Great Basin National Park in Nevada, USA - map, photos and visitor information

Great Basin National Park brings together Lehman Caves, mountain trails, and dark skies in eastern Nevada. Baker is the main gateway. Plan around two different kinds of access: a reserved cave tour near the park entrance and weather-dependent outings higher in the Snake Range. A clear evening gives you another reason to stay after the day's hiking.

Highlights of Great Basin

• Lehman Caves: Join a ranger-led walk through decorated underground chambers.
• Wheeler Peak bristlecone grove: Follow a mountain trail to old, slow-growing pines and an interpretive loop.
• Stella and Teresa lakes: Walk the Alpine Lakes Loop below the high peaks.
• Night skies: Attend a seasonal astronomy program or set aside time for independent stargazing.

Plan your Great Basin visit

Fees, hours, and seasonal access

Safety in the desert and mountains

Carry drinking water and extra layers. Dry air, strong sun, and high elevations can make an outing harder than its mileage suggests. Allow time to adjust to the elevation. Descend if you develop symptoms of altitude illness. Leave exposed summits and ridges when thunderstorms threaten.

Cell reception is unreliable, and medical services are a long way from the park. Give someone your route and return time. Use established trails, watch your footing on loose rock, and stay out of abandoned mines. Drive slowly on the steep, winding scenic road and use pullouts to stop.

Protect caves, trees, and wildlife

Do not touch cave formations. Complete the required screening to help prevent the spread of white-nose syndrome in bats. Leave equipment that has been in other caves at home unless it meets the park's cleaning requirements. Follow posted fire restrictions and leave bristlecone wood where it lies.

Keep pets on a leash no longer than 6 feet. Pets cannot enter Lehman Caves or attend evening programs. Most trails also exclude pets; the park lists exceptions for Lexington Arch and the Baker–Great Basin Visitor Center trail. Do not leave a pet unattended at your campsite. Trained service animals have different access rules.

Reserve the cave tour before your trip

Everyone entering Lehman Caves needs a tour ticket, including infants. Book ahead and check in at least 15 minutes before departure. Walk-up places depend on staffing and can sell out quickly. Consult the official cave tour schedule and booking instructions for your travel date.

The 60-minute Lodge Room Tour costs USD 12 for ages 16 and older and USD 6 for ages 5–15. Children under 5 are free. The 90-minute Grand Palace Tour costs USD 15 and USD 8 for those age groups. Children under 5 can join Grand Palace only during the November 1–March 5 period. Verify the selected tour's age rules before booking.

Reserve developed campsites through the campground's Recreation.gov listing. Booking windows vary. A cave reservation does not reserve a campsite.

Maps, location, and the drive from Baker

Use Lehman Caves Visitor Center as your navigation destination. From US 6/50, take NV 487 south to Baker, then NV 488 west toward the park. Download maps before leaving reliable service. The NPS directions explain the approaches from Nevada and Utah. There is no public transportation to or around the park.

When fully open, the scenic drive climbs from the entrance area to the high trailheads. The closure at Mather Overlook limits the current drive. Vehicles longer than 24 feet cannot continue beyond Upper Lehman Creek Campground. If you tow a trailer, confirm the separate vehicle and trailer restrictions before committing to this road.

Nearby parks around Ely

• Cave Lake State Park: A regional stop toward Ely, reached from the US 93 corridor via Success Summit Road. It offers lake recreation, trails, and camping.
• Ward Charcoal Ovens State Historic Park: Another option near Ely, on Cave Valley Road. Visit the preserved charcoal ovens or use the park's walking trails.

Caves, alpine walks, and stargazing

Choose the cave tour to suit your group. The Lodge Room route involves stairs and standing throughout. Grand Palace covers more of the developed cave. Bring a light layer: the cave stays near 52°F (11°C). Bags, food, and drinks cannot go inside.

• Bristlecone grove: The 2.8-mile round-trip hike gains about 600 feet. It starts close to 10,000 feet, so its moderate rating does not mean low effort for every visitor.
• Alpine Lakes Loop: This 2.7-mile loop gains about 440 feet and passes Stella and Teresa lakes. It shares part of the approach with the bristlecone route.
• Astronomy programs: Seasonal ranger talks and telescope viewing take place near Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Programs are free and need no reservation, but parking capacity limits attendance. Check the astronomy program details before arranging an evening around one.

Bring warm clothing for stargazing. Use a red light in the astronomy amphitheater after sunset. Clouds or storms can change the evening program.

Water, camping, and accessible facilities

Fill water containers at Lehman Caves Visitor Center before driving uphill. Campgrounds currently have no water, and potable water is not available along the scenic drive. Vault toilets are available at the Bristlecone Trailhead. Park only in designated spaces there.

Developed campgrounds provide toilets, picnic tables, tent space, and fire grills. They have no utility hookups. The park has no showers. Arrange a campsite or accommodation outside the park before arrival; services around Baker are limited.

Lehman Caves Visitor Center has accessible parking, a ramp, and an accessible restroom. The 0.4-mile Sky Island Forest Trail offers a shorter accessible mountain outing when the road is open. Cave access needs more planning: the historic entrance has steep grades, and rangers cannot propel wheelchairs. Discuss your needs using the park's mobility access guidance before booking.

About Great Basin National Park

People and protection in the Great Basin

Indigenous communities have lived in the Great Basin region for thousands of years. Fremont cultural traces form part of the park's human history, alongside later mining, farming, and ranching. Great Basin became a national park in 1986. Its cultural sites deserve the same care as its caves and mountain habitats.

Wildlife from the roads to the slopes

Deer and marmots can appear near park roads. Rattlesnakes live among rocky ledges and brush. Mountain lions also inhabit the park, although sightings are uncommon. Watch animals from a distance and never offer food, including to squirrels and chipmunks.

Contact Great Basin National Park

General information: +1 775-234-7331. Mailing address: Great Basin National Park, 100 Great Basin National Park, Baker, NV 89311. Use the official contact page for park inquiries. Call 911 for an emergency where communication is available.