Length: 14 mile (22.5km) out and back, round trip
Time: 7 hours round trip
Difficulty: Difficult
Elevation Gain: 3,000 ft (914m)
Location: The trail to Telescope Peak begins from Mahogany Flat Campground at the end of Upper Wildrose/ Emigrant Canyon Road. High clearance and 4x4 are recommended for the final 1.5 miles to the campground. The road is steep, rough, and narrow. Hikers with low-clearance vehicles should consider parking at the Charcoal Kilns and walking the road to the trailhead.
Parking: 25 ft vehicle limit. Open gravel area.
Closest Restroom: Vault toilet in parking area. No restroom along the trail, follow principle 3 of Leave No Trace (LNT).
GPS Data: GPS data for the unmarked route is for supplemental purposes only. Take a map and compass when exploring the trail-less wilderness.
Route Description
The 10 space Mahogany Flat Campground located at the trailhead is the ideal place to spend the night and acclimate to the high elevation. There is no water at the camp.
The trail immediately begins as a steady climb along the eastern slope of the Panamint Mountains.
Pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) and the sweet smelling mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) line the trail reaching high overhead competing for light. Hiking through this forested tunnel the trees obscure all but the slightest views of valley floor sitting over 8,000 feet (2438m) below.
In less than 1 mile (1.6km), the vegetation finally gives way to the first of many unobstructed and breathtaking views into Death Valley.
The trail continues the steady grade below Rogers Peak as it turns sharply west overlooking the middle fork of Hanaupah Canyon.
At mile 2.4 (3.9km) it levels out at Arcane Meadows where views into both Panamint and Death Valleys.
The meadow nestled between Rogers and Bennett Peaks is a popular camp for those wishing to backpack the route rather than day hike.
For the next 1.5 miles (2.4km) the trail meanders along the flat and narrow ridgeline passing the occasional limber pine (Pinus flexilis) and some of the best views in the entire park.
Limber pines (Pinus flexilis) are known to live over 2,000 years.
The next 3 miles (4.8km) gains over 1,000 feet (305m) as it steeply switchbacks amongst the ancient bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva).
Bristlecone pines ((Pinus longaeva) are known to live over 5,000 years and are some of the oldest living creatures on earth.
The final 0.2 miles (0.3km) up the narrow ridge to the summit may test the nerves of those with a fear of heights.
Telescope Peak sits 11,049 foot (3,368m) above sea level.
To the east at over 11,331feet (3,454m) below sits the lowest point in North America,
Badwater Basin at -282 feet (-86m) below sea level.
On a clear day look far to the western horizon for the Sierra Nevada Mountains where Mount Whitney rises to 14,505 feet (4421m) as the highest point in the contiguous United States (lower 48 states).
Return via the same route.
