Great Basin National Park

Hike the Highland Route

Experienced NavigatorsSolitude SeekersRidge Runners
14.6 mi Distance
Varies Estimated Time
one_way Trail Type

What to Expect

This is not a trail — it's a ridgeline traverse across the spine of the South Snake Range, and it will test every backcountry skill you own. The Highland Route covers nearly fifteen miles one-way from Pyramid Peak to Decathon Canyon, following no maintained path through some of the most remote terrain in the lower 48. You'll navigate alpine ridges above treeline, drop into bristlecone-studded saddles, and scramble across loose talus fields where the only trail markers are the ones you make in your head. The views stretch across the Great Basin's stark, empty valleys — the kind of silence that makes your ears ring. There's no water source you can count on, no cell service, and very few other humans. This route belongs to experienced navigators who treat a topo map like a second language and prefer their wilderness raw and unmanicured.
Experienced NavigatorsSolitude SeekersRidge RunnersBackcountry VeteransSummit Baggers

Safety Advisory

This route is entirely unmarked with no maintained trail — losing the ridge in fog or low visibility can put you in cliff-band terrain with no safe descent. Do not attempt without strong map-and-compass skills and a GPS backup.

Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer and you'll be fully exposed on the ridgeline with zero shelter. Start at first light and plan to be off the high points by early afternoon.

The elevation changes are relentless and the thin air above 10,000 feet compounds the difficulty. Altitude sickness is a real concern if you're coming from sea level — acclimate for at least a day in Baker before attempting this route.

Trail Details

Distance 14.6 miles round-trip
Estimated Time Varies
Trail Type one_way
Pets Not allowed
Season Year-round
Trailhead Hike the Highland Route

Pro Tips

Trail Tip

Start from the Baker Lake end if you want to warm up on a known trail before committing to the unmarked ridge — it gives you a better feel for the terrain before the route gets serious.

Trail Tip

Carry a minimum of four liters per person and a full water purification setup. There are no reliable water sources along the ridge, and any snowmelt or spring you find should be treated as seasonal at best.

Trail Tip

Download USGS topo maps for the Highland Ridge Wilderness and South Snake Range to your GPS device before you leave cell range — the BLM boundary area south of the park is particularly tricky to navigate with just a compass bearing.

Photos

Getting There

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