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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.
Introduction to Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is named after the Great Basin, a dry and mountainous region between the Sierra Nevada and the Wasatch Mountains. It’s known for its groves of ancient bristlecone pines, which are some of the oldest known living trees in the world, the Lehman Caves, and Wheeler Peak Glacier. The park was established by President Warren G. Harding as Lehman Caves National Monument on January 24, 1922. It was elevated to Great Basin National Park on October 27, 1986, thanks to efforts led by Nevada Congressman Harry Reid (1939–2021).
Great Basin National Park covers 77,180 acres. It boasts more than 800 species of plants, including 11 species of conifer trees; 61 species of mammals; 18 species of reptiles; and 238 species of birds. A total of 12 trails, ranging from 0.3 miles (500 meters) to 13.1 miles (21.1 kilometers) long allow you to explore several diverse areas of the park.
Planning Your Trip to Great Basin National Park
Solitude. If that word appeals to you, look no further than Great Basin. This national park with diverse landscapes is located a long way from civilization and doesn’t get the number of visitors it deserves, which only makes it better.
I spent two days at Great Basin and could have easily doubled that. I thoroughly enjoyed the hiking trails and would love to come back and do more, since some are accessible by 4×4 only.
Before getting into some of the trails and highlights of the park, here’s some essential information to help you plan your trip. Check the official website for more info:
Entrance Fees to Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is a fee-free park (as of December 2025). If you’d like to take a ranger-guide tour of Lehman Caves, however, you’ll have to purchase tickets. They’re not covered by any interagency passes.
When to Visit Great Basin National Park
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.
Visitor Centers at Great Basin National Park
There are two visitor centers at the park. Both feature exhibits about the park’s natural and cultural history:
- The Great Basin Visitor Center is located in Baker, the nearest town to the park. The Forgotten Winchester, a rifle manufactured in 1882 that was found leaning against a juniper tree in the park in 2014, is on display there. It’s closed during the winter.
- The Lehman Caves Visitor Center is at the entrance to Lehman Caves. It features a cafeteria and a small general store. It’s open year-round.
Note: The Lehman Caves Visitor Center is closed through Spring 2026 for an electrical replacement project at Lehman Caves. In the meantime, the Great Basin Visitor Center will remain open through winter (as of December 2025).
Camping at Great Basin National Park
There are five developed campgrounds and one primitive campground within the park boundaries. None of the campgrounds have access to potable water. Prices are current as of April 2025:
- Lower Lehman Creek Campground has nine reservable sites at $20 per night. It’s the only campground open year-round. (Note: the campground closed on May 19, 2025, for expansion and rehabilitation.)
- Upper Lehman Creek Campground has 23 reservable sites at $20 per night. It’s open May through September, and stays open until the winter weather closure.
- Wheeler Peak Campgroud has 37 reservable sites at $20 per night. It’s typically open mid-May through September, and stays open until the first snow.
- Baker Creek Campground has 37 reservable sites at $20 per night. It’s typically open mid-May through the winter weather closure.
- Grey Cliffs Campground has 16 reservable sites at $20 per night. It’s typically open mid-May through the winter weather closure.
- Snake Creek Campgrounds consists of 12 free first-come, first-served sites at various sites along Snake Creek. They’re typically open May through the winter weather closure.
Wheeler Peak Campground
We camped at Wheeler Peak, which is at the end of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. It’s a gorgeous campground at an elevation of 9,886 feet. Spectacular views of the mountain and the changing colors of the leaves made it a dramatic setting.
Our campsite was spacious and there were no other tents nearby. There was a pit toilet and water located 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 at Great Basin National Park
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.
Lehman Caves
The Lehman Caves — the longest cave system in Nevada — are one of the most popular features of Great Basin National Park. Discovered by Absalom Lehman in 1885, they’re home to several small creatures including bats, spiders, and mites, and are full of spectacular formations including stalactites, stalagmites, and cave bacon.
Tours of Lehman Caves
The only way to visit the Lehman Caves is on a ranger-guided tour. They’re limited to 20 people and sell out quickly. Booking online is highly recommended, and you can reserve tickets up to 30 days in advance. Walk-up tickets are available at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center for same-day tours, but they usually sell out within the first hour.
Tour options
Note: Due to an upgrade of the cave’s electrical system, tours are unavailable until Spring 2026.
Six tours are available on a rotating basis throughout the year, with schedules change depending on the season. Prices are current as of April 2025:
- The 30-minute Gothic Palace Tour visits Gothic Palace and the Rose Trellis Room. It’s ⅓ mile (500 meters) long. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for kids age 5-15, and free for kids under 5.
- The 60-minute Lodge Room Tour visits the above plus the Music Room and Lodge Room. It’s ½ mile (800 meters) long. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for kids age 5-15, and free for kids under 5.
- The 60-minute Parachute Shied Tour visits the Lodge Room, the Inscription Room, Cypress Swamp, Grand Palace, and Sunken Garden. It’s 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) long. Tickets are $12 for adults, $6 for kids age 5-15, and free for kids under 5.
- The 90-minute Grand Palace Tour visits all of the above. It’s 0.8 miles (1.3 kilometers) long and limited to visitors age 5+. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for kids age 5-15.
- The 20-minute First Room Accessible Tour is for guests who can’t negotiate stairs or narrow passageways. It’s ¼ mile (400 meters) long and visits Gothic Palace. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2 for kids age 5-15, and free for kids under 5.
- The Introduction to Wild Caving Tour lasts 3 hours. It’s a difficult tour involving scrambling and belly crawling. The route is 1 ½ miles (2.4 kilometers) long, and it’s limited to visitors age 16+. Tickets are $40 per person.
Gothic Palace Tour
We decided to do the Grand Palace tour. It was a great choice because we were able to see all of the best rooms in the cave. The ranger who led our tour was enthusiastic and funny, and we learned a lot about the formations present in each room. The first room we visited was the Gothic Palace, which has very high ceilings and all kinds of amazing formations.
Music Room
Next was the Music Room. We felt as if we were inside a giant pipe organ. We were then shown how cave bacon and the other formations are created.
Lodge Room
The ranger had some intriguing stories about how the Lodge Room was used over the years. It was shocking to many on the tour that in the early 20th century, people would enter the cave in their best clothes for parties. They would bring food and drinks, bands would play live music, and there would be dancing. Lots of garbage accumulated over the years and irreparable damage was done.
Inscription Room
If we had taken the Lodge Room tour, it would end here, but we still had a good half hour to go on the Grand Palace tour. We continued with the Inscription Room, where early 20th century visitors would leave graffiti on the walls of the cave.
Grand Palace
The final area of the tour was the Grand Palace, which is the most spectacular room in the cave.
