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Trip Stats
Location: Death Valley Wilderness - Amargosa Range - Grapevine Mountains - northeast of Furnace Creek Distance/Elevation gain: 7.75 miles out and back/3,200'. Trailhead = 2,590'. Summit = 5,804' (we parked further south of official trailhead on Daylight Pass Rd). Trail: Class 1-2: find cairns that mark the route in initial wash, trail becomes more defined out of wash. Prominence: 644' Maps/Apps: Trails Illustrated Death Valley National Park #221/AllTrails, CalTopo Date Hiked: 12/15/25 Geology: the app Rockd (by Macrostrat Lab, Dept. of Geosciences, Univ. of Wisconsin) indicated we went through at least four stratigraphic units during the hike to Corkscrew's summit (beginning from bottom to summit): Pavits Spring (ash fall tuff and sandstone), Wood Canyon Formation (siltstone, dolomite, quartzite 500 Ma), Zabriskie Quartzite (515 Ma), and Carrara Formation (limestone and siltstone 515 Ma). "If you look with the mind of the swirling earth, you become the land, beautiful."
-Joy Harjo |
Categories
Arizona Hikes California Desert Hiking Idaho Summits Nevada Hikes Petroglyphs/pictographs Southern Utah Hikesbikes 
Fred and Sue
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Caltopo Map of our hike to Corkscrew Peak. Click "Open in CalTopo" to open.
Hike Summary
- from Daylight Pass Road follow wash that runs north toward Corkscrew for ~ 1.8 miles to narrowed wash and cairn and rock arrow that indicates to turn left to climb rock wall out of wash. The route is marked with cairns.
- At ~ mile 2.5, trail steepens with shallow switchbacks and some loose rocks to summit at 3.8 miles.
360° view from Corkscrew Peak.
12/15/25 - Then vs. Now
Of the many peaks Fred and I have hiked over the past 30 years, Corkscrew has always stood out as one of the more memorable - a peak we would tell friends about when the subject of Death Valley arose. Because we hiked it 28 years ago, our recollections are few, but significant enough to want to make the journey again. So, with GPS, phone apps and a much more defined trail - things we didn't have our first time - we summited Corkscrew on a perfect and pleasant 68 degree Death Valley Day.
Memory is an interesting thing. I was surprised at how different this recent Corkscrew hike was compared to what I remember from our former trek.
I remember the approach to the base of the peak seemed long with no real trail. I also remember how the rocks "clinked" like glass under my boots on the summit and the view was good. This time, the approach didn't seem as long, there was no "clinking" because the trail was now wider, the rocks having been moved to the side, and the view was outstanding. I appreciated the view more this time because I know much more about Death Valley. How time and many other summit trips change your perspective!
Maps back then didn't show a trail leading to its summit, so we had to figure out our route based on some vague directions. Today, the Death Valley map shows a trail that connects Corkscrew's summit with Daylight Pass Road which in turn connects Beatty with Death Valley National Park.
We go to Death Valley often in December. In 2022 when we summited Pahrump Point, it was one of our coldest hikes ever, with a frigid and strong north wind whipping through the approach in Chicago Valley and the Nopah Mountains' canyons. Another great summit is Pyramid Peak, the high point of the Funeral Mountains on the east side of Death Valley. Both are listed on the Sierra Club's Desert Peaks Section.
There are many peaks to climb in Death Valley, but few trails marked on maps. Our attempts at Sheephead and Artists Palette Peaks failed in previous years.
Our Hike
We watched gray Corkscrew summit turn into an orange-pink as the sun rose on one of the shortest days of the year. We spent the previous night at Furnace Creek Ranch, got up at 5:30, on the road around 6:45 a.m. We found a better parking place on Daylight Pass Road's shoulder down from the trailhead indicated on the park map.
Our approach through the wash leading toward Corkscrew eventually met up with the cairned trail that I also found on my Caltopo app., labeled "Corkscrew Peak Trail." We passed through orange sandstone outcrops before we dropped into the approach braided stream wash. At about 2 miles into the hike, where the wash narrows, an arrow formed by rocks points to the left, indicating the exit from the wash up a steep but easily manageable wall - a gully passage out to higher ground.
As you emerge from the wash to get onto Corkscrew's southeast ridge, its twisted cliff bands rise above. There's a couple of leveled-off portions of this steep trail which provide excellent vistas of Badwater Basin to the south in Death Valley National Park, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, and the Funeral Mountains to the southeast and the Panamint Range to the southwest.
You walk through colorful Zabriskie Quartzite, a metamorphosed sandstone and then the Carrara Formation, a dark, rough and jagged limestone at the top of Corkscrew. You pass by a cool rock window that you can't resist going into near the summit.
Corkscrew's top is not your ordinary summit. Large chunks and walls of rugged rock are scattered, some dark grey and some a burnt orange. We could see two snow-covered mountain ranges: Telescope Peak on Death Valley's west side, and possibly the Sierras to the northwest.
We got lucky with the warm weather and were able to laze around on the summit in the winter sunlight, gazing at the sublime 360-degree sight of the mysterious, brooding land of Death Valley Wilderness.
On our hike down, I saw Fred jump back on the trail. A small, rambunctious rattlesnake was coiled tightly and ready to strike. It was so well-camouflaged and little that I couldn't get a good photo, and frankly, I was afraid to get closer to it. We made a wide berth around the feisty rattler.
Our celebratory beers at The Last Kind Words Saloon at the historic Ranch at Death Valley were well-deserved. They had a great salad with grilled chicken - so good I ordered it the next night!
Keep on Exploring!
