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Great Basin National Park

Designation: National Park

Location: Nevada

Visit Official Park Website

📘 Park Overview

From the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak to the sagebrush-covered foothills, Great Basin National Park hosts a sample of the incredible diversity of the larger Great Basin region. Come and partake of the solitude of the wilderness, walk among ancient bristlecone pines, bask in the darkest of night skies, and explore mysterious subterranean passages. There's a lot more than just desert here.

🌤 Weather Information

There is almost an 8,000 ft (2,400 m) difference in elevation between Wheeler Peak and the valley floor. Weather conditions in the park vary with elevation. In late spring and early summer, days in the valley may be hot, yet the snow pack may not have melted in the higher elevations. The Great Basin is a desert, with low relative humidity and sharp drops in temperature at night. In the summer, fierce afternoon thunderstorms are common. It can snow any time of the year at high elevations.

🚗 Directions

From the East or West: From U.S. Highway 6 & 50, turn south on Nevada State Highway 487 and travel 5 miles to Baker, NV. In Baker turn west on Highway 488 and travel 5 miles to the park. From the South (Utah): Travel north on Utah State Highway 21 through Milford, UT and Garrison, UT, Highway 487. Turn west on Highway 488 in Baker and travel 5 miles to the park. From the South (Nevada): Travel north on U.S. Highway 93. No public transportation is available to, or in, Great Basin National Park.

Images

blue sky with green trees in mountain cirque

Trail to ancient bristlecone pine trees.

Credit: NPS Photo

Bristlecone pine tree with a dark blue sky behind it with a bright Jupiter shining

Planets like Jupiter shine bright at Great Basin

Credit: Kelly Carrol

Brown and tan cave formation in the shape of a parachute

Lehman Caves of Great Basin National Park offers incredible views of a rare subterranean world.

Credit: NPS Photo

Colorful Milky Way over the red lit Lehman Caves Visitor Center

Come see the Milky Way at Great Basin National Park. Remember to check the moon phase.

Credit: Tom Auchter

Tan and green Visitor center with mountains in the background.

Great Basin Visitor Center just six miles from the park entrance

Credit: NPS Photo

White, yellow,, and pink alpine flowers.

Flowers grow even at the high altitudes of the Great Basin National Park

Credit: NPS Photo

Golden Eagle flying with wings spread wide

Wildlife is abundant at Great Basin National Park including birds, deer, fish, and mountain lion.

Credit: NPS Photo

Snow covered mountains with brown trees in the foreground

Snow can come early, even in the fall at Great Basin.

Credit: NPS Photo

Ancient bristlecone with comet NEOWISE in the background

Great Basin National Park offers truly dark-skies that rarely seen within the United States.

Credit: Charlie Reed

Activities

Topics

Operating Hours

Sunday
All Day
Monday
All Day
Tuesday
All Day
Wednesday
All Day
Thursday
All Day
Friday
All Day
Saturday
All Day

Entrance Fees

No entrance fees listed.

Entrance Passes

No entrance passes listed.

3-Day Weather Forecast

Wednesday, Mar 4

Mist

Mist

High: 55.2°F | Low: 19.9°F

Humidity: 66%

Wind: 14.3 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 1.2

Sunrise: 06:04 AM

Sunset: 05:33 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (100%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 31.7°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Thursday, Mar 5

Moderate or heavy snow showers

Moderate or heavy snow showers

High: 35.1°F | Low: 27.4°F

Humidity: 75%

Wind: 15.4 mph

Rain Chance: 70%

UV Index: 0

Sunrise: 06:03 AM

Sunset: 05:34 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (97%)

Visibility: 4 mi

Dew Point: 28.3°F

Cloud Cover: 70%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Friday, Mar 6

Partly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy

High: 35.4°F | Low: 23.9°F

Humidity: 67%

Wind: 13.9 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 2

Sunrise: 06:01 AM

Sunset: 05:35 PM

Moon: Waning Gibbous (93%)

Visibility: 5 mi

Dew Point: 22°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Park Alerts

Stage II Fire Restrictions in effect - campfires banned Caution
Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect at Great Basin National Park. Due to extreme fire danger, campfires, charcoal grills, and outdoor smoking are prohibited throughout the park. Gas stoves are permitted.
Winter Road Closures Park Closure
The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed for the season at Upper Lehman Creek Campground (mile 3). Snake Creek Road and Strawberry Creek Road are closed for the season at the park boundary. Baker Creek Road is closed at Grey Cliffs Campground. Click "more" for current road and campground closures.

More Info

Stage II Fire Restrictions in effect - campfires banned Caution
Stage II Fire Restrictions are in effect at Great Basin National Park. Due to extreme fire danger, campfires, charcoal grills, and outdoor smoking are prohibited throughout the park. Gas stoves are permitted. Fire restrictions will be lifted as of 12:01am on September 12, 2025.
Wheeler Peak Campground Closure 8/17 - 8/28 Park Closure
The Wheeler Peak Campground will be closed for road work from Aug 17th at 4:00pm until Aug 28th at 8:00am. Both the Bristlecone Trailhead and the Wheeler Peak Summit Trailheads are open at this time.

More Info

Cashless Operations Information
Great Basin National Park operations have become cashless effective 03/01/2025. Campgrounds accept payment via recreation.gov. Cave tours accept credit/debit for walk-up tickets.
No Potable Water in Park Campgrounds Caution
There currently is no water available in any campground in Great Basin National Park.  Water is available at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, Park Dump Station, Great Basin Visitor Center, and local businesses.  
Lehman Caves Closure Park Closure
Lehman Caves and the Lehman Caves Visitor Center are closed to the public as work begins on a six-month project to replace the cave’s 48-year-old, failing electric lights. Project completion is planned for summer 2026. The rest of Great Basin National Park remains open.

More Info

Pile burns underway through March 1 Caution
Firefighters will be conducting pile burns in the Can Young Canyon area and elsewhere in the park through March 1. Smoke will be visible from many areas of the park and surrounding communities. Please do not report this smoke, as local dispatch centers are aware of the prescribed fire activity. For more information, click below.

More Info

No Potable Water in Park Campgrounds Caution
There currently is no water available in any campground in Great Basin National Park.  Water is available at some local businesses.  

Visitor Center & Contacts

📍 Physical Address:
Lehman Caves Visitor Center
Nevada 488
Baker, NV 89311

🏤 Mailing Address:
100 Great Basin National Park
Baker, NV 89311

📞 Voice Phone: 775-234-7331

📞 Fax Phone: 775-234-7269

✉️ Email: grba_interpretation@nps.gov

Park Location


👏 Fun Fact
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