Baker Creek Trail--6 mi. one-way. Moderate to strenuous. Access: End of Baker Creek Rd.
Following Baker Creek, this trail leads to Baker Lake, climbing from about 8,000 feet in elevation to over 10,500 feet. It passes through meadows and forests, past pinyon, juniper, aspen, and pine, changing with the elevation. It's a good choice for wildlife viewing; you are likely to see mule deer, rock squirrels, and a variety of birds. Anglers often stop to catch a trout in the creek, and the trail provides excellent views of the surrounding peaks. Along the way you pass the remains of a miner's log cabin before reaching picturesque Baker Lake.
Johnson Lake Trail--3.6 mi. one-way. Moderate to strenuous. Access: End of Snake Creek Rd.
This rugged trail follows an old mining road, with an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet, before arriving at Johnson Lake, named for Alfred Johnson, who mined and processed tungsten here in the early part of the 20th century. The Johnson Lake Trail can be combined with the Baker Creek Trail to produce a loop, starting with the Baker Creek Trail and descending along Snake Creek. Parts of this loop are difficult to follow, and topographical maps and good mountaineering skills are needed.
Lehman Creek Trail--3.4 mi. one-way. Easy. Access: Connects Upper Lehman Creek Campground with Wheeler Peak Campground.
Although there is a 2,100-foot elevation change along this trail, it's an easy downhill walk for those who start at Wheeler Peak Campground and have a vehicle waiting at Lehman Creek Campground. The trail mostly follows a bluff above Lehman Creek, crossing through several separate life zones and offering views of a wide variety of plant life, from sagebrush and cactus to forests of aspen, spruce, pinyon, and tall Douglas fir. Along the way you will also see mountain mahogany and, if your timing's right, an abundance of wildflowers.
Wheeler Peak Summit Trail--8.6 mi. RT (from campground). Strenuous. Access: Begins at Summit Trailhead, about 0.5 mi. from Wheeler Peak Campground, or from the campground via Alpine Lakes Loop Trail, which intersects with Summit Trail.
Those looking for stupendous panoramic vistas should consider this strenuous trail, which begins as a relatively gentle walk through a forest of pine, becoming considerably steeper as it reaches the tree line. Eventually you find yourself on the summit, at an elevation of 13,063 feet, the second-highest point in Nevada. During its 3,000-foot ascent, the trail passes through several plant communities, including forests of Englemann spruce and pine, before climbing above the tree line. This is generally an all-day hike, and rangers advise starting early so you're off the summit by the time afternoon thunderstorms appear. Hikers are also advised to carry plenty of drinking water, extra clothing, and rain gear.
