Telescope Peak Adventure
Las Vegas, NV
4.8 (9 reviews)Trip Highlights
- Climb Telescope Peak
- Explore Death Valley
- Stunning Wildrose Peak
- Basecamp & Backpacking
- Camp 9,000-feet Above the Valley Floor
- Largest Vertical-rise Peak in Lower 48
- Guides Choice Trip
Description
Spectacular vistas await! This wonderful Death Valley adventure explores both the magic of wilderness camping and the thrill of hiking a truly magnificent peak. Our Telescope Peak Adventure is an incredible journey into Death Valley’s rugged Panamint Mountains. Unlike typical mountain ranges, the Panamints hide little of their splendor behind obstructionist foothills, making for an epically dramatic skyline that hovers over the valley floor – some 10,000 feet below. Over four incredible days, we’ll acclimatize to the altitude contrast of Death Valley while exploring the best of the Panamints before summiting two-mile-high Telescope peak. Enjoy two nights of comfortable basecamping before our summit attempt. For our culminating activity, we’ll make a two-day hike up Telescope Peak also involving one incredible evening in the high, backcountry wilderness.
$1330 Per Person
DIFFICULTY LEVEL 4
Scale of 1-5. 1 is least difficult; 5 is most difficult
This trip has long mileage days at high elevation. While backpacks on the day hikes can be lighter, we will need to each carry 4 liters of water during the backpack portion of this trip (there is no water on Telescope Peak) which increases pack weights. The summit itself is with light packs from our high camp.
Hiking Distances:
4-10 mi
Backpack Weight:
35-45 lbs
Terrain:
Significantly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
Up to 2000 ft
Heights Exposure:
Light
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THIS TRIP
- Hiking uphill or downhill with a 35-45 lb backpack for 6-10 hours
- Maintaining balance and footing on significantly rugged terrain
SOLITUDE LEVEL 4
1 least solitude, 5 most solitude
We rate this Death Valley hike a solitude 4. You can expect to see zero to a couple of other groups per day in the backcountry.
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.
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.Â
Private Rates FOr This Trip
- 2 People: Rate x 2.5
- 3 People: Rate x 1.75
- 4 People: Rate x 1.25
- 5+ People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsItinerary
Day 1
- Shuttle to Death Valley: 5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 3.5 miles
- Elevation Loss/Gain: 1000 feet
This multi-day Death Valley hiking trip begins with a fun day of orientation and exploration. We’ll start our drive from Las Vegas early. Upon entering Death Valley National Park, we’ll stop-in at the Furnace Creek Visitors’ Center, and pickup our backcountry permit for our overnight trip up Telescope Peak.
Continuing our drive across sub-sea level Death Valley, we’ll enjoy stunning views of the Panamint Mountain skyline, rising more than two miles overhead – an inspiring introduction to what lies ahead. Turning off the highway onto Emigrant Canyon Road, we’ll wind high into these magnificent mountains. Our lunch spot will be Aguereberry Point, offering stunning views of Death Valley, Badwater Basin and the Funeral and Grapevine Ranges.
On the way back to Emigrant Pass Road we’ll stop again for our first day’s hike down the little-explored north fork of Trail Canyon. Aside from being a great warm-up for our days ahead, Trail Canyon is a great way to enjoy the colors of canyon country before ascending into the high, open desert surrounding the Panamint Mountains.
Finally, we’ll take an incredible opportunity to visit the fabled Eureka Goldmine that was run for 40 years by pioneer, prospector and sole proprietor Stephen Aguereberry. As the day begins to wind down, we’ll drive the final stretch to our campground where we’ll set up our tents, eat dinner and get some rest for our next day’s fun.
Day 2
- Driving Time: 15 minutes
- Hiking Mileage: 8.4 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 2200 feet
Thanks to an interesting trail that intersperses steep switchbacks with restful flats, Wildrose is the perfect acclimatization hike.
After an energy-rich breakfast, we’ll prepare our daypacks for our hike up Wildrose Peak. As we start our ascent, we’ll pass a row of masonry kilns once used for local silver smelting operations. These 25-foot-tall stone orbs are the best surviving example of masonry charcoal kilns in the American West. And as we continue to climb, our trail winds through the thick, pinon-juniper forest that, in the 1870s, supplied wood for the kilns.
Upon cresting the summit, we’ll enjoy views of both Death Valley and Panamint Valleys. On a clear day, we’ll be able to see all the way to the Sierra Nevada. No matter the weather, we’re certain to catch inspiration from the tremendous views of Telescope Peak. After hiking back down Wildrose, we’ll make the 15-minute drive back to camp, where we’ll enjoy a hearty dinner in preparation for tomorrow’s ascent.
Day 3
- Driving Time: 15-25 minutes
- Hiking Mileage: 5-10.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1500-4000 feet
We’ll start the day early with a quick breakfast before packing our overnight packs. Depending on the season and snow/ice conditions, we may or may not be able to drive all the way to the Mahogany Flat Campground, where the actual trailhead is waiting at around 8,000 feet.
