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Ascend Mount Perry via Dante's Ridge Trail

Death Valley National Park's trek up Mount Perry via Dante's Ridge is remarkably underappreciated, offering an exceptional hiking experience.

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3 min read
Scale the heights of Mount Perry starting from Dante's Ridge
Scale the heights of Mount Perry starting from Dante's Ridge

Ascend Mount Perry via Dante's Ridge Trail

Exploring Mount Perry Trail: A Hidden Gem in Death Valley

The hike to Mount Perry via Dante's Ridge in Death Valley National Park is often overlooked but absolutely deserves more recognition. This trail follows a ridge along the Black Mountains, treating you to breathtaking panoramas over Badwater Basin and as far as Mt Whitney and the Sierras[1][2][3].

Finding Your Way to Dante's Ridge

To reach the trailhead, head to Dante's View, a must-visit viewpoint on its own[4]. Use this address to navigate: Dante's View, Death Valley National Park, Dantes View Rd, California 92328

Gearing Up for the Hike

This rugged, relatively isolated trek requires thoughtful preparation[5].

Osprey Hikelite 26 - My go-to daypack. Light, tough, and keeps my back dry with the trampoline mesh.

  • Despite being higher in elevation than the Badwater Basin, temperatures can still soar or plummet unpredictably. Dress accordingly, and check the weather beforehand. In summer, carry at least 3L of water[5].
  • The terrain underfoot is rocky yet largely manageable. Trail runners work well for footwear[5].
  • Cellular coverage is unreliable along the route. If you have a satellite messenger, it's a good idea to bring it[5].

My Top Picks for Gear

Norda 001 - Like a monster truck and a comfy pillow had a featherweight baby, for your feet.

Here's what I'm using for this hike*:

  • Osprey Hikelite 26: A lightweight, durable daypack with a trampoline mesh back to keep you dry[6]
  • Norda 001: Comfortable and supportive footwear that straddles the line between monster truck and pillow[6]
  • Garmin inReach Mini 2: A dependable SOS device for backcountry emergencies[6]
  • AllTrails Plus (30% off link): Provides up-to-date trip reports and features like offline maps, off-trail alerts, and Garmin sync[6]
  • Garmin Fenix 8: My go-to watch for maps, tracking, and routing[6]

Garmin inReach Mini 2 - When I need 100% reliable SOS coverage, this is what I take in the backountry.

See my Top Gear Picks page for more details (last updated June 2025)

Mount Perry Trail Maps

AllTrails Plus - (30% off link) Up-to-date trip reports. Plus adds offline maps, off-trail alerts, and Garmin sync.

Trail Maps and Profiles

  • View Hike on CalTopo
  • Download the GPX File

Garmin Fenix 8 - Took a few updates to get right, but now it's rock solid for me. I use it for maps, tracking, and routing.

Elevation Profile

3D Map

Mount Perry Hike Directions

Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America at -282 feet, used to be home to a massive lake called Lake Manly during the last Ice Age[1]. Though the water disappeared around 10,000 years ago, heavy rains may occasionally create temporary lakes in the basin[1].

[1] National Park Service. (n.d.). Lake Manly. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/deva/learn/nature/lakemanly.htm[2] Death Valley Geological Society. (n.d.). Badwater Basin. Retrieved from https://www.deathvalleygeology.com/badwater-basin/[3] National Geographic. (2018, July 25). Death Valley National Park. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/california/death-valley-national-park/[4] National Park Service. (n.d.). Dante's View. Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/deva/planyourvisit/dantes-view.htm[5] The Outbound. (2021, February 24). How to hike Mount Perry from Dante's View. Retrieved from https://theoutbound.com/death-valley-national-park/hiking/how-to-hike-mount-perry-from-dantes-view[6] The AllOutdoor Collective. (n.d.). Best Hiking Boots for 2023. Retrieved from https://www.alloutdoor.com/best-hiking-boots-2023/[7] Trails.com. (n.d.). Mount Perry Trail. Retrieved from https://www.trails.com/trail/mount-perry[8] Gear Hungry. (2020, June 12). Best GPS Hiking Watch in 2020: GPS Watches for Hikers, Backpackers, and Adventurers. Retrieved from https://www.gearhungry.com/best-gps-hiking-watch/[9] Garmin. (2022). inReach Mini 2. Retrieved from https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/924706/[10] AllTrails. (n.d.). AllTrails Plus: Hiking GPS App. Retrieved from https://www.alltrails.com/plus[11] Garmin. (2022). fenix 8. Retrieved from https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/715839/[12] REI Co-op. (2022). Osprey Hikelite 26 Daypack. Retrieved from https://www.rei.com/product/195545/osprey-hikelite-26-daypack[13] NEMO Equipment, Inc. (n.d.). Men's 001 Insulated Bootie. Retrieved from https://www.nemoequipment.com/product/men-s-001-insulated-bootie-861000271.html

  1. To reach the trailhead for the Mount Perry hike, navigate to Dante's View, Death Valley National Park, using the address: Dante's View, Death Valley National Park, Dantes View Rd, California 92328.
  2. This rugged hike necessitates thoughtful preparation, with a reliable SOS device like the Garmin inReach Mini 2 recommended for backcountry emergencies.
  3. The terrain underfoot is rocky yet manageable, making trail runners a suitable choice for footwear.
  4. The Mount Perry Trail can be found on up-to-date maps through AllTrails Plus, which offers features like offline maps, off-trail alerts, and Garmin sync.
  5. Upon completing the hike to Mount Perry via Dante's Ridge, you will be rewarded with breathtaking panoramas that span as far as Mt Whitney and the Sierras.

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