Best time to visit
Do this one only in cool weather, roughly November through April. Summer heat here is no joke. Start early for cooler temps and to snag the limited roadside parking. Wind can be sharp on the exposed ridge in winter.
Overview
About Corkscrew Peak
Corkscrew Peak is a striking summit in the Grapevine Mountains, named for its spiraling ridge and prized for its big, lonely views. This is a rugged, off-trail-style hike on a well-used use path—rewarding if you like a little route-finding and a lot of payoff without the crowds.
Why stop
- Panoramic summit views with a memorable rock window near the top
- Quieter, backcountry feel compared to marquee park hikes
Heads up
- No official trail and real route-finding required
- Steep, loose footing with no shade or water
- Very limited roadside parking
Fit hikers comfortable with steep, loose terrain and basic off-trail navigation will love this one for the solitude, distinctive ridge, and huge views. Strong parties sometimes pair it with nearby objectives on separate days, conditions permitting.
Parkwolf’s verdictWho It’s ForMap
Where it is
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Full mapLocal know-how
Tips for visiting Corkscrew Peak
Hike in the cool season only and start early.
Carry ample water; there is none on the route.
Follow the cairned ridge route and avoid side canyons that dead-end.
Park at the small roadside pullout and don’t block traffic.
Trekking poles help on the steep, loose descent; expect wind up high.
Plan your stop
Before you go
Best time to visit
Logistics & Amenities
3 active Death Valley alerts
- ClosurePark roads closed or hazardousPlan around multiple closed roads and use extra caution on damaged routes. - Paved roads: North Highway and Beatty Cut-off are closed due to flooding and debris from the October 22 storm.Official details
- ClosureSaline Valley Lower Springs closed after wildfireLower Springs at Saline Valley Warm Springs remains closed after the September 15 wildfire; stay out because the fire left safety hazards, including potential hazardous chemicals.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Death Valley Tour Guide
Your drive to Corkscrew Peak, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Death Valley National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Death Valley audio tourMore stories near here in the app
- Hells Gate: Your First Big Death Valley View
- A Living Homeland: The Timbisha Shoshone
- 130 audio storiesacross Death Valley’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Bighorn Sheep, Desert Tortoise, Coyote, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 36 trails, 114 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
More about Corkscrew Peak
Route at a GlanceDistance and gain: roughly 7.4–8 miles round trip with about 3,100–3,360 feet of ascent.
- Distance and gain: roughly 7.4–8 miles round trip with about 3,100–3,360 feet of ascent.
- Difficulty: moderate to strenuous. Expect steep grades, loose gravel, and some hands-needed Class 2 moves getting out of a canyon.
- Route character: no maintained trail. A cairned use path leads from a roadside start on Daylight Pass Road (NV-374). You’ll walk a broad wash for ~2 miles, enter a short canyon with vertical walls, then scramble out and follow the exposed, corkscrew ridge to the summit.
What You’ll SeeFrom the summit, the views sprawl across Death Valley with Telescope Peak prominent; on…
From the summit, the views sprawl across Death Valley with Telescope Peak prominent; on especially clear days distant Sierra Nevada summits have been noted. Just below the top sits a natural rock window—a favorite photo stop—and there’s a summit register to sign.
Safety & StrategyNavigation matters.
Navigation matters. Watch for cairns and stick to the researched ridge line—dropping into tempting side canyons can dead-end at impassable walls. The descent is steep and loose, so take your time. Sun exposure is total; plan layers for wind up high.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Death Valley
71 sightingsBighorn SheepMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
101 sightingsDesert TortoiseMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
458 sightingsCoyoteMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
28 sightingsFeral BurroMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
30 sightingsMule DeerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
62 sightingsKit FoxMost seen around 7 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Death Valley. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
