When you visit Great Basin National Park you will see a variety of different landscapes: tall mountains, deep caves, lakes, scenic roads, and a night sky like you may never have before.
Contents
Directions to Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is located in Nevada, near the border with Utah. The nearest town is Baker where the park’s Visitor Center is also located. The name Great Basin refers to the arid, mountainous region between California‘s Sierra Nevada and Utah’s Wasatch Mountains. Below you can see how long it takes to get from major cities and attractions in the area to the Visitor Center:
- Las Vegas: 4 1/2 hours
- Salt Lake City: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Kanab: 4 hours
- Bryce Canyon National Park: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Cedar City: 2 1/2 hours
- St. George: 3 1/2 hours
The nearest commercial airports are in Cedar City and St. George, both in Utah, and the nearest international airports are in Las Vegas and Salt Lake City.
Tickets, Hours, and Other Useful Info
Admission to the park is free. However, in case you want to take a tour inside the Lehman Caves you will have to pay a ticket ($12 to $15 depending on the kind of tour). During the summer, the Lehman Caves Visitor Center is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day of the week. The park closes earlier during the fall (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) and in the winter and spring (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). On Christmas and Thanksgiving, the park is closed.
Attractions
Before we delve into the main things to see “in” the park, I should first point out what can be seen “from” here. In fact, in 2016, Great Basin National Park had the privilege of being added to the International Dark Sky Parks where one can experience one of the last truly dark night skies in America. The low humidity, virtually nonexistent light pollution, and the high altitude in the park help create a unique window into the universe. On a cloudless night, you will be able to see, even with the naked eye, the Milky Way, thousands of bright stars, and even a few planets.
In addition to the stargazing events organized in the park (you can take a look at the program here ), there is the fascinating Star Train. Although the trip starts and ends at the historic Elk station (where the Nevada Northern Railway Museum is also located) and does go through Great Basin National Park, the route is very fascinating and park rangers will be on board. You can find more information on this website. Observing the sky is not something you can only do at night. In fact, on certain days during the summer you can use the solar telescope at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center to observe the sun directly.
Lehman Caves
Perhaps the park’s most popular attraction, Lehman Caves is one of the largest underground cave systems in the state. These caves are named after Absalom Lehman who discovered them in 1880 after feeling a chilly breeze coming from underground. This elaborate system of underground caves was so successful that in 1922 it became a full-fledged national monument named Lehman Caves National Monument and it was not until 1986 that it was incorporated into Great Basin National Park. As I mentioned earlier, in order to visit Lehman Caves, it is necessary to book a guided tour on this website.
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
The fastest and most convenient way to take in the beauty of the park is to drive along this 20-mile scenic drive in your rental car. The two recommended spots to take pictures and admire the scenery around you are the Mather Overlook and the Wheeler Peak Overlook. During the winter, the road is closed due to heavy snowfall and bad weather. At the end of the road, you will find a large parking lot called Bristlecone Parking Lot from which some of the most scenic trails in the park start. The most accessible ones can be completed even if you are short on time.
- Alpine Lakes Trail: This is a loop of just over 2.5 miles round trip that allows you to visit the two lakes on this side of the park: Teresa Lake and Stella Lake. From here you can also get a great view of Wheeler Peak.
- Sky Islands Forest Trail: This is a short and easy 0.3-mile walk through the forest where you can see Bristlecone Pines, which are some of the oldest trees on earth.
Where to Stay Near Great Basin National Park
Other than campgrounds, there are no other options for accommodations inside the park. If you are looking for a hotel or motel, the closest ones are in Baker, or in Ely, which is just over an hour from the park but offer a much greater selection.