5 Things You Can’t Miss On Your First Visit to Great Basin

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1. Lehman Caves

Explore this underground world full of vibrant colors, strange shapes, and large passageways! As you follow a ranger through spectacular Lehman Caves, you’ll be immersed in the exciting history and unique rock formations of this amazing cave system.

What You Need to Know

Shields! Remember that word when you tour through Lehman Caves. Shields are incredibly rare cave formations that can be found all over the walls of these caves — it’s phenomenal!

The only way to see Lehman Caves is to take a ranger-led tour, and you’ve got three different tour options:

• The Lodge Room Tour — this tour is 60 minutes long and is ideal for families with young children. There is no age limit on this tour, and it travels through the first three sections of the cave.
• The Grand Palace Tour — this tour is 90 minutes long, and it covers the same sections as the Lodge Room Tour and then travels deeper. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted on this tour.
• The First Room Accessible Tour — this brief tour of the first room of the cave, the Gothic Palace, is for those unable to negotiate the stairs and narrow passageways of the full tour route.

If tickets are available and you don’t have small children with you, I’d definitely sign up for the Grand Palace Tour as a first choice.

Cave tour tickets are required and frequently sell out, so advanced reservations are highly encouraged. You can also purchase same-day tickets at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, but those sell out quickly. You’ll want to get there first thing in the morning if you’re hoping for a same-day ticket.

Proper cave etiquette is crucial in this fragile environment.  Please do not touch ANY of the cave formations — the oil on your hands will ruin them.

Have you heard of White-Nose Syndrome? It’s a devastating disease that affects bats, and it’s killing off a huge percentage of their population.  To avoid spreading the disease, please don’t wear clothes or shoes that you’ve previously worn in other caves. If you are wearing the same shoes, please let a ranger know before your tour, and they will help you disinfect them.

Getting Here

From the town of Baker, drive west along Highway 488 for 5.5 miles (following signs to Great Basin National Park). The Lehman Caves Visitor Center is at the end of the road, and you can pick up your cave tour tickets there.

2.  Alpine Lakes Loop Trail

Immerse yourself in Great Basin’s high alpine scenery as you hike to two sparkling lakes! This trail will take you into the forest and through the meadows so you can discover what life looks like in the shadow of Wheeler Peak.

What You Need to Know

The Alpine Lakes Loop is perhaps the most surprising trail in the entire national park. Coming from the valley floor, you would never expect to find gorgeous mountains, forests of aspens and pines, and crystal-clear lakes in Great Basin.

You’ll drive the entire Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive to get up here, so go slow and enjoy the views as you make your way higher into the mountains. Be advised that due to tight curves and narrow lanes, vehicles longer than 24 feet are not permitted on this road.

The entire loop is 2.7 miles roundtrip with 600 feet of elevation gain. It doesn’t matter which way you hike the loop, but Stella Lake is definitely more impressive than Teresa Lake.

It can be chilly along this trail — you’re hiking at about 10,000 feet above sea level! Be on the lookout for deer and wild turkeys as you hike.

You can easily connect this trail with the Bristlecone Trail (listed below), making it into an epic dayhike! You’ll see the turnoff to the Bristlecone Trail just before Teresa Lake if you’re hiking the Alpine Lakes Loop clockwise.

Pets are not permitted on this trail.

Getting Here

From the town of Baker, drive west along Highway 488 for 4.8 miles (following signs to Great Basin National Park/Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive). Just after passing the large Great Basin National Park sign, you’ll see the turnoff for the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive on your right. Turn here, and follow the scenic drive for 12 miles. Vehicles longer than 24 feet are not permitted on this road beyond the Upper Lehman Creek Campground.

Just before reaching the Wheeler Peak Campground at the very end of the road, you’ll see the Bristlecone Parking Area on your left. Park here — this is the Alpine Lakes Loop Trailhead. Cross the main road to begin the trail.

3.  Bristlecone Trail

Take a walk through a remarkable forest of bristlecone pines, the longest-living trees on the planet. If you want to see something truly rare and beautiful, absolutely don’t skip this stop — some of these trees are 3,000 years old!

What You Need to Know

These incredible, slow-growing bristlecone pines have been here for thousands of years. It’s difficult to comprehend the events in time that these trees have been alive, but one thing’s for sure….you’ll walk out of this forest in awe of these magnificent plants.

This trail may not have as many grand vistas or ooh-aah moments as other trails, but seeing these spectacular trees is one of the most meaningful experiences I’ve ever had in a national park. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

The Bristlecone Trail is 2.8 miles roundtrip and has an elevation gain of 600 feet. When you get to the grove, walk the small nature trail that loops through it. You’ll find interpretive panels along the way that will share more about these amazing trees.

Pets are not permitted on this hike. Please don’t take anything from the grove — as in all national parks, it is illegal to remove any part of the natural landscape. Some parts of these trees may look dead, but in many cases, they are still alive and growing.

