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Best trails in Great Basin National Park

Best trails in Great Basin National Park

4.5(7,890 reviews)

·

United States
: 
#46 of 60 national parks

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Great Basin National Park features the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak, expansive sage-covered foothills, lakes, forests, and Lehman Caves.

Top trails

1
#1 - Baker Creek Loop
4.6(366)
•Moderate
•3.5 mi
•Est. 1h 59m
This loop trail can be accessed from the parking lot at the end of Baker Creek Road, where restrooms are available. It takes you to Great Basin National Park. It winds through a shaded forest of large aspens and along the creek with beautiful water views. Be prepared for steep sections with loose dirt and rocks—sturdy footwear is recommended.
2
#2 - Lehman Creek Trail
4.4(435)
•Hard
•6.5 mi
•Est. 3h 59m
Lehman Creek Trailhead can be found at the Upper Lehman Creek Campground at the very end. Walk amongst the pine trees to reach some beautiful alpine meadows with view of the mountains and the bristlecone area. It is recommended to the parking area early as spots are limited. Other hikes can be found starting from Wheeler Peak camground that go further into the alpine.
3
#3 - Lehman Caves Visitor Center and Mountain View Nature Trail
4.4(332)
•Easy
•0.4 mi
•Est. 9m
Lehman Cave is a stunning limestone cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. The cave is only accessible during a ranger-led tour. This is a great trail for a family outing or those interested in learning more about these caves. For more info about tours check out: https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/lehman-caves-tours.htm
4
#4 - South Fork Baker Creek and Timber Creek Loop
4.6(197)
•Moderate
•5.3 mi
•Est. 3h 17m
The trail begins at the end of Baker Creek Road and features a combination of forested areas, alpine meadows, and panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. Along the way, hikers can observe local wildlife and enjoy the tranquility of the park's natural beauty. This well-maintained loop trail provides a rewarding experience through Great Basin National Park.
5
#5 - Pole Canyon Trail
4.6(184)
•Moderate
•7.0 mi
•Est. 3h 40m
The trailhead to this hike is located near the Grey Cliff Campground. Take this trail through Pole Canyon past meadows and beautiful views of the surrounding Snake Valley. Wander through forests amongst the variety of animal and plant life. This hike can also be done in the winter with snowshoes. Users recommend getting to the trailhead early as parking is limited.
6
#6 - Osceola Ditch Intepretive Trail
4.2(192)
•Easy
•2.7 mi
•Est. 57m
7
#7 - Baker Lake Trail
4.7(160)
•Hard
•11.0 mi
•Est. 5h 54m
The trail to the lake is garnished by aspens and vegetation along the creek. The creek in many areas is pleasant to see and hear. The backdrop of the mountains surrounding the lake are awe inspiring. The lake itself is on the smaller side.
8
#8 - Baker Lake-Johnson Lake Loop
4.7(133)
•Hard
•13.1 mi
This route takes you along the Baker Creek, Tiber Creek, and Johnson Lake Trails. On your way up to Pyramid Peak, the connecting section is a steep route over the ridge between Baker and Johnson Lakes. The ridgetop offers spectacular views in all directions, including the south faces of Wheeler Peak and Baker Peak.
9
#9 - Serviceberry Loop
4.6(88)
•Moderate
•3.0 mi
•Est. 1h 37m
This is one of the relatively short hikes in Great Basin National Park. The trailhead is not too far from the end of the dirt road that runs into Snake Creek Canyon. The road is easily passable by a passenger car, but it is dusty and narrow in places, so exercise care. There is space for maybe 4 or 5 cars by the trailhead. It's a pleasant, well marked, loop that can be completed relatively quickly if you are not looking to commit to one of the more arduous options in the park. The loop can be...
10
#10 - Strawberry Creek Trail
4.4(53)
•Moderate
•4.1 mi
•Est. 2h 32m
Showing results 1–10 of 27
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Visitor info

Hours & contact
Open 24 hours
Passes & fees
No fee required
Accessibility
General park hours
Every day • Open 24 hours
Phone
(775) 234-7331

No entrance fee or pass is required.

Annual pass
All U.S. national parks

Join millions of people who enjoy our National Parks with the "America the Beautiful" National Park & Federal Recreational Lands Pass, otherwise known as the Interagency Annual Pass. The pass is valid for a year's worth of visits from the month of purchase at more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country.

$80
Purchase pass
Overview

Great Basin National Park does not charge an entrance fee, but the Interagency Access Pass allows pass holders to receive a 50% discount on other park amenities, such as camping and cave tours.

The Lehman Caves Visitor Center, Great Basin Cafe, and Great Basin Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. Orientation films include closed captioning. The Astronomy Amphitheater below the Lehman Caves Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible with parking and restrooms.

