The Best Things to do in Great Basin National Park (Hiking, Stargazing & More)
September 28, 2026
Great Basin National Park may be remote, but it’s worth the trek. Nevada’s national park is located in east-central Nevada near the border of Utah. It’s hours away from any major airport, and its closest town has a population of less than 100 people.
While it takes some time to reach, Great Basin National Park has a lot to see. The park is home to bristlecone pine trees (some of the oldest trees in the world), a stunning marble and limestone cave system, mountain peaks, and rivers. It’s also an International Dark Sky Park, as its remote location makes it incredible for admiring the stars.
Great Basin has also been home to Native Americans for thousands of years, and archaeological evidence has uncovered remnants of the Fremont culture. The Fremont people focused on agriculture, and stayed in one place, which differs from the Ancestral Puebloan people who built Mesa Verde.
You might be wondering what ‘great basin’ means. The Great Basin actually encompasses a huge area across Nevada, Utah, California, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming. It refers to the largest area of interior drainage in North America, meaning the waters here do not drain into any oceans. Great Basin National Park is a small part of this huge area.
After two visits to this remote national park, I can definitively say it’s underrated. The park has some stunning hiking trails, and a variety of beauty. From the night skies to the underground caverns, there is something for everyone. Keep reading to discover the best things to do in Great Basin National Park. This is based on my experience visiting this park in the summers of 2025 and 2026.
How to Get to Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is located in a remote part of Nevada, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. The closest major airports are Salt Lake City (3.5 hours away) and Las Vegas (4.5 hours away). I’ve done both routes, and liked that Salt Lake City was closer. However, the route from Las Vegas had slightly more interesting stops along the way, such as Cathedral Gorge State Park.
For slighter closer airports, look at Cedar City and St. George, UT. These airports have more limited options, but save you a bit of diving time.
No matter which airport you pick, you’ll need a car to get around. There is no public transportation in or around Great Basin National Park.
Pro Tip: There is limited cell service in this region and around Great Basin National Park. Be sure to download offline maps ahead of time, and come prepared.
When to Visit Great Basin National Park
Great Basin is a high elevation national park that can look very different throughout different seasons. The higher part of the park receives a lot of snow in the winter, and the drive to the top of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Road is often closed for over half of the year.
That being said, the best time to enjoy full access to the park is between July and September. June and October may be okay too, but June might have lingering snow, and snow often starts to accumulate by late October.
I’ve visited this park in August twice, and it’s been a great time to hike. However, it’s been very hot at the lower elevations near the park, and there was a wildfire nearby during one of my visits.
Great Basin looks especially beautiful with fall foliage, which typically changes at the end of September, so this would be another great time to visit.
The Best Things To Do in Great Basin National Park
Hiking in Great Basin National Park
Wheeler Peak
If you’re up for a challenge, you can summit a 13er in Great Basin National Park: Wheeler Peak. The hike is about 8.7-miles and has almost 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Not only is the trail steep, but the high altitude makes it quite challenging. The peak sits at 13,065 feet, which means that you might struggle more if you’re traveling from sea level.
The first half of the trail is located below the treeline, and it’s not overly steep. However, the second half of the trail is exposed and rocky. Plus, it gets steeper and steeper as you approach the peak. It’s also common to experience high winds in various parts of the climb.
I loved this trail, but it was a big challenge. Small rocks and windy areas made it challenging, and going down the steep areas was especially tough. However, the views at the top were worth it. You’ll experience 360 degree views with alpine lakes, nearby mountains, and the surrounding region. I also liked that there was plenty of room at the peak to spread out, and some wind shelters available.
Fun Fact: There’s a mailbox at the top with a log book!
If you want to attempt this trek, make sure you’re prepared. Get an early start and bring sun protection, lots of water, and plenty of food. Also be sure to check the weather forecast ahead of time - you don’t want to be above the treeline if there’s a chance of lightning.
Alpine Lakes, Bristlecone and Glacier Loop
For a day hike that combines interesting trees, alpine lakes, and the last glacier in Nevada, you can combine some of the most popular trails in the park into one hike! The Alpine Lakes, Bristlecone, and Glacier Loop trail is 5.9 miles and has a little over 1,200 feet of elevation gain.
