Telescope Peak is the highest point in Death Valley National Park, rising to 11,049 feet in the Panamint Range. The summit gives a huge contrast to the furnace below: from the top you can look down toward Badwater Basin, one of the lowest points in North America.
The standard route starts at Mahogany Flat Campground and is a serious 12.5-mile round trip with about 3,200 feet of elevation gain. Snow, heat, altitude, and rough access roads all matter here, so check conditions before treating it as a simple viewpoint walk.