Sandy Point & Panamint Butte (Desert Peaks Section)

Sandy Point & Panamint Butte

Overview

Join us for a rugged desert weekend as we tackle two prominent peaks off the Sierra Club's Desert Peaks Section list: Sandy Point and Panamint Butte. This trip involves high-clearance 4WD access, primitive dispersed camping, and two Class 2 summits with expansive views across Death Valley, Eureka Valley, and the Panamint Range.

Drive time to either trailhead is roughly 4 hours from Summerlin, with about 2 hours and 20 minutes between the two trailheads. The order of the peaks may be swapped depending on road conditions, timing, or group consensus.

Actual hiking mileage and elevation gain will be determined by vehicle navigation capability on the access roads. Refer to the specific route details on Adventure Frens for baseline stats.

• Dates: Saturday – Sunday
• Difficulty: Class 2 (Scrambling/Off-trail)
• Capacity: Currently 3 people (Expandable if additional 4WD vehicles join)

Itinerary

Saturday: Departure & Peak #1

• 5:00 AM: Depart from the Summerlin area.
• 9:00 AM: Arrive at the first trailhead (Sandy Point or Panamint Butte, depending on final order).
• Daytime: Summit Peak #1 (Class 2, off-trail scrambling/ridge walking).
• Late Afternoon / Evening: Drive to our second location / dispersed campsite. If time allows, we may stop in Stovepipe Wells for a sit-down dinner; otherwise, we will cook at camp.
• Night: Dispersed camping in the desert.
• Note: There are no facilities (water/bathrooms) at the campsite. Please come fully prepared for self-sufficient desert camping.

Sunday: Peak #2 & Return

• Morning: Early start for Peak #2.
• Daytime: Summit Peak #2 (Class 2, cross-country terrain).
• Afternoon: Wrap up and head back to Las Vegas (~4-hour drive).
• Return: Expect to be back in Summerlin by late afternoon or early evening.

Logistics & Preparation

Food & Water

• Water: Bring all the water you need for 2 full days of high-exertion desert hiking and camping. There is no water on-site.
• Saturday/Sunday Breakfast & Lunch: Provide your own trail-ready meals and snacks.
• Saturday Dinner: Potential stop at Stovepipe Wells if time permits, but everyone must pack enough dinner food/camp meals in case we do not stop.

Gear Recommendations

• Standard desert hiking kit (sun protection and layers for cold desert nights).
• Headlamp and extra batteries.
• Full self-sufficient camping setup for primitive dispersed sites.

Peak Information

• Sandy Point(peakbagger.com): Located in the Last Chance Range in northern Death Valley, featuring expansive high-desert ridge walking with sweeping views into Eureka Valley.
• Panamint Butte(peakbagger.com): Located northwest of Towne Pass overlooking Panamint Valley, offering dramatic views across Death Valley, the Panamints, and the Sierra Nevada.

To participate in this outing, you must be a current, paid member of LVMC. You can obtain a membership via this link: https://lvmc.org/joinrenew . The fee is $20 per year for a family/roommates or $15 per year for an individual. Please contact your organizer if you have any questions.