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.
Photo: NPS Photo / NPS
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.
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Driving times from Great Basin National Park, one way, via road — a realistic day is 8–10 hours behind the wheel.
Hours
Great Basin National Park
- Mon
- All Day
- Tue
- All Day
- Wed
- All Day
- Thu
- All Day
- Fri
- All Day
- Sat
- All Day
- Sun
- All Day
Activities
Getting there
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. In the summer, fierce afternoon thunderstorms are common. It can snow any time of the year at high elevations.
Frequently asked questions
- What is there to do at Great Basin National Park?
- Popular activities include Astronomy, Auto and ATV, Backcountry Camping, Backcountry Hiking, Biking, Birdwatching.
- Which national parks are within a day's drive of Great Basin National Park?
- Within about a day's drive you can reach Cedar Breaks National Monument (4 h 59 min), Bryce Canyon National Park (5 h 23 min), Timpanogos Cave National Monument (5 h 33 min), Pipe Spring National Monument (5 h 52 min), Zion National Park (6 h 8 min), Capitol Reef National Park (6 h 22 min).