Hike Grapevine Peak and Mount Palmer Death Valley National Park, CA

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Grapevine Peak and Mount Palmer are two peaks in the Grapevine Mountains far enough that I wanted to get them both in a day so I wouldn't have to return along the long dirt road approach. The area is remote and has some outstanding scenery. To get to the trailhead, turn off at 37.049269621454684, -116.77191081681414 and follow the obvious, main dirt road to the trailhead listed on my trip report. Google will try to take you on some nonsense road otherwise. The dirt road is in great shape until about five miles from the trailhead, where mid-clearance is necessary. Better vehicles could make it to the saddle to the west of where I started, but I parked at a turn-off before the road became very rough.

I hiked along the road to the saddle, then headed north to do Grapevine Peak first. I recommend initially keeping along the ridge, then staying just to its right to avoid additional Class 2 obstacles. The potential rockiness only lasts for the first quarter mile ascent, and then the rest of the route to Grapevine Peak is just a series of ups and downs on small bumps, where I had to dodge trees and occasional brush. It's not particularly fun, but also wasn't too annoying. The route required passing over some minor ridgeline bumps, and for the most part I would recommend just keeping to the slopes of these bumps since the minor high points aren't prominent enough to even be called "peaks". After the third bump, a social trail leads down to the east slope of Grapevine Peak, and then heads up to the peak. Along the way up the peak's east slope are a couple of talus fields, barely Class 2.

The summit views from Grapevine Peak were less exciting than I thought they'd be, a ridge to the west obscuring a nice view into Death Valley. Mount Palmer to the south seemed dauntingly far away. I didn't linger for long, backtracking to the saddle and ready to begin Mount Palmer.

A short Class 2 section leads up from the saddle as I headed south to Mount Palmer. From here, a steep ridgeline continued, much less brushy than the route to Grapevine Peak. There was even a pretty well-defined social trail. I found myself traversing the ridge and ended up on Peak 8040. I scoped a potential route for later toward Wahguyhe Peak to the east, but it seemed excessively steep and loose, and I would ultimately run out of daylight later anyway. Also from Peak 8040, I could trace the route to Mount Palmer, which would include two somewhat aggressive bumps along the ridge, then a long trek south to the peak. I continued southwest from Peak 8040, a steep slope with a social trail leading down. I passed over the two bumps along the ridge that couldn't be avoided. Of course this meant I'd have to re-ascend them on the way back. I'll note that to save some elevation, I was able to avoid Peak 8040 on the way back (see map).

After summitting the second hump along the ridge, I descended to a saddle where Mount Palmer was plainly visible ahead. The route required me to leave the primary ridgeline at this point to get to Mount Palmer. I dropped south down from the saddle, side-hilling on steep dirt (minor Class 2) to get to a low ridge below. This low ridge was gorgeous – sweeping desert views in all directions, Mount Palmer's lengthy ridge approach ahead. It was mostly clear of brush and was overall just a nice jaunt through the desert.

The route slowly began to ascend to gain Mount Palmer's northern ridge. A social trail kept route-finding minimal, and there was only one very steep section required to gain the ridge. I followed the ridge, mostly staying on the crest except for some easy side-hilling to avoid a bump. The last half-mile or so before the summit introduced some Class 2 rock outcroppings that required some short descents and re-ascents, and then I found myself faced with the crux of the day, a rocky headwall that guards the summit. The route starts up some steep Class 2 before avoiding the sketchy-looking stuff by keeping to the right and wrapping around to safer ground. The route gets confusing here, and I messed up badly on my ascent. Pictures below may help better, but I recommend doing an ascending traverse to a small rocky edge, then dropping down 50 feet into a minor gully, then reascending on its opposite side. If you find yourself scramblnig within any gullies, you've likely gone the wrong way or missed the route to higher ground. If you're doing anything harder than Class 2+, try again. Once out of the gully, a steep and loose social trail leads up to higher ground, where a pleasant stroll leads to the summit. Mount Palmer's summit views down into Death Valley and to the surrounding peaks of the Grapevine Mountains were incredible.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Grapevine Peak

8738 ft

4558 rise

Peak 8040

8040 ft

440 rise

Mount Palmer

7958 ft

738 rise

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Hiking along the road to a saddle. My car couldn't make this rougher portion.

