Great Basin National Park is one of the least visited and most underrated of the 63 managed by the NPS. The park preserves about 120 square miles of the Great Basin, the largest area of contiguous contained watersheds. There is plenty to do in this small park. I spent 2 full days there and wished I had one more. Mix and match the activities I’ve listed, but keep in mind the park elevation rangers from 6,000 to 13,000 ft. Most hikes begin at 8,000 ft and that requires some time to adjust to the elevation.

How to Get There

Great Basin is located 3.5 hours southwest of Salt Lake City or 4 hours north of Las Vegas. These cities are your best bets to fly into. Keep in mind that the park is in Nevada but the border with Utah is a stone’s throw away and they are in different time zones. I changed my phone’s time zone from network to manual so that I could stay in Pacific Time even if my phone picked up a Utah cell tower.

When to Visit

The season is short in Great Basin. Snow lingers till late at altitude. Wait till well into July to have access to all trails. If you stay at lower elevations, a spring visit is a great way to see the wildflowers.

Where to Stay

The nearest town is Baker, NV and it is really small. I stayed at Hidden Canyon Retreat, which is down a 6-mile dirt road in a beautiful canyon. There are only two other options in Baker and they are both motel-style. You will have more option in Ely, NV, an hour away from Baker. Either way, reserve well in advance. I booked Hidden Canyon Retreat in January for my Labor day visit in 2024.

Day 1 – Easy hikes and Lehman Caves Tour

Start with the visitor center in Baker. Watch the park movie and get the latest on potential closures. When I visited in 2024, one of the main parking lots at the top of the scenic drive was closed for repaving. The side patio has a great view of the South Snake range with a sign that will help you identify the peaks.

The rangers will also recommend short hikes you can do to get used to the altitude. I chose to do Osceola Ditch and part of the Baker Lake trail. I also stopped by Mather Overlook and got my first up-close views of Wheeler Peak.

Day 2 – Bristlecone Pines and Alpine Lakes loop

This 6-mile loop will take you through two alpine lakes and through the bristlecone pine grove. At the end of the trail, you will have great views of Nevada’s last glacier. I definitely felt the altitude on this hike and I was slower than I normally would be.

Day 3 – Wheeler Peak

Hopefully, you will have acclimated to the altitude by now. Hiking to Wheeler Peak is no joke. It is almost 9 miles with 3,000 ft of elevation gain. Since the trail begins at 10,000 ft, it will feel a lot harder than you’re used to (unless, of course, you come from Colorado or another high altitude place). Allow plenty of daylight and watch the weather or ask a ranger about the possibility of afternoon rain and thunderstorms.