Planning a trip to Great Basin National Park
Information
Contact Great Basin National Park, 100 Great Basin National Park, Baker, 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 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 New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
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.
Getting Around
The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive runs 12 miles one-way. The road is paved but steep (about an 8% grade) and winding. It ascends over 3,000 feet from the visitor center, at 6,825 feet elevation, to the base of Wheeler Peak, at almost 10,000 feet. Along the way, there are pullouts where you can stop to take in views of the Great Basin and Wheeler Peak. At the first pullout, a short walk brings you to the remnants of an 18-mile aqueduct built in 1890 to carry water from Lehman Creek to a gold-mining operation. The road ends at Wheeler Peak Campground, where several hiking trails begin. Motor homes and trailers over 24 feet long may go the first 3 miles to Upper Lehman Creek Campground, but not beyond. The road is usually closed by snow (except for the first 3 miles) from fall through spring.
Getting There
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.
When to Go
Although the park is open year-round, deep snow and bitter cold limit aboveground activities during the winter. The cave, which has a year-round temperature of 50°F (10°C) and humidity of 90%, can be visited at any time. Outdoors, conditions are tied to elevation, which ranges from 6,825 feet at the visitor center to 13,063 feet at Wheeler Peak. Hiking trails at lower elevations are usually free of snow from late spring through early fall, but above 10,000 feet, snow is possible at any time. Summer thunderstorms are common during the afternoon but can occur at any time.
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, about 90,000 per year. 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 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 find yourself in an early snowstorm.
Tips for Families
The park's Junior Ranger Program offers a book at the visitor center for kids under 12. After they complete several activities, attend a ranger program, and do a service project such as picking up trash at a campsite, they receive a certificate and a Junior Ranger badge. Families can check out a Family Adventure Pack at the visitor center, which contains a journal and materials to help children and their parents learn about the park.
