An Off-trail Hike up Coffin Peak

Views down toward Badwater Flats and the Panamint Mountains from Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
Views down toward Badwater Flats and the Panamint Mountains from Coffin Peak

There’s nothing quite like climbing Coffin Peak in the Black Mountains of Death Valley to see the Funeral Mountains.  That’s just too much of a single theme if you ask me!  But it’s actually a fun off-trail trek, without too much opportunity to get lost and with fantastic views and almost complete solitude.  So if you happen to be at Dante’s View and want an extra adventure, it’s a good option.

Quick Stats

Round Trip Length: 2.7 miles Trail Type: Out & back Elevation Gain: 901ft. Pets: No Fees: $30/vehicle
Where I began (along with an arrow showing which way to go) up Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
Where I began (along with an arrow showing which way to go)

The route begins at the trailer parking (near the restroom) 0.5 miles below Dante’s View (which means that it’s along a paved road).  I started near the Wilderness Boundary post.  Turn left to walk downhill into the wash (the valley going down to Badwater should be on your right and behind your back).  Walk up the wash (it’s really just a desert valley) for almost 0.2 miles.

Where I turned up Coffin Peak - you can just slightly see a path near the hiker, Death Valley National Park, California
Where I turned up Coffin Peak – you can just slightly see a path near the hiker

At this point, the flat-ish land that you’ve been walking along on your left dips slightly and then rises in a hill above you.  At the same time, the wash you’ve been following turns sharply to the right.  You want to leave the wash by scrambling up the hill to the left (heading pretty much due east).

Heading up toward the first ridgeline on Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
Heading up toward the first ridgeline

You’ve now completed the most difficult part of route finding on your way up Coffin Peak.  You’re also coming to the most difficult section in the way of hiking.  On our way back, we found a sparsely-cairned route that would have taken us up the northwestern face of this hill.  On our way up, we headed pretty much straight up toward the ridgeline.  Remember to try to travel on durable surfaces, like rock and gravel, rather than on the vegetation that is struggling for survival.

A view from a small saddle over toward the Funeral Mountains on the way up Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
A view from a small saddle over toward the Funeral Mountains

The route rises up and then heads south (to the right).  We didn’t quite rise up to the ridgeline, but instead stayed lower almost until the ridge veers east again.  The rocks in this area were somewhat sketchy, so use caution.

Views toward Coffin Peak - it looks much further away than it actually is, Death Valley National Park, California
Views toward Coffin Peak – it looks much further away than it actually is

Once on top of the first hill, head slightly south (right) to follow the ridgeline as it turns east again toward Coffin Peak.  There is one narrow section of ridge, but the good news is that we picked up a trail here.  Yay!

A trail up Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
A trail!

From there it was a quick and easy bit of striding up to the top of Coffin Peak!

Heading up Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
Heading up Coffin Peak

I was very surprised when we arrived.  I had GPS coordinates, but somewhere along the way, I’d misjudged my mileage and thought it was twice as far as it turned out.  I’d rather have it that way than the other!

Views to Mt. Perry and the Funeral Mountains from Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
Views to Mt. Perry and the Funeral Mountains

The views from Coffin Peak are spectacular, and they really are different from Dante’s View.  The latter mostly gives you views down into Badwater, and while you can see bits of Death Valley from Coffin Peak, you get a better view over the Black Mountains (south).  You can also see into Greenwater Valley and the Greenwater Range (east) as well as north to the Funeral Mountains.  Because we visited in November, and the sun was very far south, this was the easiest direction to take photos.  There is also a good view to the Panamint Mountains (west).

Views into Greenwater Valley from Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
Views into Greenwater Valley

The canyon to the south is aptly-named Coffen Canyon.  There is also a very unique rock pillar in this direction – it reminded me of a petrified tree stump, but I’m pretty sure that was just my imagination.

The rock pinnacle above Coffin Canyon, Death Valley National Park, California
The rock pinnacle above Coffin Canyon

After enjoying the view, retrace your steps back to the parking area.  The good news is that it’s even easier to find your way on the trip back – that’s a win for sure!

