Hike Pyramid Peak Death Valley National Park, CA

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Pyramid Peak is a major summit of the Funeral Mountains, and within the greater Amargosa Range. It towers over the CA-190 highway for visitors entering Death Valley National Park. I’m really starting to love peaks around Death Valley the more I do them, beautiful routes and wide open views drawing me back.

Kailey and I set out from a small dirt lot next to a free BLM campground. We traversed the desert toward a wide drainage to the north, turning left up a prominent wash once we were nestled between the hills. A social trail led up a minor ridge out of the drainage, bringing us to the primary approach ridge, which would generally take us northwest to the summit. We mostly stuck to the crest of this ridge, encountering a few Class 2 sections.

About halfway up the ridge, we laughed at an absurdly steep-looking scree slope, thinking we would have to ascend this. However, a Class 2 colorful gully weakness took us up to a route that switchbacked just to the left of the scree slope, avoiding the worst of it. At the top of the slope, we followed pleasant terrain along a mostly short flat section with great views toward Death Valley National Park’s gorgeous landscape.

Just past the small section of flat, the final 800 feet or so of vertical gain consisted of a steep section on black rock, then keeping left around a series of steep rock pinnacles. A well-traveled social trail keeps the route low Class 2. A final slope brought us to the summit, where we took in some really amazing views.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Pyramid Peak

6703 ft

3703 rise

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Starting through the desert, a view toward Pyramid Peak. We started toward the drainage right of center in this photo.

Pyramid Peak.

Entering the drainage nestled between the hills. Pyramid Peak top left somewhere.

Pyramid Peak ahead. We turn left out of the main drainage and headed northwest toward the peak.

A social trail led out of the drainages and up to the ridge crest.

Looking back into the drainage we ascended from, just as we get to the ridge crest.

Following the ridge.

Looking back toward the saddle where we joined the ridge. The drainage we came out of is visible on the right.

Pyramid Peak up there somewhere.

A very steep-looking slope is visible ahead. The route leads to the minor gully where the black rock touches the brown, center of the photo. This minor gully eliminates the need to ascend the awful-looking scree slope.

Approaching the minor gully.

Past the minor gully as we ascend to a short, flat area. The car is somewhere center right, near the distant hills.

Short, flat section before the final bit to the summit of Pyramid Peak.

Looking back as we ascend on some minor Class 2 black rock.

The ridge crest becomes riddled with pinnacles. A social trail leads to the left around all of it, avoiding anything scary.

View looking back toward Kailey as we start along the social trail.

Looking back as we continue along the social trail. You can see the sketchy-looking ridgeline pinnacles that the social trail avoids.

Pyramid Peak ahead!

Looking back just before the summit. This is a minor Class 2 section.

Pyramid Peak summit, view west. Zabriskie Point visible center.

Pyramid Peak 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!