Click on photos for larger images. Sometimes you have to refresh the page to re-activate this feature. Hide Slide Show (you will have to refresh the page to see it again)

Death Valley National Park, CA

Feb 8 - Feb 15, 2020 -- $1275 ★★

Death Valley National Park is a land of superlatives. Whether it's the highest recorded temperature (134°), the lowest elevation (Badwater - 282' below sea level) being the driest or the most beautiful (OK, that one is totally subjective), Death Valley delivers.


Our trip is base camping / day-hiking only. We will set up for the week at a group site (#3) in the centrally located Furnace Creek Campground. From there, we'll visit many of the park's featured areas, such as Badwater Basin, Desolation Canyon, Corkscrew Peak, Scotty's Castle, The Racetrack, Ubehebe Crater and Wildrose Peak that towers up 9000' over the desert below.


This is a great (and temperate) time of year to visit this amazing graben. (What the hell is a graben?) So why not sign up now?



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Expect daytime hiking temperatures in the high 70s and nighttime temperatures in the 40s. However, be prepared for the possibility of day temperatures as high as 90 and as low as 30, with an occasional chance of rain but more likely Virga (where rain evaporates before hitting the ground). Here is the historical February weather. Be prepared with lots of sun protection and water containers that add up to 6 liters of capacity.



Trip Leaders

Steve Silberberg
Danielle Piscatelli

Cost

$1275 per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share a room with another participant during the 2 hotel nights. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Las Vegas (LAS), personal equipment, restaurant meals eaten off the trail and any gratuities for guides.


Covered expenses include 2 hotel nights, round-trip ground transportation from Las Vegas to the National Park, 6 days of trail meals, National Park permits, insurance, campground fees and awesome guides.



Difficulty

Death Valley can be hot during the day. Plus the amount of elevation gained on some of the day-hikes can be quite substantial, so even with just a day pack the trip may be more strenuous than you'd think.



Important Notes


No important notes


Back to top

 

Packing List
Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
Packing List
Sign up Now!

Itinerary


Saturday, February 8, 2020

Fly into McCarran Airport Las Vegas (LAS). The best time to arrive is between around Noon-3PM. However, if you can save a substantial amount on your flight by arriving at say, 11AM or 5PM, then do so.

Take the free airport shuttle to our local hotel La Quinta Inn & Suites,Las Vegas Airport South, 6560 Surrey St, Las Vegas, NV 89119, 702-492-8900

Equipment shakedown

"Before" measurements taken

Trail mix distribution

Go to REI Las Vegas, 710 S. Rampart Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89145, (702) 951-4488, for last minute or forgotten equipment

Go out for group dinner (Dinner not included in trip cost)



Sunday, February 9, 2020

Early (6AM) wake-up

Second set of "before" measurements taken

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage. Try to keep this to a small amount of stuff.

Free breakfast at Hotel

Car shuttle 3 hours to Death Valley

Drive to Furnace Creek Campground (most central campground with the most amenities)

Set up camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group Site #3

Day-Hike 1.0 round trip miles to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, elevation -282'

Day-Hike 2.0 round trip miles to Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, elevation 140'

Day-Hike 1.0 round trip miles to Natural Bridge, elevation 834'

Camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group Site #3, elevation -196'

Miles today: 4.0. Total miles: 4.0

Possible bailout: Furnace Creek Campground


Monday, February 10, 2020

Day-Hike the 8.0 mile Golden Canyon / Gower Gulch / Badlands Loop, elevation 500'

Driving Tour through Artist's Palette Drive with a stop near the multi-colored palette

Driving Tour to the Devil's Golf Course

Camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group Site #3, elevation -196'

Miles today: 8.0. Total miles: 12.0

Possible bailout: Furnace Creek Campground


Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Wake up 2 hours before dawn to get an early start. We need to be on the road by 7am at the latest. Prefer to arrive at dawn.

Dress warmly, expect the summit to be cold.

Drive to Charcoal Kilns, elevation 6800'

Day-Hike 8.4 miles round trip to Wildrose Peak, elevation 9064'

Camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group Site #3, elevation -196'

Miles today: 8.4. Total miles: 20.4

Possible bailout: Furnace Creek Campground


Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Today is a site seeing day. While there will be some short walks, we plan to drive to the Race Track, Scotty's Castle and Ubehebe Crater.

Allow 2 hours, one-way travel time to the Racetrack

Drive about 50 miles to Scotty's Castle. Take a quick walk around Scotty's Castle

Note: Scotty's Castle was scheduled to open in 2020, but flooding has closed it indefinitely, so expect it to be closed when we're in the park.

Drive about 10 miles to Ubehebe Crater. Tour Ubehebe Crater as well as Little Hebe Crater

Drive about 30 miles on dirt roads to the Racetrack. Tour the Racetrack

Return to camp via Panamint Springs

Camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group Site #3, elevation -196'

Miles today: 0.0. Total miles: 20.4

Possible bailout: Furnace Creek Campground


Thursday, February 13, 2020

Wake up 2.5 hours before dawn in anticipation of arriving at the trailhead at dawn.

Drive to Daylight Pass Rd., elevation 2500'

Day-Hike 8.0 round trip miles to Corkscrew Peak, the "most beloved peak in the park", elevation 5804'

Camp at Furnace Creek Campground, Group Site #3, elevation -196'

Miles today: 8.0. Total miles: 28.4

Possible bailout: Furnace Creek Campground


Friday, February 14, 2020

Pack up camp

Day-Hike 3.6 round trip miles to Desolation Canyon, elevation 600'

Note: There will be a 6' & 8' climbs (and drops) on this route.

End of hiking

Miles today: 3.6. Total miles: 32.0

Shuttle 3 hours back to Las Vegas

Check into a different local hotel La Quinta Las Vegas Tropicana, 4975 South Valley View Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89118, 702-798-7736

After measurements taken

Dinner and awards Ceremony. Dinner not included in trip cost.

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Saturday, February 15, 2020

Free Hotel Breakfast

Take Free Airport Shuttle


Back to top