Wildrose Peak Hike

Wildrose Peak is one of those amazing places where you can see two beautiful extremes from the summit: Badwater Basin in Death Valley, at -272 feet, where the temperature was likely 115 degrees, and Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the Lower 48, where at the summit it was likely in the 40s. 

We started our hike at about 10.30am from the oddly shaped charcoal kilns at about 5700 feet in altitude.  Having left Stovepipe Wells in Death Valley only an hour before, the fairly cool air felt great.  Once on the trail, we passed only two other folks, a couple from France, before reaching the summit in about two hours fifteen minutes.  Once at the summit, there were 360 degree views of all the surrounding areas and a still, fairly cool breeze.  It was hard to believe that we were still in Death Valley National Park.

After lunch, we headed back down the trail to the trailhead.  It was a great hike and is definitely one to recommend if you find yourself in Death Valley in the summer!

From the trailhead by the charcoal kilns, we'll start climbing through the Pinon Pines and Junipers.  Mount Whitney may be visible as we gain altitude and Death Valley-Panamint Valley will be visible below.  Our total elevation gain to the summit of Wildrose Peak is about 2200 feet and the trail is about 4.2 miles each way (8.4 miles roundtrip).