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Great Basin National Park

, Nevada

Acreage: 77,180
Category: National Park
Date Established: 10/27/1986

Great Basin National Park, in Nevada, is surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains to the East, the Sierra Nevada range to the West, and the Snake River plain to the North. It is found within the Great Basin Desert and includes the only glacier in Nevada, the Wheeler Peak Glacier. Wheeler Peak itself, the tallest mountain in the central Great Basin, is an impressive sight at 13,063 feet tall. The park has over 40 caves to explore and the famous Lehman Caves may be explored with a knowledgeable ranger.  Explore the park by car, bike, foot, or horse. You can also, fish, cave, bird watch, or rock climb. Boundless outdoor opportunities await you at beautiful Great Basin National Park.

—Caroline Griffith

NPCA Recommends

If you visit Great Basin, be sure to enjoy the incredible views of the night sky. The park is one of the darkest places in the country and a star-gazer’s paradise.

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My family and I recently visited Great Basin in July of 2008. After a long drive out of the Sierras across the desolate landscape of central Nevada, Great Basin is truly a desert oasis. With its lush, green, snow capped mountains and cold, crystal clear streams, it is definitely a hidden gem in the National Park system. The diversity of wildlife in the area is truly amazing for being surrounded by desert. I would highly advise anyone traveling through the area to take the time to visit the park. I guarantee you will not regret it.
Submitted by Buckeye at: April 2, 2009
the park ITSELF is not surrounded by the wasatch to the east and the sierra nevada to the west - rather, the entire great basin desert is. the park, at 77,000 acres, is meant to preserve a small but superlative/respresentative portion of the entire desert. lehman caves is open year-round, though the scenic drive is closed at 7800 ft during the wintertime due to snow conditions. this makes for great x-country skiing/snowshoeing opportunities. enjoy great basin anytime of the year for a uniquely remote park, full of surprises!
Submitted by lindsay at: February 19, 2009

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