Ryan Benchmark in Death Valley National Park, CA

Hike Ryan Benchmark Death Valley National Park, CA

Class 2 3.6 miles 1400 gain 1-2 hr Out + Back Dec 18, 2020
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Ryan Benchmark GPX Track

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Ryan Benchmark is a somewhat forgettable summit just off Furnace Creek Wash Road. The views from the top are nice and the approach is pleasant, it's just not that interesting. I parked on the side of the road since I found no good turn-offs and headed through the desert to what appears on a topo map as a squiggly-looking drainage. I followed this drainage the whole way, encountering some Class 2 boulder-hopping. A few hundred feet up the drainage the route takes a right through a narrow section, where three Class 2+ dryfalls provide some fun obstacles. The rest of the route up to the saddle just east of Ryan Benchmark is straightforward, and the final push to the summit leads to black boulders and a nice viewpoint toward the surrounding peaks.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Ryan Benchmark
5148 ft
1268 rise

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Ryan Benchmark ahead. The drainage I'd use to ascend is visible right of center.
Ryan Benchmark ahead. The drainage I'd use to ascend is visible right of center.
Entering the drainage.
Entering the drainage.
Rocky, but pleasant.
Rocky, but pleasant.
Ascending the drainage. At a junction, keep right to ascend through some narrows.
Ascending the drainage. At a junction, keep right to ascend through some narrows.
Looking back through the narrows above one of three Class 2/2+ moves.
Looking back through the narrows above one of three Class 2/2+ moves.
Above the narrow section, continuing within the drainage.
Above the narrow section, continuing within the drainage.
A short section with some slickrock.
A short section with some slickrock.
Ryan Benchmark ahead. I ascended to the saddle on its right.
Ryan Benchmark ahead. I ascended to the saddle on its right.
View back down the drainage.
View back down the drainage.
Ryan Benchmark on the left. I ascended to the saddle ahead, then continued to the summit.
Ryan Benchmark on the left. I ascended to the saddle ahead, then continued to the summit.
Looking back down the drainage from the slope leading to Ryan Benchmark.
Looking back down the drainage from the slope leading to Ryan Benchmark.
Ryan Benchmark summit. Mount Perry on the left, Pyramid Peak on the right.
Ryan Benchmark summit. Mount Perry on the left, Pyramid Peak on the right.
Ryan Benchmark summit, view back the way I came.
Ryan Benchmark summit, view back the way I came.

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!