Telescope Peak

At 11,049 feet, Telescope Peak is the highest summit in Death Valley National Park, offering one of the most dramatic elevation contrasts in North America. From the top, you can look down nearly 11,300 vertical feet to Badwater Basin while also scanning toward Mount Whitney on the horizon, making wide compositions that capture both the salt flats below and distant peaks especially rewarding. A 14mm to 24mm wide-angle lens suits the panoramic scale well, though a mid-range zoom lets you isolate details like the ancient bristlecone pines along the upper trail. Sunrise and sunset are ideal, when low light rakes across the valley and the salt flats catch a warm glow far below. The round-trip hike is about 14 miles with significant elevation gain, so plan for a full day and check road conditions on Wildrose Road before heading out. (Death Valley National Park, California, United States)