Great Basin National Park: 1 Day Itinerary

Welcome to Nevada’s Great Basin National Park, where rugged mountains, alpine lakes, and ancient bristlecone pine forests await you. With just one day to explore, you can experience some of the park’s most captivating highlights. From hiking to stargazing, Great Basin offers a plethora of activities to satisfy any outdoor enthusiast. Join me as I walk you through an unforgettable one-day itinerary in this magnificent national park.

Entrance Fee:

FREE

Lodging:

Great Basin National Park has five campgrounds: Upper Lehman Creek, Lower Lehman Creek, Baker Creek, Grey Cliffs, and Wheeler Peak. Lower Lehman Creek is the only campground open year-round. The other four campgrounds are open May through October, weather permitting. For the 2024 summer season, all campgrounds are operating on a first-come basis. Primitive camping is available along Snake Creek Road. For more up to date information on camping in Great Basin National Park click here- Camping in Great Basin.

Outside the park, check out the towns of Baker or Ely, Nevada, for hotel options and additional campgrounds.

Dining:

A small café in the Lehman Caves Visitor Center is open seasonally. The towns of Baker and Ely will also have additional dining options.

Must Know Before You Go:

Book your cave tour in advance. You will likely not be able to secure tickets the day of your visit.
Most of the hiking trails have very little shade. Bring sun protection.
The Bristlecone Trailhead is located at over 10,000 ft of elevation. Please bring plenty of water and salty snacks and watch for signs of altitude sickness.
If you visit during the winter or early spring, you cannot access this complete itinerary. Wheeler Peak Drive is only open seasonally, usually from May through October.
As always, please follow the Leave No Trace principles.

One Day Itinerary

Mountain View Nature Trail-

Distance: 0.5 miles roundtrip

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Route: Easy

Elevation Gain: <50 ft

Trail Access: Park in the Lehman Caves Visitor Center Lot.

You will need to arrive early for your Lehman Caves Tour. While waiting, enjoy a quick but informative walk to the cave’s natural entrance and stunning views of the surrounding area.

Lehman Caves Tour-

To see the Lehman Caves, you must attend a ranger-led tour. Depending on the day and season you visit Great Basin National Park, there are several tour options. Cave tickets can and should be purchased ahead of time. We went on a weekday this summer, and many people were disappointed when they found out there were no cave tickets available that day. All tickets can be purchased online at Recreation.gov.

Currently, two tours are being offered:

#1 Gothic Palace: 30 minutes. $8/adult, $4/child (ages 5-15), children under 5 are free.

#2 Parachute Shield Tour: 60 minutes. $12/adult, $6/child (ages 5-15), children under 5 are free.

Things to Know Before Your Tour:

Check in 15 minutes before your tour time.
No bags, purses, or backpacks are allowed.
Do not bring food, water, or gum on the tour.
You cannot touch the cave walls- this is why we only did the 30-minute tour- it’s a tight space, so this may be tough for some kiddos.
The cave remains at 52 degrees year-round. If you visit in the summer, you may want an extra layer for the tour.

Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive-

After your cave tour, head up the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. The entrance is just a few hundred feet from the Lehman Caves Visitor Center Lot and it is 12 miles to the top. As you drive up the scenic road, be sure to stop at the Mather Overlook and Wheeler Peak Overlook.

Alpine Lakes Loop-

Distance: 2.7 miles roundtrip

Trail Route: Loop

Trail Route: Moderate

Elevation Gain: +400 ft

Trail Access: Park near the Bristlecone Trailhead at the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive.

Optional Add-On: Add the Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail onto this hike. It will add another 3.5 miles and 700+ ft of elevation gain onto your hike. If you have the time, I highly recommend!

I must say, I didn’t expect to see several incredible glacial lakes in an area with so much desert on the drive in. However, this trail was absolutely stunning with its beautiful turquoise lakes and astonishing mountain views. It is a loop that can be hiked in either direction. However, if you are undecided about adding on the Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail, hike it counterclockwise, and you can decide how you feel about continuing on near the end.

Stargazing-

Great Basin National Park is recognized as an International Dark Sky Park and should be at the top of your list of places to stargaze. Plan to bring a red flashlight or headlamp and allow for at least 30 minutes for your eyes to adjust to the dark. While there are plenty of places in the park to stargaze, I recommend either the Astronomy Amphitheater or, our favorite, Mather Overlook. Either way, its the perfect way to end your time at Great Basin National Park.

I hope you have an incredible adventure😊

If you have an extra day in Great Basin National Park, consider checking out the Lexington Arch and the Baker Archeological Site.

Looking for another National Park adventure? Check out our Olympic National Park 5 Day Itinerary!