Women’s Death Valley Basecamp Tour
Las Vegas, NV
5.0 (5 reviews)Trip Highlights
- All Women Trip
- Best Death Valley Hikes
- Sweeping Views
- Expansive Salt Flats & Sand Dunes
- Colorful Volcanic Deposits & Craters
- Iconic Mining & Pioneer History
- Narrow Canyons & Petroglyphs
- Basecamp with Delicious Meals
Description
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.
$1590 Per Person
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:
Significantly Rugged
Max Daily Elev. ↑↓:
2000 ft
Heights Exposure:
Moderate
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- 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.
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 trips 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 1.75
- 4-5 People: Rate x 1.5
- 6-8 People: Rate x 1.25
- 9-12 People: Rate x 1.15
*all rates are per person
Learn About Our Private Trips
View Private TripsItinerary
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 your Las Vegas hotel. 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: 3-5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 9 miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 2000 feet
- Accommodations: Campground at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, or Emigrant Pass
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: 5 hours
- Hiking Mileage: 4+ miles
- Elevation Gain/Loss: 635 feet
- Accommodations: Campground at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells, or Emigrant Pass
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 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.
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, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, and day pack
- Use of trekking poles
- All meals are included from breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day
- Shower and pool passes at the wonderful Furnace Creek Ranch warm springs pool (walking distance from our camp of approximately 3/4 mile)
- A professional, knowledgeable, certified, female Death Valley hiking guide
- 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 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 sleeping bags
- Thermarest or Big Agnes sleeping pads
- Leki trekking poles
- Cooking stoves and cookware
- Company-issued first-aid kit
- Emergency communication device(s)
WHAT GEAR TO BRING
We ask that you supply a couple of gear items on your hiking tour. These items are three 1-liter water bottles per person and either a headlamp or flashlight per person. Basic items like sunscreen, bug repellent (where and when applicable), lip balm, and toiletries are also important.
WHAT CLOTHES TO BRING
When you register for this tour you’ll receive access to a printable, downloadable trip information packet with detailed guidance about what clothes to pack (click here to see it now.) All trips require a sturdy pair of hiking shoes or hiking boots, rain gear, and our recommended clothing system. A minimum of three pairs of wool or synthetic hiking socks are also required.
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 CONSIDERATIONS
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. We’ve developed comprehensive risk management protocols that our guides adhere to in case of an emergency, and all tours carry an emergency communication device. If you have any further questions about safety, please contact us at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) for more information.
GUIDES
Your tour will be led by a trained, experienced, professional, female trip leader with a solid guiding background, years of personal wilderness and hiking experience, medical certifications, and a passion for leading people into breathtaking landscapes. Check out our Meet Our Team page for staff bios.
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.
GROUP SIZE AND AGE RESTRICTIONS
The standard group size on this trip is 6 guests and 1 guide; private trips can go up to 10 guests. If you have more questions about group size, please give us a call at 1-800-715-HIKE (4453) and we’ll answer all your questions.
Age restrictions 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
PREMIER CAMPGROUNDS
3 NIGHTS
On our signature camping 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 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 Reviews
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- HIGH - LOW
Robbin P
Exceptional!
Our back packing trip to Death Valley was amazing. Our guide Samantha is amazing. She kept our interest offered other avenues to change it up or down along with peaking our curiosity. Everyday was an adventure of challenge engaging and WOW moments. She is also a gourmet chef our meals were beyond amazing and the night time stars just ending our nights with more WOW moments. Samantha was our adventure Guru one exception, incredible lady. Robbin P
Jill S
Fabulous Trip
I loved the Death Valley basecamp trip. It was an incredible journey and I was only sorry when it was over. I wish it could have gone on longer. Our guide Kelsi Russell was fabulous and made the trip a wonderful experience. Jill S
Patricia B
Beyond any Expectations
Sam went above and beyond any expectations I had for this trip! Sam prepared gourmet meals on a camp stove and she went out of her way to make sure nothing had gluten ! She shared her vast knowledge of Death Valley and provided humor to keep us laughing truly an amazing human! !
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