Great Basin National Park

Closures

• Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, Baker Creek, Strawberry Creek and Snake Creek roads close to vehicles beyond locked gates in winter, generally late November through April (as of September 27, 2026). Current notice
• Wheeler Peak, Upper Lehman Creek, Baker Creek, Grey Cliffs campgrounds and the eastern loop of Lower Lehman Creek close in winter, generally late November through April (as of September 27, 2026). Current notice

Fire restrictions

Nevada Fire Info, BLM Nevada's interagency fire site, keeps the Nevada fire restrictions map and signed orders for every fire zone, and a Nevada fire map of active fires.

Fees, passes, and hours

Great Basin National Park has no entrance fee. The park takes no cash: pay by card or buy a pass online.

• RV dump station: $10. Dump station open seasonally, near Lehman Caves Visitor Center; no Senior or Access discount.

Great Basin National Park is open 24 hours a day, year-round.

Sources: nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/basicinfo, checked 2026-09-27; nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/hours, checked 2026-09-27; nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/fees, checked 2026-09-27.

Entrances and visitor centers

• Lehman Caves Visitor CenterVisitor center, year-round: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Nevada 488, Baker, NV 89311775-234-7510
• Great Basin Visitor CenterOutside the park boundary.Visitor center, October 20 to May 10: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Visitor center, May 11 to May 21: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.North of Baker, NV (outside the park)775-234-7520

Source: nps.gov/grba/grba_linked_data.json, checked 2026-09-27.

Camping in Great Basin National Park

Great Basin National Park has 5 developed campgrounds. Sites cost $20 to $30 a night. Campsites must be reserved ahead. All campgrounds require reservations, with booking windows that vary by campground from 1 day to 6 months in advance (as of September 27, 2026). Stays are limited to 14 days per campground. Each site holds up to 8 people and 2 vehicles. No hookups; no showers. Generators may run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 1 campground stays open year-round. Outside campgrounds, vehicle camping is allowed only at designated sites.

Campfires: Fires never allowed above 10,000 feet; building fire rings is prohibited; in developed areas, fires only in provided rings, grills or grates.

Reserve a campsite

Sources: nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/fees, checked 2026-09-27; nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/conditions, checked 2026-09-27.

Backcountry permits

A free backcountry permit is required for overnight trips in Baker-Johnson Lakes Loop. Permits are issued at a visitor center. Limits: groups of up to 12 people, 6 pack animals, and 14 nights in one place. Backpackers camp at least 0.25 miles from roads and developed areas. Campfires are never allowed above 10,000 feet.

How to get a backcountry permit for Great Basin National Park

Source: nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/backcountry-camping, checked 2026-09-27.

Pets

Pets are allowed in Great Basin National Park on a leash no longer than 6 feet. On trails, only Lexington Arch Trail, Great Basin Visitor Center to Baker trail, and Residence area to Baker Creek Road trail allow them. They are not allowed in the backcountry. Not allowed: All caves, including Lehman Caves, Evening programs, and Public buildings, including visitor centers.

Source: nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/pets, checked 2026-09-27.

Scenic drives

• Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive12 mi, paved, about 30 minutes without stops, vehicles over 24 ft not allowed on part of itOpen: Upper nine miles generally open June through October; open to Upper Lehman Creek Campground year-round.

Source: nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/conditions, checked 2026-09-27.

Getting there

• Nearest town: Baker, NV, 5 miles
• 286 miles from Las Vegas, NV (full-service airport)
• The park warns that GPS and phone map directions can send you the wrong way: follow the park's own directions.
• No public transit to the park.

Source: nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/directions, checked 2026-09-27.

Trails

• Wheeler Peak Summit Trail(8.6 mi round trip, strenuous)Summit of Wheeler Peak, 13,063 ft, from the Summit Trailhead.
• Bristlecone Trail(2.8 mi round trip, moderate)Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Grove, from the Bristlecone Trailhead.
• Glacier Trail(4.8 mi, moderate)Views of the Wheeler Peak rock glacier; includes the Bristlecone Trail.
• Alpine Lakes Loop(2.7 mi loop, easy)Passes two alpine lakes at high elevation.
• Lehman Creek Trail(6.4 mi round trip)Upper Lehman Creek Campground to Wheeler Peak Campground.
• Lexington Arch Trail(5.6 mi round trip, moderate)To Lexington Arch; leashed pets are allowed on this trail.
• Baker Lake Trail(10.4 mi round trip, strenuous)Baker Lake, one of the largest mountain lakes in the park.
• Baker & Johnson Lakes Loop(11.7 mi loop, strenuous)Backcountry permit required to camp along the loop.
• Johnson Lake Trail from Snake Creek(8 mi round trip, strenuous)Johnson Lake and historic mining remains.
• Dead Lake Loop(5.1 mi round trip, moderate)An ephemeral lake in the Snake Creek area.
• Baker Creek Loop(3.3 mi loop, easy to moderate)Often accessible or semi-accessible year-round.
• Pole Canyon Trail(6.6 mi round trip, moderate)
• Timber Creek Loop(5.1 mi loop, strenuous)
• Sage Steppe Loop(1.1 mi loop, easy)Meadows and aspens from the Strawberry Creek Trailhead.
• Serviceberry Loop(3.2 mi loop, moderate)
• Mountain View Nature Trail(0.3 mi, easy)Behind the Lehman Caves Visitor Center.
• Sky Island Forest Trail(0.4 mi loop, easy)Wheelchair-accessible loop at high elevation.
• Snake Creek Overlook Trail(1.1 mi, easy)

Source: nps.gov/thingstodo/hike-to-wheeler-peak, checked 2026-09-27.

What to see

• CaveLehman CavesLongest cave system in Nevada; entry only on a ranger-guided tour.
• PeakWheeler Peak13,063 ft; second tallest point in Nevada and the tallest with its flanks entirely within the state.
• GroveWheeler Peak Bristlecone GroveAncient bristlecone pines, among the world's oldest living things, survive in excess of 4,000 years.
• GlacierWheeler Peak GlacierThe last surviving glacier in Nevada, now referred to as a rock glacier.
• ArchLexington ArchOne of the tallest limestone arches in the world, nearly 200 feet tall.

Source: nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/lehman-caves-tours, checked 2026-09-27.

Public lands next to Great Basin National Park

• Wilderness areaGreat Basin National Park borders Highland Ridge Wilderness.

Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.

Photos