Best trails in Great Basin National Park

4.5(9,622 reviews)

United States
:
#46 of 60 national parks

Great Basin National Park spans sagebrush valleys to alpine summits, offering solitude amid ancient bristlecone pines, the oldest non-clonal trees on Earth. Enter Lehman Caves on ranger-led tours to marvel at marble formations and rare shield structures. Drive or hike the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive to access alpine lakes, sky-island forests, and Nevada’s only glacier. At both visitor centers, Lehman Caves and the Great Basin Visitor Center north of Baker, you’ll find parking, exhibits, films, trail info, and orientation for stargazing and night sky programs.

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Top Picks in Great Basin National Park

8 trails

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Trail reviews for Great Basin National Park

Pietro Magri

Oct 26, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Great Basin National Park Worth coming to it

Conditions: Snow, No bugs, Wildflowers, Dry ground, Well maintained

Dead Lake Trail and Johnson Lake Trail

Andrew Guazzerotti

Sep 12, 2025•Hiking

Not crowdedGreat conditionsGreat views

Honestly my favorite hike in all of Great Basin National Park. My Fiancée and I started at 7am and did the loop CCW per the other recommendations on here, and summited Pyramid Peak as well. It starts my paralleling Baker Creek and is an easy uphill trek pretty much all the way to Baker Lake. After baker lake it gets pretty steep, and us being from the east coast and day 1 on the trails here, it took us a hot minute to get to the top of the ridge. The views at the top are stunning, as you can see much of the rest of the park, as well as both Baker and Johnson lake. We opted to do Pyramid Peak, and we met a couple and their kids doing it as well. It is a scramble with some loose rock, but honestly it’s not bad. We did it in trail runners no problem. We did Wheeler Peak a few days later, and our honest opinion was that the view was better up here - not that you shouldn’t do Wheeler, it is beautiful as well. After Pyramid Peak, we came down the other side of the ridge towards Johnson Lake and let me just say that was the sketchiest part of the entire hike - including Pyramid Peak. It is very steep, with loose gravel and rock, and it is apparent that people have made their own trails through part of it. My fiancée had to slide on her butt a few times because she couldn’t get any stable footing through parts of it. Johnson lake is beautiful with the backdrop of Pyramid Peak and the ridge we just came down behind it. From here, the trail is fairly mellow with one last somewhat steep uphill section, then easy downhill cruising back to the parking lot. Overall highly recommend if you have the trail legs for it. My watch clocked about 14 miles total.

Baker Creek, Johnson Lake, and Timber Creek Loop

Jason Crane

Jul 31, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkGreat conditionsGreat views

Spectacular day with breath-taking views. Trail is heavily traveled & easy to follow with signage at junctions & red blazed on the lower segment. Above tree-line, the winds were very strong at times, enough to cause resistance. Almost 2 months ago to the day, I got caught high up on the ridge in a thunder & lightning storm, which forced a hastily retreat down the mountain. Felt amazing to complete this one on a blue sky day. There's a trail register at the summit & for wildlife, I only saw a lone buck foraging in the forest. Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is paved & there's no charge for parking or to enter Great Basin National Park. Overall, I feel like this is a moderate hike with a steady incline until about the final 300-400 feet or so, as the ridge steepens during final summit push. There is no scrambling involved. The trail was completely dry from start to finish. Climb time: 2 hrs 45 min up & 2 hrs 15 min down.

Parking: Free, Medium lot

Difficulty: Moderate

Wheeler Peak Summit Trail

Jason Graham

Jul 12, 2025•Hiking

Bathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Stepping onto the Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail in Great Basin National Park is to move through time and elevation, where ancient trees stand sentinel and glaciers nestle in alpine solitude. Arriving at the trailhead at about 1pm, I found the parking lot already full, fortunately, roadside parking less than a quarter of a mile away was available, making for a short and pleasant walk to the trail’s official start. If you plan a weekend visit in peak season, factor in a little extra time for parking, as early birds will have an easier go of it. While the Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail is often rated as relatively easy, the elevation—over 10,000 feet—demands respect. The trail’s gentle grades and clear path are welcoming, but the thin alpine air and the strong mountain sun can catch even experienced hikers off guard. The heat, surprisingly intense despite the elevation, made hydration and sun protection essential. On the way up to the glacier, a stop at the celebrated Bristlecone loop, where ancient, twisted pines—some over 3,000 years old—is a must. Past this loop, the trail becomes noticeably more exposed, weaving through open alpine terrain. There’s little shelter from the sun, so ample sunscreen, a wide-brimmed hat, and plenty of water are non-negotiable. Even in July, the sun’s rays at this altitude felt relentless. The views are breathtaking: from dense stands of bristlecone pine, you emerge into wind-swept openness with sweeping vistas of rocky peaks and distant desert basins. The transition is remarkable; less than half an hour before reaching the trailhead, I was traversing sunbaked desert, yet here I stood amid snow patches and ancient trees under a clear blue sky.

Parking: Free, Medium lot

Difficulty: Moderate

Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail

Andrew Guazzerotti

Sep 13, 2025•Hiking

Not crowdedGreat conditionsGreat views

This was a nice relatively easy hike. It starts out in a dried up river bed that I believe was formed from flash flooding, so a rocky start. It splits off and the incline begins, but the switchbacks make it pretty mellow. You get a really nice view of the valley and some rock formations the entire hike to the arch. After the switchbacks, you’ll arrive to a bench that has a really good view of the arch with a cliff right next to it. The trail continues to the arch, and it gets pretty steep at the end, but you can sit under the arch if you want. On the hike back we were surprised by a Great Basin Rattlesnake right off the trail! My recommendation would be if you have a dog to make sure they’re leashed up in case they mistake one of these as a toy. Otherwise a really nice hike!

Lexington Arch Trail

Sarah Van Riper

Aug 31, 2025•Hiking

Easy to parkBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Must do trail for Great Basin NP!

Parking: Free, Large lot

Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes Loop

Frequently asked questions

What is the longest trail in Great Basin National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Great Basin National Park is Baker Creek, Johnson Lake, and Timber Creek Loop. This trail is estimated to be 12.4 mi long.

Are there camping trails available in Great Basin National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 4 camping trails in Great Basin National Park and the most popular is Pole Canyon Trail with an average 4.6 star rating from 214 community reviews.

Are there running trails available in Great Basin National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 2 running trails in Great Basin National Park and the most popular is Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail with an average 4.8 star rating from 1,376 community reviews.