
Needle Peak – Death Valley National Park
Scramble up a peak with views over Anvil Spring Canyon, Butte Valley, and much more.
Total Distance: 7.0 miles out & back | Elevation Gain: 2,669ft. (3,582ft. to 5,772ft.) |
Difficulty: Very Strenuous | 5-10 Mile Difficulty: Very Strenuous |
View Rating: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars | Author’s Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars |
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: October-May | Special Permits: None |
Water Availability: No potable water | Overnight Options: Dispersed camping permitted at least 100 feet from any water source |
Trailhead Amenities: None | Crowd Factor: Solitude |
Trailhead Access: 2.0 | |
Uses: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | Trail Surface: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Features: ![]() ![]() ![]() | Hazards: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mile-by-Mile: Death Valley Buttes
0.0 Willow Spring (3,583ft.). (Note: You’ll have to take the right fork of the two roads on the Willow Spring/Anvil Spring Road to get to Willow Spring.) From the trailhead, head west (right) to skirt the greenery, then turn south (left) to drop into and then cross a wash. About 0.4 miles from Willow Spring, the desert hump you’ve been hiking along on your left will give way to a sort of valley. Turn left up this valley – there will be a lighter hill on your right as you go up this valley. The valley rises to a sort of saddle and then descends via a small wash until it drops into a larger wash about mile 1.3. (35.910677°, -117.059227°)
1.3 Wash (3,693ft.). Turn right here to ascend the wash (Note: You can cut the corner on this by doing some ups and downs over small hills; I’ve gone all of the way to the wash in this writeup for ease of describing the route.) Walk up this wash and then ascend to the ridgeline at the end of the valley. (35.906646°, -117.046128°)
2.8 Approximate top of ridgeline (4,641ft.). Turn left (east) up the ridgeline. See if you can spot a social trail as you travel upward. The route is often steep but usually not more than Class 2 with occasional Class 3 moves. There is a false summit before you reach Needle Peak. (35.888547°, -117.039746°)
3.5 Needle Peak (5,767ft.). Enjoy views in all directions before retracing your steps to Willow Spring. Views stretch north into Butte Valley, east toward Badwater Flats, south into Long Valley and the Naval reservation, and west toward the distant Sierras. (35.886514°, -117.028588°)
History & More
There are a fair number of animal trails in the area. That’s good for following, but be sure they don’t lead you off the route!
This is an extremely remote hike. Be prepared with water, food, and a self-rescue plan should something go wrong.
Needle Peak is probably named for the needle-like hoodoos on and around the mountain. It’s also possible that early explorers found needle cases from plants on the mountain.
For an alternate beginning to the route, you can follow the Anvil Spring Canyon Route to where a small canyon comes in on the right at 35.917713, -117.046309. This small canyon will take you up to a bigger wash; turn right (upcanyon) up the bigger wash. You’ll intersect the route described above at 35.906646°, -117.046128° (“1.3 Wash” above).
Download Trail Map
Driving Directions
Trailhead is at the end of the Willow Spring/Anvil Spring Road (accessible via the Warm Spring Canyon Road in Butte Valley). Be sure to take the right fork near Willow Spring to get to the correct trailhead.
Camping is not permitted within 100 feet of a flowing stream, spring, or other natural body of open water.
No camping is permitted on the floor of Death Valley, within one mile of Darwin Falls and Greenwater Canyon, on the active/shifting sand dunes, and certain other canyons and backcountry areas.
Camping is also prohibited within one mile of the Ubehebe Lead Mine, Leadfield Mines, Keane Wonder Mill, and Skidoo Mill.
Camping is limited to 30 days per calendar year within the park.
Fires are permitted in NPS-provided fire grates or grills ONLY.
Leave No Trace Principles are enforced
Drones and model aircrafts are prohibited
Camping is permitted only in designated sites or in areas open to dispersed backcountry camping
All park rules and regulations
12 Month Pass: $55/Death Valley Annual Pass (valid at Death Valley National Park). $80/America the Beautiful Annual Pass (valid at all national park and federal fee areas). $20/Annual Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/4th Grade Pass (Valid Sept. 1-August 31 of the child’s 4th Grade school year). Free/Military Pass (valid for all active military personel and their dependents with a CAC Card or DD Form 1173).
Lifetime Pass: $80/Lifetime Senior Pass (62 years or older US citizens; valid at all national park and federal fee areas). Free/Access Pass (available to all US citizens with perminent disabilities). Free/Access for Veterans and Gold Star Families Pass (valid for all military and veterans with a CAC card, Veteran HJealth Identification Card, Veteran ID Card, or veteran’s designation on state-issued drivers license or identification card.)