Walking Wild & Free

Brown Peak (East Approach) 1

Brown Peak (East Approach)

Brown Peak (East Approach) 1

Brown Peak (East Approach)

Scramble up an unassuming but very pretty peak to fantastic views of the surrounding area.

Total Distance: 10.4 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: 3,139ft. (1,833ft. to 4,949ft.)
Difficulty: Extremely Strenuous	10+ Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous
View Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars4.0	Author’s Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars3.0
Visitor Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]	Visitor Difficulty Rating: (Click to rate) [Total: 0 Average: 0]
Pets: No	Horses: Yes
Best Seasons: November-April	Special Permits: None
Water Availability: None	Overnight Options: Yes at least 2 miles from CA-127
Trailhead Amenities: None	Crowd Factor: Solitude
Trailhead Access: 0.6
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Brown Peak (East Approach)

0.0 Approximate Trailhead on CA-127 (1,833ft.). You should be able to park anywhere in this general area (don’t block traffic!) and then head pretty much due west toward Brown Peak (the highest of the mountains to the west). You can follow various streambeds or whatever works for you. As you approach the hills, small dryfalls may need to be negotiated or bypassed. You will eventually pass to the right (north) of a small hill about mile 2.8 (36.112941, -116.348696); continue up the wash and into the foothills. Stay in the main wash, as a sidewash goes off about mile 3.6 (36.110065, -116.362252) on the left. (36.114436°, -116.301402°)

4.3 Leave Wash on left (3,488ft.). Turn left out of the wash to scramble up the ridgeline between two major washes. Eventually, about the head of the wash, cross over the wash to the left to scramble up to a saddle below Brown Peak. (36.112908°, -116.373185°)

5.0 Saddle (4,490ft.). Turn right up the gully that will feed you up the hillside to the top of Brown Peak. (36.112555°, -116.383525°)

5.2 Top of Brown Peak (4,948ft.). The top of the peak is flat, but the benchmark (Evelyn) is located along the western side. Enjoy far-ranging views, including west across Greenwater Valley and the east side of the Black Mountains (even to Telescope Peak in the Panamint Range), Eagle Mountain and the Amargosa Desert to the northeast, and south across Greenwater Valley and the Greenwater Range to the Dublin Hills, Ibex Hills, and more.(36.115157°, -116.385679°)

History & More

There are two routes up Brown Peak – one from Deadman Pass Road (West Approach) and another from CA-127 (East Approach – the one described here). The West Approach is shorter and more interesting, but the East Approach is more accessible and therefore slightly more popular.

The route requires a significant amount of finding your own trail. Don’t attempt it unless you’re very used to hiking without a trail in the desert.

The map of the route is approximate – please use common sense and don’t follow the map or directions at the expense of your safety!

Brown Peak is named after Charles G. Brown, who first settled in the region in the nearby town of Brownsville. The town itself was planted by two early prospectors, William D. Brown and Robert D. Brown, brothers on their way to fame with their 1875 rich strike named Balance. Despite similar surnames, there seems to be no connection between the Brown Brothers and Charles G. Brown. In 1877, the town was renamed Tecopa after a local Pauite leader.

Charles G. Brown moved from Brownsville to Greenwater. After moving to Shoshone, he was elected sheriff. Politics did him much better than prospecting, and he served as a California state senator for 25 years. The peak was named in his honor, as was CA-127 (the Charles Brown Highway).

Download Route Map

Driving Directions

The trailhead for the east approach to Brown Peak is not parked. Simply pull over to the side of CA-127 (don’t trample vegetation or block traffic) 16.8 miles south of Death Valley Junction (the Amargosa Opera House) or 10.4 miles north of the town of Shoshone (8.7 miles north of where the Jubilee Pass Road T’s into CA-127).