If you want an easier version, skip the add-on of the Glacier Trail, as this adds a lot of the elevation gain. I’ll share more details about each of these trails below.
Pro Tip: Arrive early to snag a parking spot for these popular hikes.
Bristlecone Trail
I recommend combining this trail with the Glacier and Alpine Lakes trail. However, if you only want to do one of these trails, I would highly recommend choosing the Bristlecone Trail. This hike will lead you up to a grove of Bristlecone Pine trees. These aren’t just any trees - they are the oldest type of tree in the world!
When you reach the Bristlecone grove, there is a short interpretive loop trail that has signage all about the trees. Bristlecone pines are characterized by their twisted branches, and can live for thousands of years in harsh environments.
If you want to learn more about the trees from a ranger, a ranger hangs out the grove daily from 11 to noon (during peak times). You can ask questions about the trees, and about other aspects of the high elevation parts of this park.
Alpine Lakes Loop
I recommend combining the Alpine Lakes Loop with the Bristlecone and Glacier trails, but if you want to hike to the lakes on their own, it’s a 2.7-mile loop trail. There are two lakes on this loop: Stella Lake and Teresa Lake.
Stella Lake is a lot larger, and more scenic. It has a nice view of the lake in front of Wheeler Peak. Teresa Lake is a lot smaller, but still worth seeing on the loop.
Glacier Trail
Hike up to see the last glacier left in Nevada! Along the way, you’ll pass by the Bristlecone Pine Grove that I mentioned above. This hike has a decent amount of elevation gain, but it’s not overly steep. However, it gets pretty rocky at the end.
You don’t have to go all the way to the end of the trail to get a view of the glacier, there are some views beforehand. In fact, the best views aren’t all the way at the end of the All Trails route, in my opinion. You can also continue to the base of the glacier, but use caution around unstable boulders.
The Wheeler Peak Glacier sits below Wheeler Peak at around 11,500 feet of elevation. It’s relatively small at about 2 acres wide.
Baker Creek Loop
I covered the most popular trails along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, but there are other, quieter areas of the park that you can explore, too. The Baker Creek Loop is one of those options.
The Baker Creek Loop has nice meadow views, and lots of aspens trees. It would be beautiful in the fall. It’s steep at times, but also offers great views of the surrounding mountains.
It’s not as unique as the other trails I’ve mentioned, but it’s a great area to enjoy peace and solitude.
More Hikes in Great Basin National Park
Drive the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
Whether you’re hiking or not, you should drive up the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive if it’s open. The road is a bit steep and winding, but it’s paved. It’s 12 miles long and climbs to an elevation at about 10,000 feet.
Pro Tip: Beyond the Upper Lehman Creek Campground, the drive is closed to vehicles longer than 24 feet.
There are a couple of different viewpoints along the way, such as the Mather Overlook and the Wheeler Peak Overlook. These are great spots to admire Wheeler Peak and the valley below.
The entire road is typically open between June and October, but closed the rest of the year due to snow.
Take a Tour of Lehman Caves
If you like caves, taking a tour of Lehman Caves is one of the best things to do in Great Basin National Park. It’s the longest cave system in Nevada, and has a large concentration of shields. Shields are rare, circular formations inside of caves.
I loved my tour of the cave. Along with admiring the many beautiful cave formations and seeing the famous ‘Parachute Shield,’ we learned a lot about the human history of the cave. Tours have been occurring inside this cave since 1885, and one room is full of the names of former visitors who burned their names into the ceiling. While that behavior is now illegal and seen in a much different light, their names are now a part of history. It was really interesting to discuss the nuance of this topic with our guide.
You’ll want to book your cave tour tickets ahead of time, as they sell out. Tickets open up 30 days in advance, and often sell out at least a week or two in advance. However, they sometimes offer additional first-come, first-serve tours that you can snag when the visitor center opens. Check with park rangers to see if this is available during your visit.
Fun Fact: There are actually 40 caves in Great Basin National Park.
If you’re looking for a more adventurous option, wild caving is also available at Great Basin National Park. There is an introduction to Wild Caving tour available at Lehman Caves, or there are actually 7 other caves inside the park that you can explore via Wild Caving. If that’s something you have experience with, you’ll need to obtain a permit to go wild caving on your own.
