Embark on an unforgettable adventure through Great Basin National Park with Shaka Guide, where you'll traverse diverse biomes from rugged desert landscapes to lush evergreen forests.
Continue climbing to the top of Wheeler Peak for stunning vistas and ancient glaciers. Near the summit, you'll trek your way up the desolate talus slopes to find the basin's famous bristlecone pine trees, some of the oldest living organisms on Earth.
Itinerary
1. Ward Charcoal Oven State Park
Rachel Ennis
The park's main attraction is a set of six large beehive-shaped charcoal ovens, built in 1876. These 30-foot tall stone structures were used to produce charcoal for nearby silver smelters during the mining boom of the late 19th century.
2. Osceola Ghost Town
Scott J MacDonald
Osceola is a ghost town in White Pine County, Nevada, about 50 miles southeast of Ely. It was founded in 1872 after a major gold discovery and quickly grew into a bustling mining town. At its peak in the late 1870s, Osceola had a population of around 1,500 people.
3. Swamp Cedar Natural Area
NPS
The stars of the show here are the Rocky Mountain juniper trees, affectionately dubbed "swamp cedars" by locals. Now, if you're thinking, "Wait a minute, junipers in a swamp?" - you're not alone. These trees are usually found in dry, mountainous areas, but here they've set up shop in what can only be described as a high desert wetland.
4. Strawberry Creek Road
Steven Mietz
If you're looking for a scenic drive that's off the beaten path in Nevada's Great Basin, Strawberry Creek Road might just be your ticket to adventure. This gravel road winds its way through the heart of the Schell Creek Range, offering visitors a taste of the rugged beauty that defines this part of the Silver State.
5. Elephant Rock Arch
NPS
Just a stone's throw from the tiny town of Warm Springs, this massive roadside rock formation looks uncannily like an elephant mid-stride. Trunks, legs, and even a well-defined body - all carved by wind and weather over countless years.
6. Lexington Arch Road
NPS
Now, if you're up for a real backcountry experience, set your sights on Lexington Arch Road. This rugged route takes you to one of Great Basin National Park's most impressive natural wonders - a six-story limestone arch that looks like it was plucked straight out of Utah.
7. Snake Creek Road
Tucked away in the eastern part of Great Basin National Park, Snake Creek Road offers a less-traveled path for those looking to dive deep into Nevada's hidden wonders. This gravel road meanders alongside Snake Creek, taking you on a journey from desert scrub to alpine meadows.
8. Baker Archeological Site
EntropicMindWrought
- Duration: 15 minutes
The Baker Archaeological Site preserves the remnants of a Fremont Indian community dating from approximately 1220 to 1295 CE. Unearthed from 1991-1994, the site was re-buried in 2002 to protect its structures, which include a granary, pit house, and community house.
9. Baker Visitor Center
- Duration: 30 minutes
Located at the town of Baker, the center offers a wealth of information about the diverse flora and fauna, geological features, and cultural history of the area.
10. Baker, Nevada
Famartin
- Duration: 5 minutes
Nestled in eastern Nevada, Baker is a charming small town surrounded by the stunning landscape of the Great Basin. Known for its proximity to Great Basin National Park, Baker is a gateway to diverse outdoor adventures, including the majestic Wheeler Peak. There are a few places to eat and a general store available.
11. Mountain View Nature Trail
NPS / C. Reed
- Duration: 15 minutes
This short 0.4-mile trail is a flat, accessible trail that loops around Rhodes Cabin and the Lehman Cave Entrance.
12. Great Basin Café
FASTILY
- Duration: 30 minutes
This in-park restaurant offers a fast, casual meal for park go-ers.
13. Rhodes Cabin
NPS
- Duration: 5 minutes
Once used to house guests visiting Lehman Caves, this 1928 ranger cabin is possibly the oldest standing structure in all of Great Basin National Park.
14. Lehman Cave
Rachel Ennis
- Duration: 90 minutes
Lehman Caves showcase stunning limestone formations within Great Basin National Park. The caves feature intricate stalactites, stalagmites, and rare shield formations. Visitors explore this underground marvel on guided tours, learning about its geology and history.
15. Lehman Creek Trail
Wing-Chi Poon
- Duration: 4-5 hours
Lehman Caves Trail is a 6.5-mile out-and-back trail leading through aspen groves and, in the winter, is the only access for the alpine lakes.
