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.

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.

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.