Of the many peaks Fred and I have hiked over the past 30 years, Corkscrew has always stood out as one of the more memorable - a peak we would tell friends about when the subject of Death Valley arose. Because we hiked it 28 years ago, our recollections are few, but significant enough to want to make the journey again. So, with GPS, phone apps and a much more defined trail - things we didn't have our first time - we summited Corkscrew on a perfect and pleasant 68 degree Death Valley Day.
Memory is an interesting thing. I was surprised at how different this recent Corkscrew hike was compared to what I remember from our former trek.
I remember the approach to the base of the peak seemed long with no real trail. I also remember how the rocks "clinked" like glass under my boots on the summit and the view was good. This time, the approach didn't seem as long, there was no "clinking" because the trail was now wider, the rocks having been moved to the side, and the view was outstanding. I appreciated the view more this time because I know much more about Death Valley. How time and many other summit trips change your perspective!
Maps back then didn't show a trail leading to its summit, so we had to figure out our route based on some vague directions. Today, the Death Valley map shows a trail that connects Corkscrew's summit with Daylight Pass Road which in turn connects Beatty with Death Valley National Park.
We go to Death Valley often in December. In 2022 when we summited Pahrump Point, it was one of our coldest hikes ever, with a frigid and strong north wind whipping through the approach in Chicago Valley and the Nopah Mountains' canyons. Another great summit is Pyramid Peak, the high point of the Funeral Mountains on the east side of Death Valley. Both are listed on the Sierra Club's Desert Peaks Section.
There are many peaks to climb in Death Valley, but few trails marked on maps. Our attempts at Sheephead and Artists Palette Peaks failed in previous years.
Our Hike
We watched gray Corkscrew summit turn into an orange-pink as the sun rose on one of the shortest days of the year. We spent the previous night at Furnace Creek Ranch, got up at 5:30, on the road around 6:45 a.m. We found a better parking place on Daylight Pass Road's shoulder down from the trailhead indicated on the park map.
Our approach through the wash leading toward Corkscrew eventually met up with the cairned trail that I also found on my Caltopo app., labeled "Corkscrew Peak Trail." We passed through orange sandstone outcrops before we dropped into the approach braided stream wash. At about 2 miles into the hike, where the wash narrows, an arrow formed by rocks points to the left, indicating the exit from the wash up a steep but easily manageable wall - a gully passage out to higher ground.
As you emerge from the wash to get onto Corkscrew's southeast ridge, its twisted cliff bands rise above. There's a couple of leveled-off portions of this steep trail which provide excellent vistas of Badwater Basin to the south in Death Valley National Park, the lowest point in North America at 282 feet below sea level, and the Funeral Mountains to the southeast and the Panamint Range to the southwest.
You walk through colorful Zabriskie Quartzite, a metamorphosed sandstone and then the Carrara Formation, a dark, rough and jagged limestone at the top of Corkscrew. You pass by a cool rock window that you can't resist going into near the summit.
Corkscrew's top is not your ordinary summit. Large chunks and walls of rugged rock are scattered, some dark grey and some a burnt orange. We could see two snow-covered mountain ranges: Telescope Peak on Death Valley's west side, and possibly the Sierras to the northwest.
We got lucky with the warm weather and were able to laze around on the summit in the winter sunlight, gazing at the sublime 360-degree sight of the mysterious, brooding land of Death Valley Wilderness.
On our hike down, I saw Fred jump back on the trail. A small, rambunctious rattlesnake was coiled tightly and ready to strike. It was so well-camouflaged and little that I couldn't get a good photo, and frankly, I was afraid to get closer to it. We made a wide berth around the feisty rattler.
Our celebratory beers at The Last Kind Words Saloon at the historic Ranch at Death Valley were well-deserved. They had a great salad with grilled chicken - so good I ordered it the next night!
Keep on Exploring!
Sunrise on Corkscrew Peak as we approach trailhead on Daylight Pass Road
Parked at bottom of wash - ready to go!
Parked at bottom of wash - ready to go!
Cutting northeast across country to find trail in wash ahead.
Finding the trail through sandstone and looking back toward Telescope Peak on the west side of Death Valley.
Finding the trail through sandstone and looking back toward Telescope Peak on the west side of Death Valley.
Hiking through a short section of red and orange rock that eventually descends into approach wash.
In wash, getting closer and following cairns.
In wash, getting closer and following cairns.
Progressing to end of wash.
Row of rocks forming an arrow indicating to take a left at narrowing of wash.
Row of rocks forming an arrow indicating to take a left at narrowing of wash.
Rock arrow indicating ascent out of wash.
Brief climb out of wash.
Brief climb out of wash.
Ridgeline once out of wash. Corkscrew on right horizon.
Out of the wash, climbing lower flanks of Corkscrew through Zabriskie Quartzite.
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The climb out of the wash: Corkscrew to the right of Fred.
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Looking back down at the wash we ascended. Basin at bottom of Death Valley in the upper right in photo.
Trail steepens, but it flattens out briefly just past the rock outcroppings above Fred.
Great flat area to take a break.
The view of Badwater Basin to the south keeps getting better.
Trail steepens on final approach, goes through the rock bands above with summit entry to the right.
A bit of steep, loose rock.
Looking back down at Fred negotiating the steep limestone of Carrara Formation up near right side of cliff band - passage to the summit.
Funeral Mountains top of photo.
Funeral Mountains top of photo.
Passage through Corkscrew's cliffs.
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The last climb to the summit.
Who says limestone isn't beautiful?
A fancy sign and well-organized peak register.
Great view from Corkscrew Peak's summit of Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. Snow-covered Telescope Peak at elevation 11, 048' rises above it to the right, in the Panamint Range. The change in elevation between Badwater and Telescope is 11,330'!
Scenes from The Oasis at Death Valley.
Related Hikes
Resources:
USGS WRIR 96-4109 Table 1. Stratigraphic and associated Hydrogeologic units of Nevada Test Site and vicinity.