Great Basin National Park
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. — nps.gov
Great Basin National Park at a glance
- State
- Nevada
- Established
- October 27, 1986
- Size
- 77,180 acres
- 2025 visits
- 161,210
- Busiest-park rank
- #54 of 63
- Entrance
- Free entry
Best time to visit
When is Great Basin quiet?
Great Basin is busiest in July and quietest in December. For a quieter visit outside the dead of the off-season, May is the quietest shoulder-season month, going by National Park Service visitor counts for 2021–2025.
In 2025 the park logged 161,210 recreation visits, the #54 busiest of the 63 national parks. Quiet months can also mean closed roads or facilities, so check current conditions before you go.
Crowd calendar, all 63 parks →Is Great Basin open right now? →
Average visits by month
2021–2025 · NPS IRMAQuietest: DecemberBusiest: July
Fees & passes
What it costs to visit Great Basin
Great Basin National Park charges no entrance fee.
From the NPS fees data, checked October 1, 2026.
Reservations · 2026
No park-wide reservation
The National Park Service lists no timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Great Basin National Park. Campgrounds, tours and backcountry permits may still need booking, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
Things to do
Things to do in Great Basin
- Hike the Mountain View Nature Trail5-30 Minutes · All year
Take a short walk on the Mountain View Nature Trail behind the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Waiting for a tour? Only wanting a short distance? This nature trail will enlighten you on the past, present, and future of…
- Picnic at Pole Canyon5-120 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
The entrance to Pole Canyon area has day use picnic areas with picnic tables and charcoal grills. This shaded area offers a chance to be removed from the crowded visitor center to enjoy and mid day snack. Please pack…
Pets OK - Picnic at the Lehman Caves Picnic Area5-120 Minutes · All year
Picnic Area at Lehman Caves
Pets OK - Picnic at Upper Lehman Campground5-60 Minutes · All year
Upper Lehman Campground Picnic Area
Pets OK - See the Exhibits at the Great Basin Visitor Center5-30 Minutes · Summer, Fall
Great Basin Visitor Center exhibits
- See the Exhibits at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center5-30 Minutes · All year
Lehman Caves exhibits
- Hike the Shoshone ADA Trail10-20 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
The Shoshone ADA trail is a small section of one of Great Basin's longer hiking routes. This 0.1 mile stretch takes visitors to a wooden platform and fishing area right on Snake Creek. Caution: Access may be difficult…
- Hike the ADA Sky Island Forest Trail15-45 Minutes · Summer, Fall
The ADA accessible Sky Island Forest Trail provides a very easy walk through the woods along with interpretive signs to teach about this unique ecosystem.
Show all 34 things to doShow fewer
- Become a Great Basin National Park Junior Ranger30-120 Minutes · All year
- Hike the Sage Steppe Loop30-90 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
- Hike to Snake Creek Overlook30-90 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
- Lehman Caves Tour30-90 MinutesReservation/permitFee
- Astronomy Ranger Program60-120 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
- Driving the Park60 Minutes · Spring, Summer, FallPets OK
- Hike the Alpine Lakes Loop1-3 Hours · All year
- Hike to the Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Grove1-3 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall
- Hike the Baker Creek Loop90-180 Minutes · All year
- Hike the Serviceberry Trail90-150 Minutes · Spring, Summer, Fall
- Hike the Upper Strawberry Trail2-4 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall
- Hike to Dead Lake2-5 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall
- Hike to Lexington Arch2-4 Hours · All yearPets OK
- Hike to the Glacier2-4 Hours · Spring, Summer, Fall
- Hike Pole Canyon3-6 Hours · All year
- Hike the Lehman Creek Trail3-6 Hours · All year
- Hike the Timber Creek Trail3-6 Hours · All year
- Hike to Johnson Lake from Snake Creek4-8 Hours · Summer, Fall
- Hike to Wheeler Peak4-10 Hours · Summer, Fall
- Hike to Baker Lake5-10 Hours · Spring, Summer, FallReservation/permit
- Hike to Johnson Lake from Baker Creek5-8 Hours · All year
- Hike the Snake Divide Route7-12 Hours · Summer
- Hike the Big Wash Trail12-24 Hours · Summer, Fall
- Backpack the Baker & Johnson Lakes Loop1-14 Days · All yearReservation/permit
- Get a Backcountry Camping Permit1-14 Days · All year
- Hike the Highland Route1-2 Days · Summer
From the National Park Service (checked October 1, 2026). Each title opens its nps.gov page with current conditions.
