Great Basin National Park is located in one of the most remote parts of eastern Nevada, making it a hidden gem found in Nevada’s barren desert. Great Basin is home to the second tallest peak in the state of Nevada, Wheeler Peak, stretching to a height of 13,065 feet.
The parks scenic drive is only open for 6 months of the year (June-November) due to the extreme weather conditions in this remote area. During those 6 months it is possible to access the summit either by driving the scenic road or by hiking the 8.6-mile class 1 13er. Wheeler Peak’s hike is considered strenuous with an elevation gain of around 2,900 feet.
Great Basin offers activities for the entire family, including hiking for each experience level. If there’s time for only one hike then it should be the moderate 2.8-mile Bristlecone Trail. The Bristlecone Trail has an elevation gain of 600 feet and takes you directly into the middle, of what is believed to be, the oldest living organisms on Earth. The oldest known tree can be found here at 4,765 years old and is named Methuselah. The exact location of the tree is kept hidden to help protect it.
The main reason most come to visit is the Lehman Cave. The cave is a subterranean wonder, that stretches nearly a quarter mile below ground. This cave is known for being decorated in unusual geologic formations that are thousands of years old. The animal species and cave formations that can be found within the park are very unique and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The terrain here is so fragile that it can only very visited through reserved guided tours, that are known to fill up weeks in advance.
This would be a good spot to note that Great Basin’s main visitor center has been closed indefinitely. There is another visitor center that’s specific to the Lehman Cave and located next to the Wheeler Peak scenic drive.
The Lehman Cave Visitor’s Center is where visitors can go to sign up for excursions or for find park information. It’s always recommended to make any reservations in advance, especially as people begin to rediscover the outdoors, post Covid-19. Unfortunately, due to my own lack of planning I was forced to miss out on a tour in Lehman Cave.
I arrived at Wheeler Peak and Great Basin National Park in the early morning after driving in from Zion National. I was exhausted and my muscles were done hiking. I’d hiked close to 80 miles in the week leading up to my arrival here. I had a limp from pulled muscles and had no interest in hiking anything. I checked out the visitor’s center, but they hadn’t quite opened yet. Because of this I decided to stop in after taking the scenic drive.
The scenic drive took me half-way up the mountain. Under normal conditions, it’s possible to drive all the way to the peark. However, the signs at the visitor’s center mentioned the road was closed until June. Since there was still another week left until June, I was surprised I was able to make it up as far as I did.
The panoramic view was incredible. The entire Basin was laid out before my eyes. The 13,065-foot snowcapped mountain penetrates the landscape, looming over the valley below. Trees and greenery cover the mountain side, up until the snow line. The fields of green are broken by a handful of rock fields. Wheeler Peak stood in glorious triumph over the distant desert.
I will be thoroughly planning my return to this overlooked park. I would be, metaphorically, devastated to miss out on the cave and the summit of the beautiful Wheeler Peak. There were plenty of primitive camp ground to choose from, the only thing I need to remember is to bring plenty of supplies. The town is remote and purchasing supplies and food can get expensive quick. With the proper planning, a return trip to Great Basin National Park would one to remember!
