After the long, hot and lonely drive across Nevada on US 50, Great Basin National Park is a wonderful spot to rest up for a couple of days or more. Only about 5 miles off the Highway, near Baker, NV. this is one of our least visited National Parks. But that is because of it's location; certainly not from lack of points of interest and things to do. As we climbed from the valley floor we passed through seven different climate zones and cooled off dramatically before we reached the end of the road. In this remote island in the sky, we found 4 campgrounds, several hiking trails, from easy to quite strenuous and the crowning glory: a beautiful stand of ancient bristlecone pines. Some of these twisted and gnarled trees are known to be over 4000 years old!




We were treated to the sight of plenty of wildlife including many species of birds. The Lehmann Caves are well worth your time to visit and the Visitor Center has a wealth of information on the fascinating geology of the region. There is even said to be fish in some of the many streams in the park.

Howdy Ed,

It's my state, and I still haven't been there yet. Good stuff here! Your prose matched with the photographs are done quite well! Good work, got any more?

Nice place. Beautiful scenery. Hope someday I could visit it with my camping tent.

Just beautiful. So much to see, so little time!

I visited the park in Oct 2000 and the road up the mountain to the Bristlecone pines was closed due to snow. Fortunately, the cave tour was still open! Well worth it. If I recall, not very strenuous either. I have heard that some of the backcountry drive-in campgrounds are nice but I only stayed in the main campground near the visitor center.




http://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/l ... -tours.htm

http://www.nps.gov/grba/index.htm

https://www.facebook.com/GreatBasinNPS

Map of park showing the remote drive-in campsites/campgrounds...

http://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/u ... p_2012.pdf