Admire the Night Skies
Great Basin is an International Dark Sky Park and has some of the darkest skies in the continental US. If you’re new to stargazing, one of the best things to do is to attend a ranger-led Astronomy talk. These occur nightly every Thursday through Sunday during the summer, and are free to attend.
Each night, there’s a 30 minute talk about a different topic relating to astronomy, and then one hour and thirty minutes of time to view space objects through telescopes. When I attended, the talk was all about the moon. They also did a separate talk relating to the park right before the astronomy talk, and my topic was about the history of farming in the region.
Unfortunately, wildlife smoke prevented us from seeing the stars on the night that I attended this event. However, most nights are clear, and this is an incredible place to admire the skies. If you don’t want to attend the ranger-talk, other good areas to admire the stars include the Mather Overlook or the Baker Archaeological Site.
Pro Tip: The Great Basin Astronomy Festival is a great time to visit if you’re into stargazing. It typically occurs every September.
Where to Stay near Great Basin National Park
Camping in Great Basin National Park
There are no lodges inside of Great Basin National Park, but there are five developed campgrounds throughout the park.
If you’d like quick access to some of the most popular trails in the park, the Wheeler Peak Campground is a great option. For any of the campgrounds, book early to snag a spot.
Pro Tip: The Lower Lehman Creek is the only campground open during the winter.
Hotels near Great Basin National Park
If you’re not camping, there are a limited number of hotels in Baker, which is right outside of the park. I’ve stayed at two different places, and highly recommend the Stargazer Inn at the Bristlecone General Store. They have cute cabins, and lots of outdoor space to hang out.
Other hotels in the area include Whispering Elms Motel and the Border Inn Casino (I’ve also stayed here). You can also find several cabin options on Airbnb.
Restaurants near Great Basin National Park
There aren’t many places to eat near Great Basin National Park, but there are just enough options to keep you satisfied for a few days. Here are some places I’ve eaten at and enjoyed.
Sandra’s Mexican Food
Sandra’s is a little Mexican food truck that serves authentic Mexican food. They have burritos, tacos, tostados, and more, and the portions are generous. I really enjoyed the veggie burrito. The hours are somewhat limited (which is true for most of these places), so plan accordingly.
487Grill
487Grill is a popular burger food truck in Baker. Along with freshly made burgers, they offer philly cheesesteaks, portobello mushroom sandwiches, and sides like potato salad. As a vegetarian, I enjoyed the portobello mushroom sandwich, but I’ve heard their burgers are good. You can head over the bar next door to grab a drink with your meal.
Bristlecone General Store
The Bristlecone General Store is my favorite spot in Baker! It’s more of a shop than a restaurant, and they have a great variety of souvenirs, snacks and some basic groceries. However, they also serve coffee and breakfast sandwiches in the morning, and pizza on Wednesday evenings. I especially loved their pizza, which I enjoyed on their front patio.
Great Basin Café
Great Basin Cafe is located inside of the national park at the Lehman Cave Visitor Center. For a national park restaurant, I was very impressed. They serve wraps, breakfast items, grilled cheese, hot dogs, and more. I really enjoyed the grilled cheese, which was grilled up with crispy cheese on the outside of the bread. They also have thick shakes with tons of flavor options. It’s an amazing place to go after a hike or a cave tour.
Final Thoughts
I hope this guide helps you plan an epic trip to Great Basin National Park! While this national park tends to be overlooked, I have really enjoyed my time here. The park has epic hiking trails, and beautiful views. From caves to bristlecone pines to mountain views, there is a little something for everyone.
For more remote US national park guides, check out my other blog posts:
- How to Spend A Day in Redwood National Park
- The Perfect Mesa Verde Itinerary
- The Best Things To Do in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
- How to Take a Day Trip to Dry Tortugas National Park
- An Itinerary for Voyaguers National Park
- A Guide to Visiting Channel Islands National Park
- A Guide to National Park of American Samoa
- A Guide to Backpacking in Isle Royale
- An Itinerary for Everglades National Park
- How to Spend A Day in Petrified Forest National Park
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