Great Basin National Park, United States

Great Basin National Park Travel Guide

Trek Zone

National park

Facts and practical information

Great Basin National Park, located in White Pine County, Nevada, is a hidden gem that offers a unique and diverse experience for nature enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Spanning over 77,000 acres, this national park is a haven for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in the beauty of the natural world.

One of the most striking features of Great Basin National Park is its stunning alpine lakes and towering peaks. Wheeler Peak, the highest point in Nevada, stands tall at 13,063 feet and offers breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. Hiking enthusiasts can embark on the challenging but rewarding Wheeler Peak Summit trail, where they can witness the majesty of the Great Basin's rugged terrain and spot unique flora and fauna along the way.

For those seeking a more leisurely experience, the park offers a plethora of scenic drives and picnic areas. The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive takes visitors through a picturesque landscape, showcasing the park's diverse ecosystems, including ancient bristlecone pine forests and expansive meadows dotted with wildflowers. Don't forget to pack a picnic and enjoy a serene meal surrounded by the park's natural beauty.

Great Basin National Park is also home to Lehman Caves, a subterranean wonder that will leave you in awe. Guided cave tours take visitors through intricate limestone formations, stalactites, stalagmites, and other geological wonders. The Lehman Caves Visitor Center provides a wealth of information about the unique ecosystem found within the caves and offers educational programs for visitors of all ages.

For those who crave adventure and solitude, backpacking and camping opportunities abound in Great Basin National Park. With over 60 miles of trails, backpackers can explore remote areas of the park and experience the true wilderness. Camping options range from developed campgrounds to backcountry camping, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the tranquility of the natural surroundings.

Alternative names: Area: 120.46 mi²Visitors per year: 131.8 thous. (2019)Elevation: 10164 ft a.s.l.Coordinates: 38°56'46"N, 114°15'29"W

Location

NevadaUnited States

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Great Basin National Park Top Attractions

Great Basin National Park Attractions - What to See and Explore

Great Basin National Park offers many attractions and places to visit. Here are the most important ones: Teresa Lake, Great Basin Desert, Wheeler Peak, Stella Lake. Below you will find a complete list of places worth visiting.

Natural attraction • Body of water • Park
Teresa Lake
Teresa Lake is a glacial tarn in the Snake Range of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. It is located within Great Basin National Park, just north of Wheeler Peak. It is a prominent feature along the park's Alpine Lakes Loop Trail.
Area
Great Basin Desert
The Great Basin Desert is part of the Great Basin between the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Range. The desert is a geographical region that largely overlaps the Great Basin shrub steppe defined by the World Wildlife Fund, and the Central Basin and Range ecoregion defined by the U.S.
Natural attraction • Park • Mountain
Wheeler Peak
Wheeler Peak is the tallest mountain in the Snake Range and in White Pine County, in Nevada, United States. The summit elevation of 13,065 feet makes it the second-highest peak in Nevada, just behind Boundary Peak.

Nature • Natural attraction • Lake
Stella Lake
Stella Lake is a glacial tarn in the Snake Range of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. It is located within Great Basin National Park, just north of Wheeler Peak. It is a prominent feature along the park's Alpine Lakes Loop Trail. Stella, Teresa, Brown, Baker, Johnson, and Dead lakes are tarns.
Nature • Natural attraction • Mountain
Mount Washington
Mount Washington is a mountain in White Pine County in the state of Nevada. The mountain climbs to an elevation of 11,658 feet and is in Great Basin National Park.
39°0'22"N • 114°13'12"W
Rhodes Cabin
The Rhodes Cabin was built in 1928 to accommodate tourists visiting what was then Lehman Caves National Monument, now Great Basin National Park.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Snake Range
The Snake Range is a mountain range in White Pine County, Nevada, United States. The south-central portion of the range is included within Great Basin National Park, with most of the remainder included within the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.
Nature • Natural attraction • Natural feature
Wheeler Peak Glacier
Wheeler Peak Glacier is a glacier situated at the base of Wheeler Peak within Great Basin National Park in the U.S. state of Nevada.
39°1'48"N • 114°17'28"W
Osceola Ditch
The Osceola Ditch, also known as the East Ditch, was built in 1889–1890 to convey water from Lehman Creek, Nevada to a hydraulic mine operation at Osceola. Extending for 18 mi, the ditch includes a 600 ft tunnel as well as wooden flumes. The project also includes a rock dam and headgate on Stella Lake.
Interesting neighbourhood
Johnson Lake Mine Historic District
The Johnson Lake Mine is a former tungsten mine located within the boundaries of Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada. Located on the east slope of the southern Snake Range at an elevation above 10,000 ft, the 100 acres historic district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.
Neighbourhood
Lehman Orchard and Aqueduct
The Lehman Orchard and Aqueduct were established by Absalom Lehman, the discoverer of Lehman Caves in what would become Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada.

Day trips

Great Basin National Park – popular in the area (distance from the center)

In the vicinity of Great Basin National Park, it's worth seeing attractions such as: Nevada Northern Railway Museum (Ely), North Schell Peak (High Schells Wilderness), Central Theater (Ely).

39 milesNW
Scenic railroads, Tours, Museum
Nevada Northern Railway Museum, Ely
The Nevada Northern Railway Museum is a railroad museum and heritage railroad located in Ely, Nevada and operated by a historic foundation dedicated to the preservation of the Nevada Northern Railway.
37 milesNW
Natural attraction, Mountain
North Schell Peak, High Schells Wilderness
North Schell Peak is the highest mountain in the Schell Creek Range of White Pine County, Nevada, United States. It is the ninth-highest mountain in the state, and also ranks as the fifth-most topographically prominent peak in the state.
40 milesNW
Concerts and shows, Theater
Central Theater, Ely
The Central Theater was built in Ely, Nevada from 1939 to 1941. The Art Deco style cinema was built by Percy and Warren Hull after they were denied permission to expand Ely's Capital Theater, which opened in 1916.
40 milesNW
Library
White Pine County Courthouse, Ely
The White Pine County Courthouse was built in 1908 in Ely, Nevada, located in White Pine County. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. By 2017, the county had begun plans to construct a new courthouse because of security concerns with the current one.
23 milesN
Natural attraction, Mountain
Mount Moriah, Mount Moriah Wilderness
Mount Moriah is a 12,072-foot mountain in the northern Snake Range of eastern White Pine County, Nevada, United States. It is the fifth-highest mountain in the state, and also ranks as the ninth-most topographically prominent peak in the state.