Overview

Great Basin delivers rare alpine desert terrain—from 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak to subterranean Lehman Caves—with almost zero crowds (1.6/10 congestion, 152K annual visitors). The park's ancient bristlecone pines, some over 3,000 years old, and certified International Dark Sky designation make it exceptional for stargazing. The catch: remoteness. Ely is 70 miles away, and services are sparse. Free entrance softens the isolation tax. April offers snow-free trails without summer heat.

Trail Tip

Skip the crowded Wheeler Peak Summit Trail and hike to Lexington Arch instead—a six-story limestone arch reached via a moderate 3.4-mile trail. You'll likely have it to yourself, and the geology rivals anything in the park. Start early; afternoon thunderstorms are common June through August.

When to Go

The sweet spot is May — good weather meets manageable crowds. Peak season hits in September.

Peak conditions: warm days, clear trails, and bristlecone pines in full green. The scenic drive opens, and crowds remain manageable.

Monthly crowd levels — click a month for details

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Low Moderate High Peak

Seasonal Closures

Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive: Typically closes in winter due to heavy snow; reopens late spring

Upper elevation trails: High elevation areas may have snow and ice

How Busy Is It?

How Great Basin compares to all 62 national parks

Busier than 11% of national parks

QuietBusy
Below Average

More crowded trails than 11% of parks

QuietBusy
Below Average

Higher campsite pressure than 4% of parks

EasyTough
Below Average
1,358 Visitors / Trail Mile
189 Campsite Pressure

Notable Trails

Great Basin has more trail mileage than 63% of national parks, with 112 miles across 50 maintained trails.

The difficulty split leans moderate to strenuous — only 30% of trails are rated easy.

Easy 30% Moderate 50% Strenuous 20%
Brown and green sagebrush extends to mountains, a valley behind them, and another distant range.

Hike the Big Wash Trail

strenuous
20.6 mi ·12-24 hours hrs
a bare alpine ridge with blue sky and white puffy clouds above.

Hike the Highland Route

Moderate
14.6 mi
Bristlecone pine tree with wide green canopy with a light blue and pink sky in the background.

Hike the Snake Divide Route

moderate
13.4 mi ·7-12 hours hrs
A reflective lake surrounded by rocks, with a green fishing rod emerging from the viewer.

Backpack the Baker & Johnson Lakes Loop

strenuous
12 mi ·6 hours hrs
View all 27 trails
Trail Tip

Start early — Great Basin's most popular trailheads fill up by mid-morning in peak season.

Camping

7 campgrounds with 134 total sites. About 29% are first-come, first-served.

Green sign with white text "Baker Creek Campground"

Baker Creek Campground Reservable

37 sites ·$20/night ·Seasonal
Great Basin Dump Station with sewage hose, water fill up, and dumpsters

Dump Station First-Come

0 sites ·$10/night ·Seasonal
Green sign with white text that says "Grey Cliffs Campground"

Grey Cliffs Campground Reservable

16 sites ·$20/night ·Seasonal
Lower Lehman Creek Campsite. Picnic table, grill, green tent, and blue skies.

Lower Lehman Creek Campground Reservable

9 sites ·$20/night ·Seasonal
View all 7 campgrounds

Top Activities

Great Basin excels at 6 of 17 activity types — here are the standouts rated 7/10 or higher.

Stargazing

10/10

Outstanding dark skies - National Dark Sky Park with minimal light pollution

Photography

9/10

Exceptional opportunities for alpine, cave, and night sky photography

Hiking

8/10

Over 100 miles of trails from easy nature walks to strenuous alpine climbs

Scenic Driving

8/10

Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive offers exceptional high-elevation views

Backpacking

7/10

Wilderness backcountry camping available with permit

Ranger Programs

7/10

Lehman Caves tours and ranger-led programs available

Who It's For

Photographers 10/10 Budget Travelers 9/10 Solo Travelers 8/10 Couples 8/10 Experienced Hikers 8/10

Planning Your Trip

Getting There

Nearest city: Ely, NV (70 mi). Fly into LAS.

In-Park Services

No gas in park · No lodging in park · Cell: limited

Gateway Town

Baker, NV — limited amenities

Featured In ?Rankings based on data-driven scoring across all 62 national parks.

#8 Least Crowded National Parks #6 Best National Parks for Stargazing #7 Best National Parks for Budget Travelers

Stories

8 Uncrowded Parks With World-Class Hiking Eight parks where world-class trails and genuine solitude are the default, not the exception 10 Easy National Park Trails Worth the Trip Ten easy trails in Acadia that deliver granite coastlines, quiet summits, and forest solitude without the knee-destroying climbs 10 Best Loop Trails in the National Parks The finest loop hikes in the national parks, from Bryce Canyon's hoodoo amphitheaters to backcountry routes most visitors skip 8 Parks Photographers Have All to Themselves Eight parks where photographers get world-class shots without the crowds. April delivers wildflowers, snow, and elbow room 8 National Parks That Won't Break the Bank Eight national parks where April weather, thin crowds, and low overhead create the budget trip that doesn't feel like one 8 National Parks Where You Can Still See Glaciers Eight parks where ice still carves mountains, from roadside glaciers in Alaska to Nevada's unlikely alpine surprise 8 National Parks With the Highest Trail Density Eight parks where trail miles outnumber the crowds, from Alaskan wilderness to tropical islands you've never heard of 8 National Parks With Every Kind of Trail Eight parks where you can hike coastal cliffs, desert slots, alpine ridges, and cedar forests without changing your parking spot

Gateway Cities

Las Vegas, NV 257 mi / 4.7h drive Salt Lake City, UT 231 mi / 4.2h drive

Compare Great Basin

See how Great Basin stacks up against other national parks — crowds, trails, and more.

Compare Great Basin

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to visit Great Basin National Park?

The best month to visit Great Basin is May, based on a balance of weather, crowds, and accessibility. Peak visitation is in September. The park has 7 comfortable months for visiting.

How crowded is Great Basin National Park?

Great Basin is relatively uncrowded, with a congestion index of 1.6/10. The park receives 152K visitors annually across 120.5 square miles.

How many trails does Great Basin National Park have?

Great Basin has 112 miles of trails across 15 easy, 25 moderate, and 10 strenuous routes. Popular trails include Bristlecone Pine Trail, Lehman Caves Tour, Wheeler Peak Trail.

Can you camp at Great Basin National Park?

Yes, Great Basin has 7 campgrounds with 134 total sites. Some sites are available first-come, first-served.

Is Great Basin National Park open year-round?

Yes, Great Basin is open year-round, though some roads and facilities may close seasonally. The park's climate is classified as alpine_desert.

Nearby Parks

Zion National Park 132 mi away
Bryce Canyon National Park 147 mi away
Capitol Reef National Park 169 mi away