Telescope Peak

Did You Know?

• The standard hiking route is a 14-mile round trip with a steady gradient of roughly 8%.
• The Shorty's Well route has a net elevation gain of approximately 11311 ft over 30 to 34 miles round trip.

Geography

Telescope Peak has one of the greatest vertical rises above local terrain of any mountain in the contiguous United States. Its summit rises 11331 ft above the lowest point in Death Valley, Badwater Basin at -282 ft, in about 15 mi, and about 10000 ft above the floor of Panamint Valley in about 8 mi. This rise is comparable to that of other tall U.S. peaks and somewhat comparable to Mount Everest's rise above its northern base on the Tibetan Plateau, though Everest rises much more and more steeply above its southern base. The mountain has a topographic prominence of 6168 ft, ranking 22nd in the contiguous US. Trees found on the mountain include single-leaf pinyon, limber pine, and, at the highest elevations, Great Basin bristlecone pine.

Climbing

To reach Telescope Peak from Ridgecrest, you take State Route 178 northeast into Death Valley National Park. About 50 miles later, the paved highway ends and becomes a dirt road. This road climbs through Wildrose Canyon to a parking area where the summit trail begins. The stretch past the Charcoal Kilns can be rough, and depending on weather, a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle may be needed.

The standard hiking route is a 14-mile round trip. It starts at Mahogany Flat Campground in the western part of the park. The trail gains elevation at a steady grade of about 8 percent over 7 miles to the top. The National Park Service maintains this path, and no permit is required.

From the campground, the trail goes roughly 2 miles to Arcane Meadows, then winds another 5 miles up, mostly along a ridgeline, to the summit. The final 2 miles feature many steep switchbacks. This same route can also be used to reach Bennett Peak and Rogers Peak, adding only a short extra distance. A more challenging route begins at Shorty’s Well, which sits at about 262 feet below sea level.

The summit of Telescope Peak is 11049 ft high. This climb is 30 to 34 miles round trip, with a net elevation gain of about 11311 ft. The route starts where the West Side Road meets Hanaupah Canyon Road. For 6.5 miles, it climbs out of Badwater Basin and into Hanaupah Canyon.

About 1.5 miles past the end of the road, the trail reaches Hanaupah Spring, a seasonal water source that may not always flow. At the spring, the route turns north onto a scree and talus slope. Though the slope may look difficult, it is the correct way; climbers should pick the best path up. Once on the ridgeline, follow it west to the summit, which is clearly visible.

Experienced hikers can finish this route in a single day. It offers one of the largest elevation gains possible on a single summit. The descent can be done either back to Shorty’s Well or down via Mahogany Flat.