Death Valley
- Additional Parents
- California Desert Peaks
- Panamint Range
- Desert Peaks Section (DPS Peaks List)
Panamint Butte

Panamint Butte

  Page Type 
 Mountain/Rock 
  Location: 
California, United States, North America
  Lat/Lon:  
 36.43400°N / 117.355°W
  Elevation: 
6584 ft / 2007 m
 
Sign the Climber's Log!

Page By:

ExploreABitMore

Created On: Mar 4, 2005

Last Edited On: Mar 5, 2005

Table of Contents

Overview
Getting There
Red Tape
When To Climb
Camping
Miscellaneous Info
Images

Overview

This is the massive looking peak on the NE side of Panamint Valley. It's huge stripes are impressive and hint at an interesting Geologic past. According to Andy Zdons book the summit is capped with 3 to 5 million yr old basalt lava flow.

All the routes are interesting and make for a challenging day. The summit itself is somewhat anticlimatic being rather flat at the top - after all, it is a butte. But the views all around you more than make up for that.

Visit the dunes at the North end of the valley after your hike/climb. They are supposed to occasionally make a mysterious humming noise. There are various theories as to what causes this, but nobody knows for sure

Getting There

For the Panamint Valley Ridge route, from Highway 190 in Panamint Valley, follow the graded road branching north from Highway 190, two miles east of the junction with Panamint Valley Road. Follow this road 5.7 miles to where the road curves towards the mts and head s toward the Big Four Mine. It's 4x4 road from here and be careful. When I was there last part of the road was wiped out from a flash flood, and it was easy to stray off the right path

For the Towne Pass route, take Highway 190 to the top of Towne Pass and park. This is the pass between Death Valley proper and Panamint Valley

For the Lemoigne Canyon route, drive 6 miles west from Stove Pipe Wells on Highway 190 and turn on the Lemoigne Canyon road. Follow this rough 4x4 road about 5 miles to the end and park. This is supposed to be a very rough road with potentially deep wash outs - high clearance required!!