29 Oct The Best Things To Do In Great Basin National Park [2021 UPDATE]
Great Basin National Park gave us back something we didn’t know we’d miss so much! Seasons!
Drew and I have been living in Nevada for almost five years now. We’ve come to miss the crispness to the air and the crunch of freshly fallen leaves that fall brings.
And while the weather in Las Vegas does cool down, it just can’t compete with those fiery yellow, orange, and red leaves that we grew up with.
However, just 4 ½ hours away (296 miles) from Sin City you’ll find seasons—as well as brilliant blue alpine lakes, the oldest living trees on earth, limestone caverns, and an International Dark Sky park. In fact, it’s one of the darkest skies you’ll find in the lower 48!
Great Basin National Park is a fantastic place, both because of its natural wonders as well as its solitude. It’s actually one of the least-visited parks in the United States; we spent three days in the park and only passed a handful of people on any given trail.
In fact, Great Basin so isolated and undertouristed that an 1883 Winchester rifle was recently found propped up against a juniper tree. Who knows who left it there or how it came to be left behind?! It’s fun to read about the interest surrounding the Great Basin Winchester Rifle. Recently a permanent exhibit devoted to the rifle was built in the main visitor center.
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The Best Things to do in
Great Basin National Park
Hiking
There’s plenty of nature to enjoy in Great Basin. The park is known for its spectacular high alpine terrain, cascading mountain streams, glacier (albeit small), and mountain lakes.
Oh, yeah, and the oldest trees in the world. At around 5,000 years old, the park’s bristlecone pines were alive when Tutankhamun ruled Egypt.
If you’re bagging those peaks, Wheeler Peak is Nevada’s second tallest mountain and a solid thirteener (not to be confused with New Mexico’s Wheeler Peak which is also a thirteener).
The scenic drive takes you to many trailheads in the park and winds its way up to 10,000 feet where you’ll see some of the park’s best features.
Tips for Hiking in Great Basin
- There are no permits required for day climbs. If you want to do an overnight backcountry trip, the wilderness permit is free and generally easy to come by. Great Basin National Park is one of the few “no-fee” parks left in the US.
- Hike smart and bring lots of layers with you; the weather changes quickly and drastically.
- The park is closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas, and New Years Day.
- Though the park is open year-round, the 10,000 foot area with trailhead access is closed throughout the winter.
- From National Geographic: “Remember that the alpine world is fragile. At these elevations, plants grow slowly and their margin of survival is narrow. Stay on established roads and trails to avoid inadvertently damaging these areas.”
Top Hikes in Great Basin
- Wheeler Peak Summit Trail: A cool peak for any hiking enthusiast. It’s a fairly easy ascent with a total distance of 8.2 miles round trip. This is a fantastic post on climbing Wheeler.
- Bristlecone Trail: A must-do in Great Basin. Sit back and ponder everything that these trees have witnessed. Don’t miss the stump of Prometheus, a tree which was felled by an over-eager grad student. Prometheus turned out to be the oldest living thing on Earth. Oops.
- Bristlecone-Glacier Trail: 4.6 mile out and back trail where you’ll go through bristlecone pine groves that lead to Nevada’s only glacier.
- Alpine Lakes Loop: 2.7 mile round trip hike with gorgeous views of two small lakes that lie in the shadow of Wheeler Peak – Stella and Teresa Lakes.
- Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes trails can be combined to make a 5.3 mile loop trail.
Are you looking for more National Park inspiration? Check out these posts!
⭐ 12 Easy Hikes in Yellowstone National Park [With Map]
⭐ 6 Must See Spots in Yellowstone National Park
Stargazing
The hiking in Great Basin is great, but one of the truly remarkable things you can experience here is the night sky. Many scientists are now calling a truly dark sky an endangered resource and Great Basin is one of the last remaining “dark sky” spots in the Lower 48.
There just aren’t words—or I’m not a good enough writer—to describe what it was like to see all those twinkling stars. These celestial balls of fire aren’t just above you, they surround and dance around you. Enveloping you. Covering horizon to horizon, the stars go out in all directions because there’s nothing, no lights of a town off in the distance.
The dazzling and absolute incredible concentration of the millions of stars in the Milky Way made me dizzy and disoriented, and a few times I had to hang onto the car before I gave up and laid down to enjoy the sight. While we were there we saw countless shooting stars and satellites.
This should go without saying, but please respect others who come here to stare upwards in amazement. Please do not shine lights or make a lot of ruckus at night.
