Telescope Peak

Planning snapshot

Telescope Peak is a 11,043 ft summit in the Panamint Range (USA). PeakAtlas rates it day hike (Class 1–2 hike); best season is Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. No special summit permit. Typical staging is Furnace Creek (28 mi). Limited lodging data is mapped from OpenStreetMap for this region — stage in the listed town rather than expecting a full hotel directory. Use the 3D map and trip checklist before you go.

Elevation

11,043 ft

Prominence

6,168 ft

Difficulty tier

Day hike

Best season

Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

Permits

No special summit permit

Staging

Furnace Creek · 28 mi

Mapped lodging

Limited / none mapped

Listed trails

1

As of 2026-07-31 · Figures come from the PeakAtlas3D catalog: surveyed elevations and prominence, curated difficulty tiers, best-season windows, permit notes, staging-town distances, trail lists, and OpenStreetMap lodging near each summit. Not live weather, quotas, or prices.

How hard is Telescope Peak, and what do you need before you go?

Telescope Peak is listed as Class 1–2 hike with a best season of Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov. Use the difficulty, permit, and staging details below before you commit to a date.

Difficulty

Class 1–2 hike

Best season

Apr–Jun, Sep–Nov

Access / staging

Furnace Creek, California

How tall is Telescope Peak, and where is it?

Location

California, USA

Elevation

11,043 ft

Prominence

6,168 ft

Mountain range

Panamint Range

Difficulty

Class 1–2 hike

What makes Telescope Peak notable?

Highest peak in Death Valley National Park; classic desert high-point hike.

Death Valley’s high point in the Panamint Range — a long desert ridge walk with views from Badwater Basin to Mount Whitney on clear days.

After you check trip readiness for Telescope Peak, explore the summit on PeakAtlas3D’s interactive 3D topographic map in the Panamint Range, California, USA.

Closest places

• Furnace Creek — California via CA-190
• Stovepipe Wells — California via CA-190