{"id":683,"date":"2022-04-25T11:29:22","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T11:29:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mapsofworld.com\/usa\/?p=683"},"modified":"2025-04-04T15:11:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T15:11:45","slug":"great-basin-national-park-map","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mapsofworld.com\/usa\/national-parks\/great-basin-national-park-map.html","title":{"rendered":"Great Basin National Park Map"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The park occupies a portion of the South Snake Range that rose up 30 million years ago when plate tectonics stretched the Earth\u2019s crust, cracking it into parallel faults. These fractures uplifted into 160 mountain ranges. In between are flat basins where precipitation collects in playas (lake beds).<\/p>\n

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A first impression of the park as just another mountain rising from the desert floor gives way in the face of its wonders, including ancient bristlecone pines and an Ice Age cirque that cradles Nevada\u2019s only glacier.<\/p>\n

Early trappers called this part of the mountain range \u201cStarvation Country\u201d and steered clear. Ranching and farming brought settlers to the Snake Valley in the mid-1860s. Miners and prospectors followed.<\/p>\n

But it wasn\u2019t until the discovery of Lehman Caves (actually just one cave) in 1885 that visitors began to flock to the South Snake Range. American explorer and mapmaker John Fr\u00e9mont coined the name Great Basin in the mid-1840s.<\/p>\n

Declared a national monument in 1922, the Lehman Caves attracted attention from all over the world, as did the harsh beauty of Wheeler Peak. Talk of a national park ensued, spurred on in 1955 with the rediscovery of an active glacier in Great Basin. When bulldozers uprooted bristlecone pines at mining-claim locations on Mount Washington, appeals for a national park gathered strength.<\/p>\n

Today, Great Basin National Park incorporates the Lehman Caves National Monument, Wheeler Peak, and bristlecone pine groves. In the heat of summer, Great Basin provides cool refuge on timberline trails, in forests of limber pine and Engelmann spruce, and deep underground in the intricate marbled cave.<\/p>\n

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How to Visit<\/h2>\n

The park is a 4- to-6-hour drive from Reno, Las Vegas, or Salt Lake City, so consider overnighting in Ely, Baker, or camping in the park. Don\u2019t risk missing Lehman Caves<\/strong> by showing up without a reservation (recreation.gov<\/a>, 877-444-6777). Book the first cave tour of the day, and use the afternoon to drive up Wheeler Peak<\/strong> to hike the Bristlecone Trail.<\/strong> Check the weather forecast before heading out; thunderstorms are not unusual.<\/p>\n

Come sunset, linger at one of the overlooks on the way down. Be sure to look up after dark. You don\u2019t want to miss some of the blackest night skies in America. On a moonless night, the Andromeda galaxy can be seen with the naked eye. In summer, park rangers provide night-sky-viewing programs that use high-power telescopes (fee).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Useful Information<\/h2>\n

How to get there<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Whether coming from Reno (387 miles west) on I-80, or from Salt Lake City (238 miles northeast) or Las Vegas (296 miles south) via I-15, you\u2019ll eventually turn onto U.S. 50, the \u201cLoneliest Road in America.\u201d (Check your spare.) Turn south at Nev. 487 and continue 5 miles to the park.<\/p>\n

When to go<\/h3>\n

The park is open year-round, though the upper reach of Wheeler Peak Scenic <\/strong>Drive generally closes Nov. through May depending on weather. Spring wildflowers and fall foliage beckon hikers, but summer brings the highest visitation, when high elevation (6,825 feet at the visitor center) keeps temperatures in the mid-80s. Keep an eye on Wheeler Peak,<\/strong> which has its own weather. Violent thunderstorms appear out of nowhere, mostly in July and Aug. Snow can fall at upper elevations any time of the year.<\/p>\n

Visitor Centers<\/strong><\/h3>\n

The Great Basin Visitor Center,<\/strong> just north of Baker, is open daily in summer and limited times in fall. Lehman Caves Visitor Center,<\/strong> inside the park, remains open all year.<\/p>\n

Headquarters<\/h3>\n

100 Great Basin National Park Baker, NV 89311 nps.gov\/grba<\/a> 775-234-7331<\/p>\n

Camping<\/h3>\n

Of five park campgrounds, one is open year-round. Others open spring through fall, depending on weather. Most are first come, first served, often filling by midday during summer. No hookups\u2014 just vault toilets, water, grills, and a seasonal dump station.<\/p>\n

Gateway Tourism Contacts<\/h3>\n

There is no lodging in the park, but the gateway hamlet of Baker<\/strong> (pop. 68) offers several quirky motels. You\u2019ll find plenty of lodging, including a Prohibition-era hotel (hotelnevada.com<\/a>) in Ely,<\/strong> 67 miles away (elynevada.net<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

US National Parks Map<\/a><\/h2>\n

About the Guide<\/h2>\n
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Bask in the spectacular beauty, thrilling terrain, and quiet peacefulness of the country’s finest state parks, hand- picked by park directors and National Geographic editors. This fully updated fifth edition includes 750 additional off- the-beaten track destinations. Beautifully written descriptions tell the stories of the parks, from their wildlife, natural features, and history to their most popular current activities such as hiking, biking, horseback riding, water sports, and rock climbing. Vivid images inspire your next getaway, while detailed information–including 32 detailed maps highlighting sites, trails, campgrounds, and more– helps you plan your next excursion. From free to low-cost, from Florida to Alaska, from the six-acre lao Valley to the 204,000-acre Baxter, use this essential guide to plan a day visit or a weekend escape.<\/div>\n
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