Walking Wild & Free

Corkscrew Peak 1

Corkscrew Peak

Corkscrew Peak 2

Photo credit Micah Whiting, All Rights Reserved

Corkscrew Peak 3

Take a very official social trail to a peak in the Grapevine Mountains and great views of Death Valley.

Total Distance: 7.5 miles out & back	Elevation Gain: 3,284ft. (2,669ft. to 5,784ft.)
Difficulty: Very Strenuous	5+ Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous
View Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0	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 (not recommended)
Best Seasons: November-April	Special Permits: None
Water Availability: None	Overnight Options: Yes, must be at least 1 mile from the Daylight Pass Road
Trailhead Amenities: Primitive Restroom at Hell’s Gate	Crowd Factor: Solitude
Trailhead Access: 0.6
Uses:	Trail Surface:
Features:	Hazards:

Mile-by-Mile: Corkscrew Peak

0.0 Daylight Pass Road (2,689ft.). From the small pulloff next to the sign pointing toward Corkscrew Peak, you have a choice. Most people follow the very vague and sometimes cairned social trails that head generally toward Corkscrew Peak, which is visible to the north. This guide heads due west until it drops into a large wash. (Most of the trails arrive at the large wash sooner or later, this guide chooses to get there sooner.) (36.738900°, -116.968240°)

0.4 Large wash (2,730ft.). Turn right (north) up the very wide wash. Looking back, you can see out to Death Valley and Telescope Peak. (36.738596°, -116.975529°)

1.6 Wash narrows (3,259ft.). The wash narrows significantly while a larger wash enters from the right. Continue up the narrowing wash as it heads north and a bit west into the Grapevine Mountains. (36.755751°, -116.978396°)

1.9 Exit Wash (3,358ft.). Turn left (west) to exit the wash via a breach in the canyon wall. It should be well-cairned. From here, a trail leads generally northward up toward Corkscrew Peak, often following the ridgeline. The last 0.3 miles before the summit is the steepest and most difficult part of the hike – keep your eyes open for a rock arch known as “Hole in the Rock.” (36.759265°, -116.980939°)

3.75 Corkscrew Peak (5,784ft.). Enjoy spectacular views across Death Valley and the surrounding mountains. (36.770648°, -117.004145°)

History & More

Views are spectacular from Corkscrew Peak. To the south is Death Valley (the humpy hills close to the peak are the Death Valley Buttes) with the Panamint Range to the right of the valley (the highest point is Telescope Peak, although other mountains, including Aguerberry Point and Wildrose Peak, should also be visible). Continuing to the right are Tucky Mountain and Pinto Peak and then the Mesquite Sand Dunes in the valley. In the distance to the west are Mt. Whitney and surrounding mountains, with the Cottonwood Mountains closer to you. More northerly in the Grapevine Mountains, you should be able to see Mount Palmer, Thimble Peak (stripy), Grapevine Peak, and Wahguyhe Peak. Eastern views are into Nevada, with the Funeral Mountains to the southwest to the left of Death Valley.

Early explorers of Death Valley found wild grapevines growing in the mountains and gave the range its name.

The tallest peak in the Grapevine Mountains is (not surprisingly) Grapevine Peak, reaching heights of 8,738ft.

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Driving Directions

Take the Daylight Pass Road (signed for Beatty) from Scotty’s Castle Road. At 6.7 miles, bear left to stay on the Daylight Pass Road. About 1.2 miles later, park in the pulloff on the left side of the road with a sign pointing toward Corkscrew Peak. The trailhead is also 4.9 miles south of Daylight Pass.