By activity
- Astronomy44
- Auto and ATV33
- Backcountry Camping51
- Backcountry Hiking43
- Biking44
- Birdwatching48
- Camping60
- Car or Front Country Camping41
- Caving7
- Dining20
- Fishing41
- Food46
- Gathering and Foraging4
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs25
- Group Camping33
- Guided Tours54
- Hiking60
- Horse Camping (see also camping)14
- Horse Camping (see also Horse/Stock Use)21
- Horse Trekking32
- Horseback Riding25
- Hunting and Gathering11
- Museum Exhibits36
- Picnicking34
- Road Biking25
- RV Camping28
- Scenic Driving30
- Skiing23
- Snowshoeing24
- Stargazing39
- Wildlife Watching53
The number shows how many of the 63 national parks offer each activity.
Weather
Weather at Great Basin
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.
From the National Park Service.
Getting there
Getting to Great Basin
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.
Lehman Caves Visitor Center, Baker, NV, 89311 · Directions on nps.gov
Nearby
National parks near Great Basin
- Zion National Park132 mi~3 h drive (est.)
- Bryce Canyon National Park147 mi~4 h drive (est.)
- Capitol Reef National Park169 mi~4 h drive (est.)
- Death Valley National Park231 mi~6 h drive (est.)
- Grand Canyon National Park235 mi~6 h drive (est.)
- Canyonlands National Park241 mi~6 h drive (est.)
Straight-line distance between park centers; drive times are rough estimates.
Closest big cities: Salt Lake City (177 mi)
Road trip
Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion & Great Basin
4 parks, about 292 miles between them (~7 h of driving, estimated).
Great Basin is the orange dot. Tap any park to tick it off your checklist.
Photos of Great Basin National Park
FAQ
Great Basin, quickly
- When is the best time to visit Great Basin National Park?
- If you want fewer people, go in May, the quietest shoulder-season month. July is the busiest month on average, and December the quietest, based on NPS recreation visits for 2021–2025. Check nps.gov for seasonal road and facility closures before you go.
- How much does it cost to visit Great Basin National Park?
- Great Basin National Park has no entrance fee, according to the National Park Service. Some tours, campgrounds or permits may still cost money.
- Do you need a reservation for Great Basin National Park in 2026?
- The National Park Service lists no park-wide timed-entry or vehicle reservation for Great Basin National Park. Campgrounds, tours and some popular hikes may still need bookings, so check the park's plan-your-visit page.
- What are some things to do in Great Basin National Park?
- The National Park Service lists 34 things to do in Great Basin National Park, including Hike the Mountain View Nature Trail, Picnic at Pole Canyon, Picnic at the Lehman Caves Picnic Area, Picnic at Upper Lehman Campground, See the Exhibits at the Great Basin Visitor Center. Each has its own page on nps.gov with current conditions.
- When did Great Basin National Park become a national park?
- Great Basin National Park was established as a national park on October 27, 1986.
- What is the closest national park to Great Basin?
- Zion National Park, about 132 miles away in a straight line (roughly 3 hours' drive, estimated).
Sources · 3
- 1.Great Basin National Park — official site · National Park Service
- 2.NPS Data API — /parks (all park units) · National Park Service (U.S. Department of the Interior)
- 3.Great Basin National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)
About this page
Park facts, photos, fees and visitor counts come from the National Park Service (NPS Data API and Visitor Use Statistics), last checked October 1, 2026. Park'd is an independent app and is not affiliated with the National Park Service. For official, current information, visit nps.gov/grba.
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