Sight · Death Valley National Park
Banded desert landmark in remote Butte Valley reached by true 4x4
Overview
Striped Butte is the eye-catching, banded hill on the floor of Butte Valley. It’s a true backcountry objective—remote, quiet, and absolutely worth it if you’re up for the drive. From the butte and its summit area you get sweeping views across the valley and surrounding Panamints.
Those photogenic stripes are steeply tilted layers of limestone from the Permian Anvil Spring Formation, dramatically set against much older rocks separated by a major fault. The contrast pops in angled light, making this one of the most distinctive landforms in the valley.
Parkwolf’s verdictGeology & What Makes It UniqueMap
Local know-how
Reach it with a high‑clearance 4x4; do not attempt in a car or van.
Start early and budget a full day—backcountry roads are slow and remote.
Dress in layers for cold dawns, hot middays, and windy summits.
Bring all water, food, and fuel; there are no services in Butte Valley.
For photos, work the south side and shoot in early or late light.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Death Valley Tour Guide
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 tour“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
There’s no formal trailhead or signed trail. Most people make a simple off‑trail, Class 2 scramble from the base, gaining roughly 700 feet. It’s fully exposed with no shade, and winds can whip at the top—plan accordingly.
The historic Geologist’s Cabin sits nearby and frames classic views of the butte. It’s a popular waypoint on Butte Valley drives and gives context to the area’s mining-era history.
Wildlife is sparse in this harsh basin, but you may spot desert birds and lizards; lucky visitors in the surrounding mountains sometimes see bighorn sheep. Don’t count on water or shade.
There are no services here—no water, food, fuel, or cell coverage. Carry ample water, layers, navigation, and emergency supplies. Let someone know your plan and timing. Dispersed, primitive camping is common in the valley for self‑sufficient visitors.
Wildlife
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.
Keep exploring
Parkwolf’s Death Valley ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
