Planning a Trip

Getting There & Gateways

Great Basin National Park is 5 miles west of Baker, Nevada; 70 miles southeast of Ely, Nevada; 385 miles east of Reno, Nevada; 286 miles north of Las Vegas, Nevada; 200 miles north of St. George, Utah; and 234 miles southwest of Salt Lake City, Utah.

From west-central Utah, take U.S. 50 west across the state line into Nevada, go south on Nev. 487 to Baker, and then west on Nev. 488 into the park. From St. George, take I-15 north to Cedar City; continue north on Utah 130 to Minersville; take Utah 21 west through Milford to the Nevada state line, where it becomes Nev. 487, which you follow to Baker; and then take Nev. 488 west to the park.

From Las Vegas, follow U.S. 93 north to U.S. 50, go east to Nev. 487, where you turn south to Baker, and then follow Nev. 488 into the park.

From Ely and Reno, Nevada, follow U.S. 50 east to Nev. 487, and follow directions above.

The Nearest Airports -- The closest major airports are McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada (tel. 702/261-5211; www.mccarran.com), and Salt Lake City International Airport (tel. 800/595-2442 or 801/575-2400; www.slcairport.com) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Both are served by most major airlines and national car-rental agencies.

Information

Contact Great Basin National Park, 100 Great Basin National Park, NV 89311 (tel. 775/234-7331; www.nps.gov/grba). Be sure to ask for a copy of the park's excellent newspaper-style guide, Bristlecone, which includes a map, current activities and costs, and nearby services. Those who want to buy maps and books can contact the nonprofit Western National Parks Association, which operates two bookstores in the park, through a link on the park's website. For information on businesses outside the park in the nearby community of Baker, see the Great Basin Business & Tourism Council's website, www.greatbasinpark.com.

Visitor Center

The visitor center, on Nev. 488 at the northeast corner of the park, sells tickets for cave tours. It contains the Great Basin Association's bookstore, distributes brochures and other free information, and shows exhibits on the park's geology, history, flora, and fauna. In addition, a short film provides an introduction to the park.

The park is open daily, but the visitor center and cave are closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, and Dec 25.

Fees

Park entry is free. The 90-minute cave tour costs $10 for adults, $5 for children 5 to 15 (kids under 5 not permitted); the 60-minute tour costs $8 for adults, $4 for children 5 to 15, and free for kids under 5. Cave tour tickets can be purchased by phone (tel. 775/234-7331, ext. 242) from 24 hours to 30 days in advance. Camping costs $12 per night in the developed campgrounds, free at backcountry campsites.

Special Regulations & Warnings

Although backcountry permits are not required, those planning to go into the backcountry are encouraged to register at the visitor center, where they will also receive information on the latest backcountry conditions and regulations. Hikers going to the top of 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak may develop symptoms of altitude sickness (headache, nausea), in which case they should turn back immediately. Vehicles are also sometimes affected by the elevation and steep roads. The 12-mile Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, which leads to several trail heads, is steep and winding, and trailers and motor homes over 24 feet long are prohibited after the first 3 miles (to Upper Lehman Creek Campground).

At this writing, cellphone service in the park was not reliable.

Avoiding the Crowds

Because Great Basin National Park is seemingly in the middle of nowhere, it receives far fewer visitors than most other national parks. However, it isn't deserted. During the relatively busy summer season, you'll need to arrive at the visitor center early for your cave tour tickets (or purchase them in advance), and don't count on finding a campsite if you arrive late in the day, especially on weekends. The busiest times are on Memorial Day weekend and from July through Labor Day. Although the park is quieter in spring, weather can be a problem, with snow in the higher elevations. The park has its lowest visitation in January and February, but that is also when it is coldest and snowiest. The best time to visit is from just after Labor Day through the end of September, when there are fewer people and the weather is beautiful -- warm days and crisp, cool nights. Early October is also usually nice, but you may also find yourself in an early snowstorm.

Tips from a Park Insider

Anne Hopkins Pfaff, who worked as a park ranger at Great Basin National Park for a number of years, says that during her time at Great Basin she enjoyed both the park and the surrounding desert. "It's a gorgeous area," she says. "I like the remoteness."

Asked what she especially likes about the 77,100-acre park, Pfaff replies, "The variety of vegetation and habitats, and the views -- especially the views that include both Wheeler Peak and out across the Great Basin, such as you get from Mather Overlook." This park, she says, "is one of America's real treasures, where you can get out on the trails and not see another human being." Pfaff says that as far as national parks go, Great Basin's campgrounds offer minimal services, and although many visitors enjoy this aspect, others miss their creature comforts, such as hot showers and RV hookups.

Pfaff says she's impressed by the age and beauty of the bristlecone pines and considers a hike to the bristlecone pine forest among the park's top experiences. Also on her list of things all visitors should do are touring Lehman Caves and taking the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. She recommends visiting the park in September, "when the crowds are gone and the weather is usually beautiful -- not too hot at the lower elevations, but not yet snow-covered in the upper elevations."