You can easily connect this trail with the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail, making it into an epic dayhike! You’ll see the turnoff to the Bristlecone Trail just before Teresa Lake if you’re hiking the Alpine Lakes Loop clockwise.

After hiking to the grove, you might consider continuing to Rock Glacier. This is Nevada’s only glacier, and it’s tucked underneath the dramatic crags of Wheeler Peak. Hiking to the glacier will add on another 1.8 miles roundtrip and 500 feet of elevation gain.

Getting Here

From the town of Baker, drive west along Highway 488 for 4.8 miles (following signs to Great Basin National Park/Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive). Just after passing the large Great Basin National Park sign, you’ll see the turnoff for the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive on your right. Turn here, and follow the scenic drive for 12 miles. Vehicles longer than 24 feet are not permitted on this road beyond the Upper Lehman Creek Campground.

Just before reaching the Wheeler Peak Campground at the very end of the road, you’ll see the Bristlecone Parking Area on your left. Park here — this is the trailhead for the Bristlecone Trail. Cross the main road to begin your hike.

4.  Astronomy Program

Great Basin National Park has some of the darkest skies in the country, and people come from all over to marvel at the stunning night sky! Join a ranger program for an extraordinary and unforgettable look at the stars and planets above this beautiful national park.

What You Need to Know

Great Basin’s astronomy program is fantastic — the rangers provide a short presentation, and then they get out the telescopes and show off some amazing things!

The last time we were there, we got to see the Andromeda Galaxy, Saturn, and the Ring Nebula, among other things. My kids still rave about how they got to see Saturn’s rings. They keep asking when we get to go back and look through the telescope again.

These astronomy programs typically run on Saturday nights from May through October. Additional programs may be added during the summer months, usually on Tuesday or Thursday nights. The schedule varies, so check the calendar before you lock in your vacation dates.

The program is free, and no reservations are needed. You’ll want to show up a little early to get parking. Bring a camp chair for the ranger talk, and wear layers — it can get pretty chilly after the sun goes down.

You can bring your flashlight, but it must be a red light only. White lights or cell phone lights are too bright for your eyes to adjust to the night sky. The pathways at the program are lit with red lights or glow-in-the-dark paint, so your own light isn’t necessary.

Alcohol, smoking, and pets are not permitted at the astronomy program.

Getting Here

From the town of Baker, drive west along Highway 488 for 5.5 miles (following signs to Great Basin National Park). The Lehman Caves Visitor Center is at the end of the road. Park here — this is where you’ll find the astronomy program.

5.  Mountain View Nature Trail

Mining and ranching brought the first Euro-Americans to this great expanse in the Nevada desert, which is true of many seemingly desolate places in the West. A short stroll along the Mountain View Nature Trail will introduce you to the rich history of the Great Basin area and the discovery of Lehman Caves.

What You Need to Know

This trail is short and sweet, but you’ll get some nice views of the mountains and a little taste of history as you stroll.

Stop by the Rhodes Cabin, built in 1920 by Clarence and Bea Rhodes. The Rhodes were custodians of Lehman Caves, and they constructed this cabin for visitors who came to see the caves.

As you continue along the trail, look for the abandoned mining equipment. Six mining operations were up and running during the mid-1800s when gold and silver were found near Great Basin.

Finally, as you complete the loop, you’ll reach the natural entrance to Lehman Caves. The cave entrance is protected, but you can catch a glimpse of the hole in the ground that Absalom Lehman discovered on his land in the 1880s.

The Mountain View Nature Trail is a 0.3-mile loop, and it gains 80 feet of elevation. Pets are not permitted on this trail.

Getting Here

From the town of Baker, drive west along Highway 488 for 5.5 miles (following signs to Great Basin National Park). The Lehman Caves Visitor Center is at the end of the road. Park here, and look for the small cabin to the right of the visitor center. This is the Rhodes Cabin, where you’ll begin the Mountain View Nature Trail.

Bonus: Wheeler Peak Summit

If you’re up for a challenge and looking for an unforgettable dayhike, add the Wheeler Peak Summit trail to your list. This trail is 8.6 miles roundtrip, and it gains 2,900 feet in elevation.

If you choose to hike this trail, you’ll be treated to views for miles as you stand at over 13,000 feet above sea level!

The Wheeler Peak Summit Trail begins above 10,000 feet, so you’ll want to pack layers and be prepared for wind and cold. Afternoon thunderstorms are extremely common and dangerous at this elevation — get an early start (no later than 8 a.m. if you can) to avoid being on the mountaintop when the storms roll in.

This trail begins at the Summit Trailhead. You’ll find this parking area near the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive — if you get to the campground/Bristlecone Trailhead, you’ve gone just a little bit too far.

Have a phenomenal trip to Great Basin! Zion National Park is only 3 hours away — click NEXT to learn more about Zion.