Longer Trails in Death Valley National Park

Gower Gulch Loop

This trail's proximity to Furnace Creek, plus its varying degrees of difficulty, make it quite popular. Start by hiking along the once-paved route that allowed cars to drive into the canyon but which was destroyed by flash flooding. Soon you'll be scrambling around the "badlands," hills of mud and silt deposited by ancient lakes. Those with more stamina can continue past Manly Beacon (a sandstone formation), across gullies and washes, and then up to Zabriskie Point for panoramic views of the forbidding badlands. Note: If you hike beyond Manly Beacon, be sure to pick up a map at one of the park's visitor centers -- it is easy to lose your bearings in this area.

4 miles RT. Easy to moderate. Access: Golden Canyon parking lot along Calif. 178, about 2 miles south of the Inn at Furnace Creek.

Grotto Canyon

This route is marked by deep "grottos" (smooth hollows formed by erosive floodwaters) in the rocks. The first mile follows a rugged gravel road up the canyon's alluvial fan; if you have an off-highway vehicle, drive this portion as far as the wash. Continue on foot from there, as the canyon narrows and you begin to encounter the grottos, beyond which waterfalls occasionally trickle. The cool hidden grottos are a nice place to stop for a snack, sheltered from the sun.

2 to 4 miles RT. Moderate to strenuous. Access: 2 1?2 miles east of Stovepipe Wells on Calif. 190.

Jayhawker Canyon

This out-of-the-way route follows the path of a desperate group of pioneers who attempted to find a way out of Death Valley in 1849-50. The footing in the debris-filled canyon is treacherous, and several forks and tributaries can distract you from staying in the main wash. At the end of the route lies a spring marking the Jayhawkers' camp, also a popular stopping place for the native Shoshone. Boulders in the area are marked with petroglyphs depicting bighorn sheep, along with the initials of several pioneers scratched into the rocks. You can stop and turn around here or continue up 3 miles more to the base of Pinto Peak.

4 to 10 miles RT. Moderate. Access: Off Calif. 190, just west of Emigrant Ranger Station.

Telescope Peak Trail

A grueling 3,000-foot climb ultimately leads to the 11,049-foot summit, where you'll be rewarded with the view described thusly by one pioneer: "You can see so far, it's just like looking through a telescope." Snow-covered in winter, the peak is best climbed from May to November; the trail is snowed in the rest of the year and recommended only for experienced winter climbers. Consult park rangers for current conditions and detailed advice -- and never attempt this climb alone.

14 miles RT. Strenuous. Access: Mahogany Flat Campground, past Wildrose Charcoal Kilns (4WD vehicles only).

Wildrose Peak Trail

Consisting mostly of steady and unrelenting ascents, this steep hike has several level portions for rest stops. And you'll need them, because you'll be climbing over 2,000 feet on the way to the 9,060-foot summit. Marvelous views along the way present the stark Panamint Range, a bird's-eye view of Death Valley, and panoramas of the Sierras on the western horizon. It's unwise to attempt this hike in winter or without obtaining a topographical map from the ranger station.

8.4 miles RT. Strenuous. Access: Wildrose Charcoal Kilns, usually accessible by passenger vehicles (check with park rangers for road conditions).