Hike Chocolate Mountain (Piper Benchmark) Piper Mountain Wilderness Area BLM, CA

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Chocolate Mountain, also known as Piper Benchmark or Piper Mountain, is located just outside the northern reaches of Death Valley National Park. From Gilbert Pass, I headed south on a dirt road that cuts through the Piper Mountain Wilderness Area boundary, a sign politely asking to not park more than 30 feet from the designated route. Some sedans might have to park at Gilbert Pass and walk the half mile or so to where I parked at a pull-off.

Navigating to the summit is straightforward, the route following an old roadbed that's been mostly reclaimed by the desert and converted into a trail. This trail leads initially south from the trailhead, then curves to the west after reaching a small sign pointing in that direction. The trail leads pleasantly through the desert and between two small humps before descending a couple hundred feet and then heading south for a half mile of low-grade ascending. After entering a drainage nestled between Chocolate Mountain's northern slopes, the trail passes by a couple of rusty posts and a cairn points to the right. Ascending more steeply up a couple of switchbacks brought me to the west ridge of Chocolate Mountain, introducing a gorgeous vista to the south.

I followed the road/trail east as it more gradually made its way to the northern face of Chocolate Mountain. A social trail marked by a cairn pops in on the right, drawing the rest of the route away from the old road and instead leading up a nice singletrack trail up to the summit. There seemed to be at least two trail options leading up this final slope. The surrounding views were excellent, the Sierras to the west, Eureka Valley to the south, and various high-prominence peaks visible to the north and east within Nevada.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Chocolate Mountain (Piper Benchmark)

7703 ft

1343 rise

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Starting out along the Chocolate Mountain Trail. The peak is visible top left. The route leads to the right and out of frame.

A short bit of descending.

The trail leads south to the drainage seen center.

Entering the drainage.

View back, CA-168 visible in the center. The trail came from the hills on the right.

Ascending the drainage.

View back, some rusty poles marking the spot where you need to keep right to stay on the trail.

A cairn marking the correct drainage to ascend, on the right.

View back into the drainage, Chocolate Mountain becoming visible top right.

Once I gained the west ridge of Chocolate Mountain, I got some great views to the south.

Onward toward Chocolate Mountain.

Fairly flat hiking for a mile or so. Chocolate Mountain seen ahead.

View back along the west ridge.

The road/trail reaches the northern slope of Chocolate Mountain.

A social trail marks when to leave the road and start up to the summit.

The trail is in great shape.

View back down toward the road/trail. You can see Gilbert Pass on the far right.

Final bit to the summit of Chocolate Mountain.

Chocolate Mountain summit, view southeast toward Last Chance Mountain and Eureka Valley.

Chocolate Mountain summit, view southwest.

Chocolate Mountain summit, view north.

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!