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Great Basin National Park is a remote park in the middle of the Nevada desert with several unique ecosystems. This peaceful park is the perfect place to go if you’re looking to get away from the crowds.
I spent two days at Great Basin and I easily could have doubled that. I thoroughly enjoyed the hiking trails but would love to come back and do more because some are accessible by 4×4 only.
Visitor Center
There are two visitor centers at the park. The Great Basin Visitor Center is located in Baker, the nearest town to the park, and closes for the winter after October. The Lehman Caves Visitor Center is at the entrance to Lehman Caves and is open year-round. Both have interpretive displays about the park, and the Lehman Caves Visitor Center has a cafeteria and small general store.
Entrance Fees
Great Basin has no entrance fee, but tours of Lehman Caves must be purchased in advance. They’re not covered by any interagency passes.
Seasons
The park is open year-round, but many areas are inaccessible in the winter, such as the upper part of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Some unpaved roads are closed in the winter while others require high-clearance vehicles.
Camping
There are five developed campgrounds and one primitive campground within the park boundaries. Lower Lehman Creek, Upper Lehman Creek, Wheeler Peak, Grey Cliffs, and Baker Creek all cost US$20 (as of April 2023). All are payable with cash or credit card and all are reservable in advance except Baker Creek, which is first-come, first-served. The primitive campground, Snake Creek, is free and has no access to water.
Lower Lehman Creek is the only campground open year-round while the others are open from roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day. Reservations are required at Wheeler Peak and Upper Lehman Creek during peak season.
We camped at Wheeler Peak, which is at the end of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive at an elevation of 9,886 feet. It’s a gorgeous campground with spectacular views of the mountain. The changing colors of the leaves made it an even more dramatic setting.
Our campsite was spacious and we weren’t near any other tents. There was a pit toilet and water located just next to the site. It got quite windy and cold at night, however, and we had one bad tent collapse on the second night.
Activities
Fishing, back country hiking and camping, climbing, skiing, and other outdoor activities are available. Check the official website for more information on these activities. Information about ranger guided programs can be found at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, including summer astronomy programs.
Car Trouble?
Make sure your car is in good working condition before going to Great Basin. The nearest auto repair and tire service is in Ely, over 60 miles away. I hope you don’t have the same bad luck that I had.
