01
Best canyon loop
Golden Canyon & Gower Gulch Loop
Near Furnace Creek • Colorful Badlands Canyon Loop • Best Overall Pick
A classic Death Valley loop weaving through narrow golden walls, pastel badlands, and broad views over the valley floor.
If you only have time for one Death Valley hike from Charleston View, make it this one. The loop gives you a little of everything: tight, shaded narrows, eroded ridgelines, and a sweeping panorama toward Badwater. Start early for cooler temps and to catch the morning light sliding across the badlands.
02
High-country classic
Telescope Peak Trail
Panamint Range High Country • High-Elevation Summit Hike • Most Challenging Outing
A long, steady climb to Death Valley’s high point with rare pinyon-juniper forest and staggering summit views.
Rising more than 11,000 feet above sea level, Telescope Peak feels like another world compared with the valley floor. The trail follows a well-defined path along a broad ridge, with cooler air, sparse forest, and occasional snow patches in shoulder seasons. From the summit you can look down to Badwater Basin on one side and across to the Sierra Nevada on the other, making the drive and effort worthwhile for strong hikers.
03
Ridgetop viewpoint hike
Dante's View to Mount Perry Ridge
Dante's View Overlook Area • Exposed Ridgetop Hike • Best Sunrise And Sunset Views
A airy ridge walk from Dante’s View that strings together overlooks high above Badwater’s white salt flats.
Most visitors stop at the parking lot overlook, but following the use path along the ridge quickly leaves the crowds behind. The route undulates over open, rocky terrain with almost constant views into the depths of Death Valley. Aim for sunrise or late afternoon when the salt flats and distant ranges turn pastel and the heat is more manageable.
04
Laid-back nature escape
Ash Meadows Boardwalk Trails
Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge • Easy Spring-Fed Boardwalk Walks • Best For A Relaxed Half-Day
Short boardwalk loops over turquoise springs and wetlands that feel surprisingly lush for the middle of the desert.
Just across the Nevada line, Ash Meadows offers a softer side to the Mojave with crystal-clear pools and rare desert pupfish. The boardwalks at Crystal Spring, Point of Rocks, and Devil’s Hole overlook are gentle, family-friendly strolls with interpretive signs and plenty of photo stops. It’s an ideal option when the big desert climbs feel too hot or too long, or when you want to combine a scenic drive with easy walking.
05
For seasoned desert hikers
Nopah Peak, Nopah Range Wilderness
Nopah Range South Of Pahrump • Rugged Cross-Country Desert Climb • Off-The-Beaten-Path Adventure
A steep, mostly off-trail ascent to a remote summit with commanding views over Charleston View, Pahrump, and the desert basins.
The Nopah Range looms just east of Charleston View, and Nopah Peak offers a true wilderness outing for those comfortable with route-finding. Expect loose rock, steep slopes, and little to no shade, but also a sense of solitude that’s hard to find on more developed trails. Go only in cool seasons, carry plenty of water, and treat this as an all-day objective for experienced desert hikers.