Heading back down toward the Coffin Peak Trailhead, Death Valley National Park, California
Heading back down toward the trailhead

Round Trip Trail Length: I went 2.7 miles

Elevation Gain: 901ft. (5,117ft. to 5,508ft.)

Facilities: Vault toilet at the trailhead

Fees: $30/vehicle to enter Death Valley National Park, valid 7 days.  America the Beautiful National Parks & Federal Lands passes and Death Valley Annual Passes are accepted.

A dried-out wildflower on the way up Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
A dried-out wildflower

Trail Notes: There is very little in the way of a trail on this hike, so be ready to go cross-country and do a bit of way-finding.  One area has sketchy rocks underfoot.  While it’s certainly not an official route, it is popular enough that the rangers are aware that it’s somewhat frequently visited.  That said, chances are that you’ll have the entire hike (after leaving the parking area) to yourself – solitude reigns!

The southern end of Greenwater Valley from Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
The southern end of Greenwater Valley

Trail ★☆☆☆☆

Road ★★★★☆

Signs ★☆☆☆☆

Scenery ★★★★★

Would I go 100 miles out of my way for this? ★★★★☆

Overall Rating: ★★★☆☆

Looking down Coffin Canyon to the Black Mountains and Badwater Flats from Coffin Canyon, Death Valley National Park, California
Looking down Coffin Canyon to the Black Mountains and Badwater Flats

GPS Coordinates for Coffin Peak

TH: 36.2175770°, -116.7224800° (36°13.05462′, -116°43.34880′ / 36°13’03.2772″, -116°43’20.9280″) (5,162ft.) (0.0)

Turn out of wash to ascend to ridge: 36.2173430°, -116.7197750° (36°13.04058′, -116°43.18650′ / 36°13’02.4348″, -116°43’11.1900″) (5,113ft.) (0.17)

Coffin Peak: 36.2144050°, -116.7057900° (36°12.86430′, -116°42.34740′ / 36°12’51.8580″, -116°42’20.8440″) (5,487ft.) (1.37)

End: 36.2175390°, -116.7223470° (36°13.05234′, -116°43.34082′ / 36°13’03.1404″, -116°43’20.4492″) (5,159ft.) (2.66)

Closeup of the Greenwater Range and beyond from Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
Closeup of the Greenwater Range and beyond

The gpx file for Coffin Peak can be downloaded – please note that this and the GPS Coordinates are for reference only and should not be used as a sole resource when hiking this trail.

Download GPX File size: 71.8 KB Downloaded 41 times

(Note: I do my best to ensure that all downloads, the webpage, etc. are virus-free and accurate; however, I cannot be held responsible for any damage that might result, including but not limited to loss of data, damages to hardware, harm to users, from use of files, information, etc. from this website.  Thanks!)

Hiking off of Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
Hiking off of Coffin Peak

Getting to Coffin Peak Trailhead

From Furnace Creek, drive east (toward Badwater Road) on CA-190.  About 10.7 miles after the Badwater Road goes off on the right (stay on CA-190 at this junction), the road to Dante’s View will go off on the right.  Turn up this road for 12.6 miles to the restroom on the left.  Trailers must park here, but there’s nothing stopping others from using the parking area for an hour or two while they hike Coffin Peak.

A Mojave Aster on the way up Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
A Mojave Aster on the way up Coffin Peak

From Death Valley Junction (near the Amargosa Opera House), turn onto CA-190 toward Death Valley National Park.  After 18.1 miles, turn left onto the road up to Dante’s View.  The parking area will be on the left after 12.6 miles (it’s beside the restroom).  Trailers must park here, but there’s nothing stopping others from using the parking area for an hour or two while they hike Coffin Peak.

Visual route map and elevation profile for my hike up Coffin Peak, Death Valley National Park, California
Visual route map and elevation profile for my hike up Coffin Peak

Even More Fun Hikes in Death Valley!

If you want some of the less-known Death Valley gems, check out this book.  It covers 280 hiking and driving destinations, not to mention history, topo maps, and more.  Buy your copy here.

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