Park of China
Overview
| Designation | US National Park |
| Location | Eastern Nevada, USA |
| Latitude, longitude | 38.9, -114.2 Google Maps |
| Top sights | Wheeler Peak |
| Area | 77,200 acres |
| Highest point | 13,063 feet |
| Nearby cities | Las Vegas |
| Nearby sites | Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Yosemite National Park, Mesa Verde National Park |
| Themes | Mountain, Glacial, Cave, Peak, Plant, Night sky & aurora, Hiking & climbing, Scenic drives, Ancient trees |
About
Great Basin National Park is in eastern Nevada. It became a US national park in 1986.
Visitor map
Travel tips
Getting there: the park lies in eastern Nevada, far from cities. The nearest villages are Baker, next to the park, and Ely, over 100 km away. Salt Lake City is about 4 hours by car and Las Vegas about 4.5 hours.
Supplies: the park has almost no shops or fuel, so stock up on fuel, water and food in Ely or Baker.
Wheeler Peak road: the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, about 20 km long, climbs from desert foothills to roughly 3,000 m, with viewpoints and campgrounds. The upper section closes in winter because of snow.
Wheeler Peak: the summit trail is about 14 km round trip to 3,982 m and takes a full day; allow for altitude and afternoon thunderstorms.
Bristlecone pines: bristlecone groves grow at higher elevations, some trees thousands of years old, and short trails lead to the groves and to the small glacier below the peak.
Lehman Caves: this limestone cave can be seen only on ranger-led tours with limited places, so book ahead.
Season: high trails are usually snow-free from June to October. Summer days are warm and nights cold. The park is known for dark skies, good for stargazing on clear nights.
Where to stay: the park has several campgrounds, with the high ones open only in the snow-free months. Nearby towns have a few motels, which fill early in summer.
Map
