Thimble Peak is a peak hike that has just about everything going for it. The mileage is short, the rides in your vehicle both before the hike and after the hike are awesome, you are nearly always hiking on a well-defined path, the views are outstanding during the entire journey, Thimble Peak has the appearance of a true mountain summit climb, and the views from the top are essentially perfect and unbeatable (the best I have seen in the park, even better than Telescope Peak). The drawbacks to the hike are minimal. Basically, the requirement of driving Titus Canyon Road may be troublesome for some who only have passenger cars. And the scramble at the end can be a bit challenging and intimidating. I first hiked Thimble Peak in March of 2012 along with my sister Tiffany and friend Javan. We all had a blast during the hike and really enjoyed it. Some of the viewpoint highlights include seeing Mount Palmer, Grapevine Peak, Wahguyhe Peak, Corkscrew Peak, Tucki Mountain, Titus Canyon, Titanothere Canyon, central Death Valley, Nevada towards Beatty, the Cottonwood Mountains, the Mesquite Flat area, the top of the Inyo Mountains, and the top of the Sierras. The hike is about 2 1/2 miles each way (it would be shorter in a straight line, but you are mostly hiking on switchbacks). I have included a couple of route maps below. If you do this hike, print out the picture about halfway down this report which shows a close-up of Thimble Peak with the commonly followed path marked out. I found a similar picture somewhere else on the internet and it really helped and set my mind at ease during the hike. Walking up to the base of Thimble Peak is kind of like walking up to the base of Half Dome. You think "how the heck am I going to do this?" But as you get closer, you realize that it is not as bad as it appeared from a distance. But still, caution is in order during the hike up from the base, because there are a few areas where you could slip and tumble down thousands of feet below into Titanothere Canyon.
Thimble Peak appears for the first time while driving along Titus Canyon Road:
Zooming in on Thimble Peak as seen from the road long before reaching Red Pass:
Steve Sr., Sally, Daria, and Steve standing at Red Pass. This was the first time that Steve Sr. and Sally ever drove through Titus Canyon:
Steve and Tiffany just starting out on the hike above Red Pass:
Looking back down on our trucks parked at Red Pass. If these parking spots had been taken, I wasn't sure where we could have parked to do this hike:
A clearly defined trail starts right from the beginning and continues virtually the whole way:
Javan and Tiffany heading up the trail from Red Pass:
Spectacular view of Mount Palmer from early on in the hike:
Wahguyhe Peak stands out no matter where you view it from with its cone-shaped texture:
Steve Sr., Sally, and Daria leaving Red Pass and driving down through Titus Canyon while we did the hike:
Titus Canyon Road winding down the other side of Red Pass as it heads toward Leadfield:
Looking back the other way to see Titus Canyon Road coming this way from Nevada:
Heading up on a basic ridge climb with the assistance of a path:
Tiffany back in Death Valley for the first time since November 2010. She missed the Spring trip in 2011 due to studying abroad in New Zealand:
Looking over the top of the Cottonwoods, the Inyos and the snow capped Sierras are barely visible:
The path continues working up the left side of the ridge:
Javan and Tiffany keeping pace a short distance back:
Moving on to yet another section of the ridge. Elevation gain on this hike is about 1,800 feet, including an unavoidable drop of 400 feet in the middle:
Far above Red Pass now, which would not be visible for much longer:
Tiffany taking a moment to appreciate the grand scenery all around her:
First appearance of Thimble Peak from along the trail:
And here it is, an impressive full view of Thimble Peak:
More uphill from here to complete the initial ridge portion of the hike:
Now we could see far back into Nevada and the beginning straight section of Titus Canyon Road:
Yet another majestic view of Thimble Peak appeared from the top of the initial ridge section:
We came upon this rock outcropping area which was perfectly set up for pictures:
Steve with Thimble Peak in the background:
The marked route is the easiest way up to the top of Thimble, and there is a path to follow most of the time. Print this picture out to take with you if you go:
A nice view of Corkscrew Peak from this area:
Looking over at the Mesquite Sand Dunes and Stovepipe Wells area:
This picture shows the route down, where we had to lose 400 feet of elevation in order to keep going:
Zooming in for two close-ups of the top portion of Thimble Peak:
Continuing to head down to the saddle:
From the saddle, we had to head to the right of the rocky area to get around it:
Tiffany and Javan standing on the saddle before beginning the final climb:
The cliffs of Thimble Peak limit the possible routes to the top:
Look closely and you can make out the still well-defined path leading up:
Javan at the top of this section as he moved ahead of the group:
Tiffany tackling this portion as the hike got quite a bit steeper:
View of Corkscrew with the cliffs of Thimble on the right:
Time to start watching our footing more carefully with loose rocks and greater steepness, as shown in the next three pictures:
The back side of Thimble has this large cave. I have read about others trying to hike up to it but having trouble due to the tough terrain:
Titanothere Canyon winds its way far below us (canyon cutting horizontal across the center of the picture), dividing Corkscrew and Thimble Peak:
The last section of the climb is quite steep and somewhat nasty:
Javan standing at the top of the trickiest part, which is a large step up or mini-climb, with a cliff behind you:
Tiffany heading up to this spot along the trail:
This picture is taken from where Javan was standing, showing the huge drop-off behind me:
Almost there now, resting up before the final climb to the summit:
The small summit of Thimble Peak was a welcome sight for all of us. Time to relax and enjoy lunch. The nice thing about this peak is not feeling rushed at all:
Thimble Peak benchmark at the summit:
A new tradition I have started lately of getting a close-up next to the benchmark:
We start with the view to the Southeast of Corkscrew Peak:
Zooming in on Corkscrew Peak. The best view when standing on the summit of Corkscrew is that of Thimble, and the reverse is true as well:
Looking due South down towards central Death Valley and Furnace Creek:
To the Southwest, the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes really stand out:
A wider view in the same direction showing all of Tucki Mountain:
Mount Palmer, Grapevine Peak, and Wahguyhe Peak are all visible to the North:
The center peak shown here is Mount Palmer, which intrigues me as a future challenging destination:
The left peak is Grapevine, while the right peak is Wahguyhe:
This view is actually due North of the summit:
Returning to look at Corkscrew from a slightly different angle:
A picture of Javan with Corkscrew Peak. Javan did very well for his first trip to Death Valley at 13 years of age:
Steve with Corkscrew on one of the steep rocky slopes just off of the summit:
Steve and Tiffany saying goodbye on another great Death Valley hike:
Panoramic looking towards Corkscrew Peak and central Titanothere Canyon (click to enlarge):
Panoramic looking towards Tucki Mountain and the mouth of Titanothere Canyon (click to enlarge):
