Great Basin National Park

Great Basin National Park is located on the far southeast side of central Nevada, United States.  The park covers an area of 120.58 square miles (312.3 sq km).

The Great Basin is the dry mountainous territory located between the Sierra Nevada mountain range on the west and the Wasatch Mountains on the east. The national park draws its name from this region of the larger Great Basin Desert that covers an area of 190,000 square miles (492,000 sq km).

The park is renowned for the concentration of bristlecone pines, the Lehman Caves, and Wheeler Peak.  The scenic drives let you experience both the bristlecones pines as well as different views of Wheeler Peak.

Over 800 species of plants including sagebrush, Utah juniper, single-leaf pinyon, white fir, and Ponderosa pine keep the bristlecone pines company.  The grove of bristlecone pine is the oldest nonclonal organism known to mankind reaching ages over 5,000 years.

The bristlecone pines and other forest trees and vegetation are home to over 60 mammalian species, 18 species of reptiles, and over 235 species of birds. Some of the more popular species include coyote, cougar, bobcat, badger, mountain sheep, mule deer, elk, jackrabbit, skunk, and ringtail cat.

Golden eagle, bald eagle, roadrunner, Canada geese, and a variety of hawks and owls lead the intrigue of birdwatchers who look to the skies in hopes of seeing some of the 200 plus species of birds.

Photos

Great Basin National Park Photo Gallery

Highlights

Great Basin National Park seems to have something for everyone from astounding mountains, to wind serenading pines, to mysteries below the earth. 

Wheeler Peak

Wheeler Peak is the highest summit in the national park reaching a peak of 13,065 feet (3,982 m), which is also the second-highest peak in the state.

The prominence at 7,563 feet (2,305 m) is also second in the state and the largest in the national park. Apart from being incredibly picturesque from many different perspectives, Wheeler Peak features a rock glacier, extensive moraines, and a glacial cirque.

There is a nicely developed and maintained trail known as Wheeler Peak Summit Trail, which allows hikers to reach the summit from atop the end of the Scenic Drive up the majority of the mountain.  The route is for hiking and does not require any technical facets.

Lehman Cave

Lehman Cave has over 8,000 feet (2,438.4 m) of pathways through the cave.  The Grand Palace Tour explores 0.6-miles (0.97 km) of the cave featuring the highlights of Gothic Palace, the Music Room, the Lodge Room, the Inscription Room, and the Grand Palace portion.

The cave may only be experienced through a guided tour.  A slightly short tour, Lodge Room Tour, provides views of only the Gothic Palace, Music Room, and the Lodge Room.  The distance is 0.4 miles (0.64 km).  The tours are an additional cost from the park entrance fee.

It is not as impressive as Carlsbad Caverns or as large as Mammoth Cave, but it offers astounding examples of stalactites, stalagmites, and other cavern features.

Lexington Arch

Lexington Arch is a massive limestone arch reaching a height of 75 feet (22.86 m). The arch is unique in that it was carved out of limestone versus most other arches in the United States which are carved out of sandstone.

It makes for a unique rock formation and adds to the landscape of the area for photographers.  The arch is accessible by a hiking trail that is not too difficult.

Great Basin National Park Trails

There are several trails that explore the various aspects of the national park ranging from easy to difficult. There are even multiple trails that are under a mile (1.6 km) or longer trails exceeding 10 miles (16 km).