Some ranger-led programs are wheelchair accessible. Assistive listening devices, Braille brochures, and tactile exhibits are available. Please call (775) 234-7520 or email to make a reservation for assistive listening devices.

Additional information about accessibility at Great Basin National Park can be found on their website: https://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/accessibility.htm.

Facilities

The Lehman Caves Visitor Center, Great Basin Cafe, and Great Basin Visitor Center are accessible to visitors using mobility equipment or strollers and have wheelchair accessible restrooms. Orientation films include closed captioning. The Astronomy Amphitheater below the Lehman Caves Visitor Center is wheelchair accessible with parking and restrooms.

The Gothic Palace, the first room of Lehman Cave, is available for a tour for those unable to navigate the stairs and narrow passageways of the full cave tour.

Camping

Lower Lehman (#1), Upper Lehman (#2 and #18), Grey Cliffs (#A8 and #C3), Baker Creek (#4, #21, and #28), Wheeler Peak (#5 and #21) campgrounds have individual wheelchair accessible camping sites and accessible restrooms.

Service animals

Service animals must be on-leash throughout the park.

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Guides

in Great Basin National Park
Top Picks in Great Basin National Park
8 trails
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Trail reviews for Great Basin National Park

9,037 trailgoers Busiest in July
JC Narasimhan
Sep 1, 2024•Hiking

All trials is wrong... There is no access to the trailhead because the Great Basin national Park has some construction going on. . Take the summit trailhead. And then merge on to the loop mentioned in the all trials here....

Difficulty: Moderate
Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes Loop
Denzil Newman
Jul 8, 2024•Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedGreat conditionsGreat views

Stella and Teresa Alpine Lakes. Over 10,000 feet asl. Great Basin National Park. Great views of Wheeler Peak, which is over 13,000 feet high. A lot of Aspen trees, but the bristlecone pines are the most amazing. Dead trees - some of them over 7,000 years old

Alpine Lakes and Bristlecone and Glacier Loop
Imelda Suppe
Jul 4, 2024•Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableGreat conditionsGreat views

Great Basin National Park trail. South Fork to Timber Creek Trail. Great leisurely hike in perfect weather conditions. July 4, 2024. A lot of creek crossings, aspens, birch trees and pine kept the hike cooler.

South Fork Baker Creek and Timber Creek Loop
Niels W
Jun 29, 2024•Hiking

Hiked on 6/29. Very pretty loop! Felt much more "wild" than the wheeler peak trail side of Great Basin National Park. Saw a group of Boy Scouts at Baker lake, and then no one else for the remainder of the hike. Only one small (50-100 ft) snow section that can easily be navigated around on the descent to Johnson Lake. Dirt road in is very mild and doable by any vehicle. Plenty of places to filter water. There's some abandoned mining equipment and cabins near Johnson Lake too! No mosquito issues. (yet)

Conditions: Great!
Baker Lake-Johnson Lake Loop
Ryan Wilkinson
Jun 22, 2024•Hiking

Good bang for the buck. You can summit a 13er with nothing more than a solid effort. The last half of the trail is very rocky. Coming down is particularly precarious and there was a bottleneck near the top where a few older women were having trouble getting down. If you can tolerate that and you're in the area, this trail is well worth doing. Bonus, there is no fee to enter Great Basin National Park. You can drive the road to the trailhead for free. This was a welcome surprise.

Conditions: Rocky, Scramble
Wheeler Peak Summit Trail
Janette W
Jun 4, 2025•Hiking
Easy to parkNot crowdedBathrooms availableDog-friendlyGreat conditionsGreat views

Combination of 4 trails at Great Basin NP. Glacier, alpine lakes, upper strawberry and service berry trails. Most difficult was glacier but very rewarding.

Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes Loop
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Frequently asked questions

Where is the best place to hike in Great Basin National Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Great Basin National Park is Baker Creek Loop, which has a 4.6 star rating from 366 reviews. This trail is 3.5 mi long with an elevation gain of 935 ft.

What is the longest trail in Great Basin National Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Great Basin National Park is Baker Lake-Johnson Lake Loop. This trail is estimated to be 13.1 mi long.

How many trails are in Great Basin National Park?

There are 27 trails in Great Basin National Park. These trails have an average 4.5-star rating from 7,890 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Great Basin National Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Great Basin National Park has you covered. Baker Lake-Johnson Lake Loop boasts the most elevation gain with 4,301 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive [CLOSED], which will get you 3,861 ft of elevation gain.

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 184 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 Pole Canyon Trail with an average 4.6 star rating from 184 community reviews.

What are the best summer hikes in Great Basin National Park?

What are the best fall hikes in Great Basin National Park?

What are the best winter hikes in Great Basin National Park?

What are the best spring hikes in Great Basin National Park?

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