If the last bit of the road is still closed for snow, we’ll have an extra mile and a half and an extra 1,000 feet of elevation gain for our warm up. We’ll be dry camping tonight so we’ll have to haul extra water up the trail.
For our wilderness campsite, we’ll select between a couple of options depending on conditions and how the group is feeling. One ideal spot to camp rests about 5 miles from the trailhead on the saddle between Banner and Telescope Peaks.
If we make good time and everyone is feeling good, we’ll set up camp, and take-off for the summit.* It’s said that the view from the top is like looking through the view of a telescope. Because the Death Valley floor actually rests below sea level, our summit views put us well over two miles above ground. In the contiguous United States, you’d literally have to get in an airplane to enjoy higher views.
*If the group needs to rest or if the conditions warrant, we’ll make our summit attempt the next morning.
Day 4
- Hiking Mileage: 5-6.5 miles
- Elevation Loss: 1500-2000 feet
- Shuttle to Las Vegas: 5 hours
If we didn’t summit yesterday then we’ll get up early to make an attempt at it. Then we’ll pack up camp and make our way back down the trial to our vehicle.
Finally, we’ll enjoy a victory lunch at the vehicle and begin our drive back to Las Vegas. Cruising again through Death Valley, we’ll look back on the summit of Telescope Peak, contemplating our adventure and reflecting on our wonderful memories that are certain to last a lifetime.
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
- Top-of-the-line tent, backcountry sleeping pad and multi-day backpack
- High quality, synthetic sleeping bag (professionally laundered after every use) – or bring your own.
- Use of trekking poles
- 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)
- A Lifetime Hiking Membership entitling you, your spouse and dependents to a discount of 10% off any Wildland hiking trip after your first one (must book directly with us to receive the discount)!
What's Not Included
- Clothes, raingear, and footwear (see recommendations)
- Sunscreen, toiletries and personal items
- Water bottles and a headlamp or flashlight
- 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
All of our hiking and backpacking tours include a diversity of tasty meals packed full of critical carbohydrates, proteins and fats. We carry foods that travel well in the backcountry – rice, pastas, lentils, beans, couscous, packaged meats, nuts, breads, oatmeal, granola, and more.
For optimal taste and energy, we supplement all our meals with spices, herbs, oils, cheeses, butter, sugar, and fruits and vegetables (fresh and dried). 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
- Sierra Designs, Kelty or Big Agnes tents
- Sierra Designs, Kelty, Big Agnes and Mountain Hardware synthetic-fill sleeping bags (or bring your own)
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- 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.
Additionally, some guests choose to bring their own sleeping bag. We supply high quality, synthetic fill bags that are professionally laundered after every trip. Synthetic fill is non-allergenic, insulates when damp and stands up well to repeated washings, but is heavier and bulkier than down. If you’re able to bring your own down sleeping bag, there are multiple benefits. If not, we’ve got you covered!
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 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.
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.
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) | ||||||
|
Month
|
Low
|
Hi
|
||||
|
January
|
40°
|
67°
|
||||
|
February
|
46°
|
73°
|
||||
|
March
|
55°
|
82°
|
||||
|
April
|
62°
|
91°
|
||||
|
October
|
62°
|
93°
|
||||
|
November
|
48°
|
77°
|
||||
|
December
|
38°
|
65°
|
||||
Accommodations
BACKCOUNTRY SLEEPING
TENT CAMPING
Sleeping on backpacking trips is in premier 1-person, 2-person or 4-person backcountry tents. Solo travelers, and anyone else who requests it, are issued single tents. Top-of-the-line self-inflating sleeping pads and synthetic-fill sleeping bags (professionally laundered after every trip) are also provided.
BACKCOUNTRY CUISINE
FRESH & DELICIOUS
Meals from breakfast Day 1 through lunch the last day are fully included and prepared by your guide. We never use dehydrated backpacking meals, instead serving freshly prepared, delicious backcountry cuisine made with a variety of common and specialty ingredients that travel well in the wilderness.
AMAZING CAMPSITES
IN THE ACTION
Of course campsites vary tremendously by destination, trip and even by the individual day of a trip. However, you can expect to camp in beautiful areas that put you right in the action to make the most of your backpacking adventure. We carefully design our itineraries with campsites in mind.
Trip Reviews
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- Most recent
- LOW - HIGH
- HIGH - LOW
Tim D.
Good But Could be a Bit More Challenging
This trip could be made a bit more challenging. Day 1 especially would have benefitted from a longer hike with a more obvious goal.
Cressida D.
Great Guide, A Couple Suggestions
Samantha was a great guide. V informative and approachable. Her cooking was fantastic. She was very well organised and we felt very safe in her hands. We feel that the trip could have had more trekking although appreciate that a lot of time had to be allocated for the transfers. It was very cold at night which wasn’t obvious looking at the trip packet and clothes list.
Mike K.
Sam was great
Surpassed my expectations. Sam was great.
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