Hike Chocolate Mountain (Piper Benchmark) Piper Mountain Wilderness Area BLM, CA

Apr 29, 2022 — Chocolate Mountain, also known as Piper Benchmark or Piper Mountain, is located just outside the northern reaches of Death Valley National Park. From Gilbert Pass, I headed south on a dirt road that cuts through the Piper Mountain Wilderness Area boundary, a sign politely asking to not park more than 30 feet from the designated route. Some sedans might have to park at Gilbert Pass and walk the half mile or so to where I parked at a pull-off.

Navigating to the summit is straightforward, the route following an old roadbed that's been mostly reclaimed by the desert and converted into a trail. This trail leads initially south from the trailhead, then curves to the west after reaching a small sign pointing in that direction. The trail leads pleasantly through the desert and between two small humps before descending a couple hundred feet and then heading south for a half mile of low-grade ascending. After entering a drainage nestled between Chocolate Mountain's northern slopes, the trail passes by a couple of rusty posts and a cairn points to the right. Ascending more steeply up a couple of switchbacks brought me to the west ridge of Chocolate Mountain, introducing a gorgeous vista to the south.

I followed the road/trail east as it more gradually made its way to the northern face of Chocolate Mountain. A social trail marked by a cairn pops in on the right, drawing the rest of the route away from the old road and instead leading up a nice singletrack trail up to the summit. There seemed to be at least two trail options leading up this final slope. The surrounding views were excellent, the Sierras to the west, Eureka Valley to the south, and various high-prominence peaks visible to the north and east within Nevada.