Great Basin
DESERT · NV

Great Basin

National Park
RANKED #48 OF 64 · COMPOSITE RANKING

The Details

Ancient bristlecone pines, limestone caves, and glacial Wheeler Peak rise above the Nevada sagebrush steppe.

STATE
NV
ESTABLISHED
1986
AREA
77k acres
ECOSYSTEM
Desert

When To Visit

Best Time To Visit

MONTH BY MONTH
BEST TIME TO GO

Late June–September: Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is open, and nights are superb for stargazing. September brings aspen color.

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WEATHER
CROWDS
Weather: greatokaytough — heat, cold, snow, monsoon or closures
Crowds: quietmoderatebusy
CROWDS

One of the least-crowded parks in the lower 48, though Lehman Caves tours can still sell out in summer — reserve ahead.

WEATHER

Winters are snowy and the scenic drive closes. Even summer nights are cold at altitude, and thunderstorms are common in July–August.

General patterns — conditions vary by year. Check current NPS alerts and road status before you go.

How Far

Park Entrances

SET YOUR LOCATION
Every entrance is a different drive. Enter your ZIP to compare:
Lehman Caves Visitor Center
DIRECTIONS →

Nearest Airports

ESTIMATED DRIVE TO THE PARK
ELY
Ely (Yelland Field)NEAREST
≈ 50 mi · ~60 min drive to Lehman Caves Visitor Center
DIRECTIONS →
SLC
Salt Lake City Intl
≈ 215 mi · ~4.3 hr drive to Lehman Caves Visitor Center
DIRECTIONS →
LAS
Las Vegas Harry Reid Intl
≈ 259 mi · ~5.2 hr drive to Lehman Caves Visitor Center
DIRECTIONS →

Distances are rough estimates to the closest entrance. Check road and ferry conditions before you go.

What To Do

Top Things To Do

◆Take a tour of Lehman Caves
◆Walk the Bristlecone Trail
◆Drive the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
◆Stargaze — an International Dark Sky Park

Where To Stay

Camping

Campgrounds inside the park are booked through Recreation.gov, and many fill months ahead.

FIND CAMPSITES ON RECREATION.GOV ↗

Lodging & Nearby Towns

GATEWAY TOWNS
BakerEly

There’s no lodging inside this park, so most visitors stay in the nearby towns above.

Cool Facts & Figures

By The Numbers

#43
LARGEST OF 64
#49
OLDEST OF 64
77,180
ACRES
40
YEARS PROTECTED
◆Bristlecone pines here have lived for more than 3,000 years.
◆Wheeler Peak reaches 13,063 feet.

Links

Plan Your Visit

OFFICIAL & TRUSTED SITES
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