rolling. Our adventure consultants will confirm availability, and if you’re ready to register we’ll email you a link to a registration profile. You’ll have 72 hours to complete your profile (and that of any dependents) and pay the deposit.
Feel free to call us for more info – we’re here 7 days a week!
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.
Essential Eligibility Criteria
Essential Eligibility Criteria (“EEC”) have been specifically identified to help you understand the skills and abilities necessary to participate on each Wildland trip, and they apply uniformly to all potential trip participants, irrespective of the presence or absence of any disability.
Once you identify a trip in which you may be interested, please carefully review the EEC and itinerary details. If after reviewing the EEC that apply to your desired trip, you determine you need an accommodation in order to meet the EEC, please contact us prior to registering to discuss your requested accommodation.
The EEC exist for your own safety and the safety and enjoyment of all participants. If you are unable to meet the EEC for the trip, with or without an accommodation, you are not eligible for that trip. If you register and arrive for a trip for which you do not meet the EEC, you will be disqualified from participation on the trip and will be dismissed or evacuated from the trip without a refund.
Guide Working Parameters
Guides are required to take 8 hours off each 24-hour period to sleep, recuperate, take personal/down time…etc. In addition, as part of the 8 hours off they must sleep/rest or be in their tents/rooms uninterrupted for a minimum of 5 hours each night. We ask guests to respect these requirements and to not interrupt guides’ off time and sleep time unless there is a true emergency.
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
Weather in Death Valley
Death Valley encompasses an area with extreme elevation and climate variations. It is home to the lowest point in the United States: Bad Water Basin at 282 feet below sea level. Its highest point, Telescope Peak, is 11,049 feet high, a 11,331 ft difference!! Most of our trips focus on the lower elevations, and feature comfortably moderate winter temperatures, and warm-hot Spring/Fall temperatures. To be fully prepared, please follow the recommended clothing list closely (this list comes as part of your trip packet when you register). Read below for average high and low temperatures in the lower sections of Death Valley:
| Average Temperatures (Fahrenheit) | ||||||
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Month
|
Low
|
Hi
|
||||
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January
|
40°
|
67°
|
||||
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February
|
46°
|
73°
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||||
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March
|
55°
|
82°
|
||||
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April
|
62°
|
91°
|
||||
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October
|
62°
|
93°
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||||
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November
|
48°
|
77°
|
||||
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December
|
38°
|
65°
|
||||
Accommodations
OASIS AT DEATH VALLEY
3 NIGHTS
Premier Option: A deluxe resort built in 1927, The Inn at Furnace Creek is a four star, elegant resort that takes wonderful care of its guests. After our hikes you can relax near the spring-fed pool, walk around the stunning palm gardens, or rest up in your exquisite room.
(pool, spa)
RANCH AT FURNACE CREEK
3 NIGHTS
Casual Option: The Ranch at Furnace Creek features casual, family-oriented accommodations for the more price conscious traveler. After our hikes you can stroll around the Old West-themed grounds, enjoy a dip in a spring-fed pool, or relax in your quiet, recently renoovated room.
(hot springs pool)
*These exact accommodations are not guaranteed. In some instances alternative accommodations of similar quality and location may be used
Trip Reviews
- SORT BY:
- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Lawrence A
Great Time Hiking
We had a great time hiking in Death Valley but a break in the water line left us without water in our cabins or restaurants. Not WT fault and Carm, our guide did a great job adapting and took us out for dinner outside the park. We weren’t notified of any free water and everyone in the two hotels had to buy water. The outhouses weren’t provided until the day after.
Patti S
Death Valley needs to be on your bucket list.
Death Valley needs to be on your bucket list. So much diverse beauty, almost a senses overload! Our guide, Carm, was super flexible on food needs, physical abilities and unplanned road closures due to extreme weather previous to our trip.
Maryalice W
Wildland Trekking’s #1 fan!
If it were possible to rate 10/5 stars I would. This was my third and longest hike with Wildland. As was the case with my previous two hikes, all of my expectations were exceeded. My siblings and I chose the Death Valley Inn-based hike as joint birthday gifts to each other. The shared hike allowed us to revisit a lifetime of memories while creating countless new ones. Wildland’s website contains all the information required to properly prepare for hikes. From weather conditions, to packing lists, to suggested training; hikers are provided with all the tools needed for a safe and enjoyable hiking experience. Having meals and hiking gear included in the package price was luxurious. We didn’t have a care in the world except for aching joints and sand in our eyes. Secondly, our guide, Daniel Wingert was PHENOMENAL! And by phenomenal, I mean (insert any possible affirmative adjective). My siblings and I joked that if we’d said “jump”, Daniel literally would have replied, “How high?” Daniel was perfectly prepared, organized, flexible, knowledgeable, entertaining and an all-around #hellofaguy! We loved him so much that we wrote a song for Daniel. We’ll let him share that if he chooses. Within our group of six hikers, I was the only one following a plant-based diet. In preparation for our hike, Daniel called the chef at our Death Valley Inn to make sure he/she could accommodate a vegan. Daniel shopped for and prepared unique and delicious vegan options for all of our gourmet trail lunches. Every morning, before leaving his room, Daniel brewed a steaming thermos of Kona blend coffee. What a treat it was to enjoy delicious piping hot coffee with our trail lunches and post hike. When a restaurant didn’t have soy milk for my coffee, Daniel said, “No problem, I’ll get some from the van.” We joked that Daniel’s Wildland Trekking van was just like Mary Poppin’s purse. He had EVERYTHING! When our inn didn’t have peanut butter for my English Muffin, Daniel quietly left the table, returned to his room… at another resort… and brought back a jar of Skippy. Talk about above and beyond! The first night at the inn found us without power or internet. Not only did Daniel call nearby towns to find a restaurant with power, he also made sure they had vegan menu options. Further, he assured me, “I have food for you in the van if you can’t find something on the menu.” The only suggestion I have is that when hikers upgrade to premium lodging, the guide should stay in the same place. Further, the guide’s meal preparation would be much easier if he/she had a suite with a kitchenette. (No Daniel did NOT tell me to write that). I just cannot imagine meal prep for a group of six hikers in a standard hotel room. Still Daniel made it appear effortless. I must be Wildland Trekking’s #1 fan! At one trailhead, we encountered a couple who was seeking a unique national park experience. With Daniel at my side, I presented a glowing monologue about the features and benefits of hiking with Wildland. When I finished, the couple took a picture of the Wildland logo on the van door so they could find the company online.
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