Great Basin climbs from sagebrush desert to the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak in a single drive. Up high are bristlecone pines more than 4,000 years old, alpine lakes and Nevada's last glacier. Down low, Lehman Caves holds some of the finest cave formations in the West. Give it two days, and stay for the night sky, one of the darkest in the country. The high country is at its best from July to September; the scenic drive and upper trails hold snow well into early summer.
TRAILS
1 OF 5
Bristlecone and Glacier Trail
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
4.8 mi
Elevation gain
1,000 ft
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive · Bristlecone trailhead — Walk among some of the oldest living things on Earth. The trail climbs to a grove of twisted bristlecone pines, some more than 4,000 years old, with signs explaining how they survive. Keep going up a rocky moraine to the cirque under Wheeler Peak, where Nevada's only glacier clings to the cliffs. It's thin air at 10,000 feet, so pace yourself.
⚠︎ Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is seasonal. Check road status before you go.
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
2 OF 5
Alpine Lakes Loop
Difficulty
Moderate
Length
2.7 mi loop
Elevation gain
450 ft
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive · Bristlecone trailhead — A loop past two small alpine lakes, Stella and Teresa, with Wheeler Peak reflected in the water on calm mornings. Meadows fill with wildflowers in July. It's short, but you start near 10,000 feet, so take it easy. Pair it with the bristlecone grove for a longer day.
⚠︎ Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is seasonal. Snow can linger on the trail into early summer.
Photo: Jason Hollinger, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons
3 OF 5
Wheeler Peak
Difficulty
Strenuous
Length
8.6 mi
Elevation gain
3,100 ft
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive · Summit trailhead — The second-highest summit in Nevada and the big prize here. The trail leaves the trees behind and climbs a long, rocky ridge to 13,063 feet, with the desert valleys spread out far below. The final stretch is the steepest trail in the park, and the wind can be fierce. Start at dawn so you're off the summit before the clouds build.
⚠︎ Turn back if thunderstorms build; the ridge has no shelter. Snow may linger into July.
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
4 OF 5
Lehman Caves Tour
Difficulty
Easy
Length
Under 1 mi
Elevation gain
Some stairs
Lehman Caves Visitor Center — A ranger leads you through rooms packed with stalactites, columns, draperies and more than 300 rare shield formations, flat discs that grow out from the walls. The longer tours reach the Grand Palace, the most decorated part of the cave. The cave stays cool all year, so bring a light jacket.
⚠︎ Ranger-guided only. Reserve on recreation.gov; tours often sell out.
Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
5 OF 5
Baker Lake
Difficulty
Hard
Length
10.4 mi
Elevation gain
2,600 ft
Baker Creek · Baker Lake trailhead — A long, steady climb up Baker Creek through aspen and conifer to a lake tucked in a cirque under Baker Peak's cliffs. It's quieter than the scenic drive trails and feels truly remote. Strong hikers can loop over to Johnson Lake on a longer route. Bring a water filter for the creek.
Photo: Derrellwilliams, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Plan your Great Basin trip
The Nova Bound app builds the whole trip around these trails: where to stay, where to charge, and what to see each day. Coming soon to the App Store.
Distances are round trip unless noted, from NPS.gov and rounded. Trails, permits and road openings change; always check nps.gov before you go. Trail write-ups by Nova Bound.