Our mind’s image of a mountain is often of something majestic and snow-covered, but America’s deserts are filled with spectacular peaks that get little or no snow, with what snow there is usually falling in the winter and melting off in early spring.
If you enjoy the views that hiking up a mountain provides, then you’ll love some of these desert peaks, if not all of them!
Telescope Peak, California
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At 11,049’, Telescope Peak is the highest peak in Death Valley National Park, and it’s high enough that winter snow sometimes lasts into May. The classic view of it is from the salty pool at Badwater Basin, but a high-clearance vehicle will get you to a trailhead from which you can hike to the summit, which features views of the vast Death Valley salt pan, the High Sierra, and more.
Eagle Mountain, California
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From miles away, Eagle Mountain stands out and commands attention because it arises from desert flats nearby without any other peaks in close vicinity. This mountain is close to Death Valley National Park, so many people traveling to or from there see it, but it doesn’t get all that much foot traffic. There’s some scrambling involved in the easiest way to the top, but the extra effort is worth it for the solitude and the views.
North Peak, Nevada
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North Peak is the highest sandstone peak in Red Rock National Conservation Area just west of Las Vegas. An easy trail leads to its summit and amazing views of the surrounding and of the Las Vegas basin. The hardest part is actually getting to the trailhead since it requires four-wheel-drive.
Bridge Mountain, Nevada
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The standard route up Bridge Mountain, a large sandstone dome, starts from the same trailhead as the hike up North Peak does. This route is longer and more challenging, but the payoff includes, in addition to the views, water-filled pools and a natural bridge.
Lone Mountain, Nevada
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You don’t often find a mountain entirely within the city limits, but that’s the case with Lone Mountain in Las Vegas. A short but steep trail leads to the summit, where you have sweeping views of the city, including the Las Vegas Strip, and of the mountains to the west.
Angels Landing, Utah
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Angels Landing is a peak inside Zion Canyon in Zion National Park. Famous for a section of tight switchbacks called Walter’s Wiggles and for the installed cables and chains available for handholds on the last stretch to the summit, this trail is one of Zion’s most popular despite its strenuous rating and dangerous exposure in places. Summit views up and down Zion Canyon are breathtaking.
North Guardian Angel, Utah
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The North Guardian Angel is one of the signature peak’s in Zion’s Kolob Terrace area. It’s easily done in half a day for most people, but it’s also, technically speaking, the most challenging peak on this list. A lot of people bring a rope for this one to rappel some of the steeper descents. At the top, you’ll have an incredible view of the South Guardian Angel, which is a little easier to climb but is a more committing undertaking.
Canaan Mountain, Utah
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Canaan Mountain is a huge peak close to Zion. The regular route to the summit is long and strenuous, but it’s a rewarding journey not just for the views but also for waterfalls, hoodoos, pinnacles, a natural arch, and more.
Navajo Knobs, Utah
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Capitol Reef National Park gets the least visitation of Southern Utah’s five national parks, but it has a bit of everything those other parks have plus its own unique features. The trail to Navajo Knobs is one of the longest and steepest in the park and rarely feels crowded once it branches off from a more popular trail it shares its start with. Views are awesome every step of the way.
Mt. Garfield, Colorado
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Right off I-70 just east of Grand Junction, Mt. Garfield commands attention from wherever it’s visible. This colorful badlands peak has a steep trail up its flanks to the summit plateau, where there are extensive views of the Book Cliffs, a formation that stretches deep into Utah.
Guadalupe Peak, Texas
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Guadalupe Peak is the highest point in Guadalupe Mountains National Park and in the state of Texas. A very steep trail leads to the top and a classic view of neighboring El Capitan and the seemingly endless Chihuahuan Desert.
Emory Peak, Texas
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The highest peak in Big Bend National Park and the Chisos Mountains, Emory Peak gets overshadowed by more dramatic peaks in the vicinity such as Casa Grande and Carter Peak. Being the highpoint of the park, though, it has unobstructed views of nearby mountains, the surrounding desert, and mountains far to the south in Mexico.
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