Corkscrew Peak

Corkscrew Peak is one of Death Valley's quieter summit scrambles — the kind of hike where you might not see another soul all day. The route climbs roughly four miles through desert scrub and increasingly rocky terrain, gaining serious elevation as you work your way up the flanks of the peak. There's no maintained trail for much of this — you're following use paths and cairns through loose volcanic rock and crumbly ridgelines. The exposure is relentless; there's virtually no shade between the desert floor and the summit. But the payoff is a panorama that earns every drop of sweat: sweeping views across the Amargosa Range, down into Death Valley proper, and out toward the distant Sierras on clear days. This one belongs to experienced scramblers who like route-finding and don't mind earning their views the hard way.