16. Osceola Ditch Trail
NPS, Great Basin
- Duration: 1-2 hours
A 2.7 mile out-and-back historic trail that runs along the historic Osceola ditch, where gold was once mined in the Great Basin.
17. Mather Overlook
Rachel Ennis
- Duration: 10 minutes
Mather overlook features stunning views of Wheeler Peak, a plaque about the "Father of the National Parks," and a brass relief of Wheeler Peak.
18. Wheeler Peak Overlook
Rachel Ennis
- Duration: 10 minutes
This is the best view of Wheeler Peak and its glacier from the road.
19. Summit Trail
Famartin, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Duration: 7-9 hours
This 9-mile hike leads to the summit of Wheeler Peak, where tenacious hikers are rewarded with views that stretch across the mountain range, including views of the summits of Doso Doyabi and Baker Peak.
20. Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
Rachel Ennis
- Duration: 2-3 hours
The Alpine Lakes Loop Trail is a 2.9-mile loop leading to some of the most beautiful, crystal-clear alpine lakes in Glacier National Park.
21. Sky Island Forest Trail
Rachel Ennis
- Duration: 30 minutes
This short, 0.4-mile loop is ADA accessible and winds along an alpine forest complete with interpretive signs explaining the history of the area.
22. Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Pine Grove
Rachel Ennis
Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Pine Grove shelters ancient bristlecone pines high in Great Basin National Park. Visitors hike to see these resilient trees, some over 4,000 years old, thriving in the alpine landscape. The grove offers a glimpse into the endurance of life amid harsh conditions.
23. Glacier Trail
Rachel Ennis
- Duration: 3-4 hours
Hike up 2.5 miles to see the last glacier in Nevada. The glacier is often confused for snowfalls, but the glacier itself is relatively small and stays buried under rockfalls. Total length: just under 5 miles.
24. Wheeler Peak
Wheeler Peak is Wheeler Peak, the highest point in Nevada, and stands majestically at an elevation of 13,065 feet (3,982 meters) within the scenic Great Basin National Park.
Renowned for its rugged beauty, Wheeler Peak offers hikers a challenging ascent rewarded with panoramic views of the surrounding mountain ranges and expansive valleys.
25. Upper and Lower Pictograph Caves
Alana Dimmick, NPS
- Duration: 20 minutes
The se two roadside caves feature artwork from the Fremont Indians sometime between 13000-10000 BCE.
26. Pole Canyon Trail
Diane Renkin
- Duration: 4 hours
The Pole Canyon Trail is just over four miles round trip. First, it crosses the Baker Creek footbridge. Then, it follows the Pole Creek upstream, passing through groves of Pinyon, Juniper, and Aspen Pine trees. It might not be the best hike in the park, but if you've already done the Wheeler Peak hikes, it’s worth checking out.
27. Baker Lake Trail
NPS/ Gretchen Baker
- Duration: 8-10 hours
This 10-mile roundtrip hike leads to Baker Lake, one of the biggest mountain lakes in Great Basin Park. but backcountry adventurers
28. Timber Creek Trail
Nikater
- Duration: 4-5 hours
This 5.1-mile trail travels through creekside meadows, aspen groves, and abundant wildlife.
29. Ranching Exhibition
B. Mills, NPS
- Duration: 5 minutes
This roadside exhibit details the Great Basin from the perspective of farmers, consumers, and American agriculture.
Explore Great Basin with Shaka Guide
Throughout your Shaka Guide tour of Great Basin National Park, you'll uncover nature’s ancient tales—from the bristlecone pines, custodians of millennia-old secrets, to the glaciers carving their mark on Wheeler Peak.
Gaze upon the night skies, where the Milky Way creates a stunning celestial tapestry unlike anywhere else.
With Shaka Guide’s expert narration, you’ll explore every corner of this park’s alpine splendor and desert beauty, making it a journey through a land lost in time.
Ready to take the tour? Check out Shaka Guide's Great Basin National Park Tour!
We hope that we’ve given you all the information you need to make the most of your day. Your vacation is extremely important to us so if you have any questions feel free to reach out at aloha@shakaguide.com.
For more detailed information to help you plan, check out our Great Basin National Park Know Before You Go article.
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