Death Valley Buttes
Length: 1.8 mile, one-way.
Starting Point: Hell's Gate parking area, 22 miles NE of Furnace Creek.
Description: Short but strenuous scramble to the two prominent hills at the foot of the Grapevine Mountains. From Hell's Gate, walk SW 0.5 mile toward the buttes. Scramble south up the ridge to the first of the buttes. You made it! Now you can decide whether you want to attempt #2. It's more difficult. If so, descend carefully down the ridge 300 ft., then climb the narrow ridge to butte #2. Extreme care should be used when climbing the buttes. Ridges are narrow and exposed with steep drop-offs. Windy days make this effect quite dramatic. The views are among the best in Death Valley. No Trail.