Great Basin National Park
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Great Basin at a glance
- Best time
- April–May, October
- Trip length
- 1–2 days
- Don't miss
- Main Great Basin highlights — see Things to Do for current listings
- Nearby city
- Baker, NV
Explore this park
About 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.
Weather Information
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.
- Summer
fierce afternoon thunderstorms are common.
It can snow any time of the year at high elevations.
Operating Hours
Park Grounds and Trails Check "Visitor Centers" tab for facility-specific hours
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Common questions
Planning Great Basin
The summary above covers timing and highlights. These go deeper on reservations, crowds, and logistics.
Great Basin has Recreation.gov reservations including Lehman Caves Tours. About 161k recreation visits were recorded in 2025. Confirm current rules on Recreation.gov and the Permits tab before travel.
See Permits tab →