At the saddle, looking back down the road I walked up. Better vehicles could make it to where I'm standing.

I started up the ridge to Grapevine Peak. This is a shot down to the saddle where the previous picture was taken.

Class 2 stuff that can be easily avoided along the ridge.

Social trail some of the time as I head along the ridgeline to Grapevine Peak.

Grapevine Peak visible top left.

View back along the ridgeline. Wahguyhe Peak visible left of center, Mount Palmer poking out top right.

Continuing along the bumpy ridgeline to Grapevine Peak.

Looking back as I ascend one of the bumps along the ridge.

Grapevine Peak ahead.

Ascending Grapevine Peak's east ridge. There are hints of a social trail on the way up.

Looking back along the social trail up Grapevine Peak.

Minor Class 2 talus field.

Summit of Grapevine Peak, view back the way I came. Wahguyhe Peak visible top right.

Grapevine Peak summit, view north.

Grapevine Peak summit, view into Death Valley.

Grapevine Peak summit, view toward Wahguyhe Peak (top left) and Mount Palmer (top right).

Back at the saddle, I started up to Mount Palmer. Class 2 move just after leaving the saddle.

Continuing along the ridgeline to Mount Palmer.

Looking back toward the saddle as I head up to Mount Palmer. The ridgeline I took earlier to get to Grapevine Peak visible on the left. The road comes up the drainage in the center.

Continuing along the ridge.

View back toward Grapevine Peak (top left) and the ridge I took earlier leading to it (center).

Peak 8040 ahead, Wahguyhe Peak poking out on the top left. Mount Palmer is visible top right.

Peak 8040 summit, view toward Wahguyhe Peak.

Continuing along the ridgeline, Mount Palmer visible top left. The first of two major bumps along the ridgeline is visible ahead.

At the saddle of Peak 8040 and the first ridgeline bump, view back toward Peak 8040. For reference, you can skip re-summitting Peak 8040 on the way back by just traversing on the left in this photo.

Along the ridge, heading up to the first bump along the ridgeline.

First bump summit, view back toward Peak 8040 and Wahguyhe Peak (top right).

Ridgeline bump 2 visible ahead. Mount Palmer top left.

View toward Grapevine Peak (top right).

View from bump 2 back toward bump 1.

Dropping down from bump 2 to a saddle before leaving the primary ridgeline to get over to Mount Palmer, visible center. The route requires side-hilling on loose dirt to reach the low ridge visible in the center of this photo.

Along the low ridge, where there were some really lovely expansive desert views. Mount Palmer is still a trek away.

View back as I start the ascent along Mount Palmer's north ridge. Wahguyhe Peak visible top right. You can see the saddle I descended from on the left that I used to reach the low ridge.

Continuing along the north ridge of Mount Palmer along a social trail.

The social trail initially avoids all Class 2.

A steep section along the north ridge.

Looking back from the top of the steep section. You can see Wahguyhe Peak top right, Peak 8040 right of center, and the ridgeline bumps I traversed continuing to the left. You can also see the saddle I descended from, left of center.

Social trail side-hills to avoid an unnecessary bump ascent.

Looking back along the ridge toward the bump the social trail avoided.

Mount Palmer ahead!

Class 2 ups and downs.

View into Red Wall Canyon below to the west.

Social trail side-hilling to avoid cliffs.

At the base of Mount Palmer. The true summit is set back a bit, but the rocky face here makes it seem like this would be the peak. The route wraps around on the right. First, a loose Class 2 mess.

Looking down the Class 2 section before wrapping around the peak.

Looking back again as I side-hill along the Class 2.

A mess of a route, I recommend dropping about 50 feet into a gully and then ascending back out of it.

Looking back down into the gully I just ascended out of. You can see the north ridge of Mount Palmer in the center.

Just after the loose section, a pleasant stroll leads to the summit of Mount Palmer.

Mount Palmer summit, view north. Grapevine Peak visible center, Wahguyhe Peak top right.

Close-up along the north ridge of Mount Palmer, Grapevine Peak top right.

View south into Death Valley.

Close-up south toward Thimble Peak and Death Valley, Telescope Peak visible top right.

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!