Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

January 1st, 2025 at 11:32 AMDeath Valley National Park, CA

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Info

Distance7.7 mi

Elevation gain3,300 ft

CruxClass 3

Route typeLoop

Duration4 hr

Quality5/10

Vehicle to trailheadCar

Protected areaDeath Valley National Park, National Parks Service

EcoregionMojave Basin and Range

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Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — A sign indicating the start of the Corkscrew Peak Trail from a small turnout along Daylight Pass Road.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Corkscrew Peak visible ahead. The trail joins the minor wash on the left.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Climbing to a low saddle.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Dropping into a major wash.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — The trail disappears inside the wash. Continue north.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back toward Cottonwood Basin.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — The wash narrows as it veers northwest.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Rock arrows indicating a slot used to exit the wash.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Class 2 obstacle.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Starting up a southeast spur of Corkscrew Peak.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — A small plateau below the summit. The trail contours the slope ahead toward a minor saddle, top-center.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Approaching the saddle. Cool natural arch formation on the left.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View through the arch.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Starting up Corkscrew Peak's southeast slope.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Approaching Corkscrew Peak's summit.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Crokscrew Peak summit. View northwest. Thimble Peak is right of center.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Closeup of a peak named "Old Snifter" to the west.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View south toward Death Valley Buttes on the canyon floor below.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View southeast, the way I came.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Back the saddle, about to start the descent of Corkscrew Peak's south ridge toward Little Corkscrew Peak.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Descending the south ridge. Little Corkscrew Peak, a knife's edge prominence along the ridgeline, is visible in the center.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View west toward some colorful cliffs.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Class 2 along the ridge.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Approaching the saddle below Little Corkscrew Peak.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — From the saddle, the route contours the east face (to the climber's left) of Little Corkscrew Peak a short distance before ascending on Class 3 terrain.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Steep Class 3 to the summit of Little Corkscrew Peak.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Little Corkscrew Peak summit. View south.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View north toward Corkscrew Peak.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Descending Little Corkscrew Peak's east slope.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Picking up a use trail.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Passing a spring with standing water.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Descending a southeasterly spur.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back toward Little Corkscrew Peak (left) and Corkscrew Peak (right).

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Dropping into the drainage on the left.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Following the drainage to its confluence with the major wash used on the approach.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — Crossing the wash, aiming for the Corkscrew Peak Trail.

Corkscrew Peak and Little Corkscrew Peak Loop — View back before rejoining the Corkscrew Peak Trail.