Good to Know
The campsites at Great Basin have been designed to enhance stargazing; each has enough room for telescopes and tripods.
Mark Your Calendar
Great Basin’s Astronomy Festival is a perfect event to plan your trip around (2021’s event will be held September 9, 2021 @ 5:00 am – September 11, 2021 @ 8:00 pm). During the festival, 30 telescopes—some as tall as 20 feet—will be brought out for your nighttime viewing pleasure. Experts will be on hand to answer all of your questions, kids get a Deep Space Certificate (and a Milky Way candy bar), and there is a Night Sky Photography Workshop.
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I’m Sarah – a southern gal who found her way to the Las Vegas desert! Welcome to my travels with my husband, life with our two dogs, and all the things in between.
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Lehman Caves
Lehman Caves showcases beautiful formations like stalagmites, stalactites, and rare helictites. You can only go into the caves by taking a guided tour. Tours are offered daily, year round, except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
We weren’t able to tour the caves when we were there and I’m really kicking myself for not realizing how in-demand this tour is.
Learn more about the caves and get a glimpse of what you will see on the three offered tours by going here.
Admission to Lehman Caves ranges from $2.50 to $11.00 depending on age and rooms visited.
Reserve your spot for the tour here.
Where to Stay & Where to Eat in
Great Basin National Park
The campgrounds in Great Basin are a perfect place to rest your tired feet after a long day of hiking and exploring. But if you’re like us and not really into the whole camping thing, the town of Baker, Nevada has you covered.
Drew and I stayed at the pet-friendly, rehabbed motor lodge Stargazer Inn. The quaint motel doesn’t offer tons of amenities or creature comforts but its proximity to the park and the fantastic Kerouac’s Restaurant (it’s hooked onto the property) make Stargazer a great option.
When you think about how isolated Baker is from anything (it’s literally in a food desert) you probably wouldn’t imagine having access to great dining. But Kerouac’s is there to disprove that. Owner’s Jake and Kate looked after every detail and created an ambiance and decor that would make Chip and Joanna proud. The menu easily serves up gourmet-style pizza and burgers along with higher-end starters and sides.
Drew and I enjoyed a late dinner when we arrived to Great Basin, and decided to split the Margherita Pizza, Kerouac’s Caesar Salad, and the Brussels Sprouts which were all were excellent!
We woke up early and filled our bellies before heading out for a long day of hiking adventures. I ordered the Bristlecone Breakfast (organic eggs, whole wheat sourdough toast, bacon and crispy home fried potatoes) and Drew enjoyed the Hippie Pancakes (whole grain pancakes with blueberries).
Kerouac’s is open seasonally. Check here to view their 2021 calendar.
Update 2021: For 2021, Kerouac’s is moving their focus towards their bar and a chef-driven, creative menu. Their beverage list features inventive cocktails, craft beers from Nevada, and one of the best wine lists in the state.
For dinner, Kerouac’s is no longer serving up their famous burgers and pizza — but instead whipping up small plates (tapas) that are meant to be shared, but also work great for a solo diner who enjoys trying a few different dishes.
Have you been to Great Basin National Park?
What is your favorite lesser-visited National Park?
Let me know in the comments below!
There’s no reason you shouldn’t visit Great Basin National Park unless you simply don’t like the outdoors. Great Basin has so much to offer!
We think the best time to visit is in the fall! September and October bring cool weather, smaller crowds, and gorgeous fall leaves. The summer months are definitely the most popular and temperatures are generally mild.
Great Basin National Park is about 295 miles from Las Vegas which makes it a fun weekend trip for us Vegas locals!
Two to three days would let you experience Great Basin. Plan on three if you’re an avid hiker.
Great Basin National Park is one of the only US National Parks that has no entrance fee. Cave tour fees vary depending on length of tour. 60 minute tours cost $8 (adult) $4 (child) while the 90 minute tours cost $10 (adult) $5 (child).
Unfortunately, dogs are not permitted on trails or in the backcountry of the park. Leashed dogs are allowed on the Lexington Arch Trail and the trail between Baker and the Great Basin Visitor Center.
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About Sarah
Sarah hails from the land of fried chicken, sweet tea, buttered biscuits, and the friendliest people you’ll ever meet…Alabama! She loves exploring undertouristed locations — places that you wouldn’t automatically think “I’ve always wanted to go there!” — and sharing them with you. Read More…
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