When you love the outdoors and everything it brings, it is obvious that camping, hiking, and ANYTHING in the wild is an adventure you just must take. When a friend asks, “Hey do you want to go camping at a beautiful uncrowded National Park?” I laughed and thought, “I can’t think of a single National Park that people don’t crowd, especially in July!” I’m sure you may be wondering the same thing. A whole lot of adventure, without many people, equals The Great Basin, National Park in Nevada. It is a splendidly beautiful place to visit and is one of the least visited of all the national parks in the U.S. There are so many outdoor wonders to explore – lakes, towering peaks, caves, camping, wildlife, and earth’s oldest trees – you just cannot pass it up. It is literally located in the middle of nowhere, almost a 1-hour drive from Las Vegas – distinctively dubbed “the loneliness road in the U.S.” The nearest town of significance is Ely, Nevada, (also a great little town to check out) which is about an hour-long drive from the entrance of Great Basin National Park.
We camped at the baker campground, #32. It is a walk-only campground, so we had to park in the parking lot and walk down the hill to our site. The walk wasn’t much, but when you must carry all your gear up and down, then it is a hearty workout! Down the path, past the campsites, you will find a small river, and most importantly, run smack-dab into absolute and refreshing solitude and peace.
Once there, you will find many hikes from which to choose, but we chose the Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes Loop. We hit the trail promptly at 7 AM to beat July’s afternoon heat. This hike is 5.3 miles and is a moderately trafficked loop that features two subalpine lakes, Stella and Teresa, with an elevation gain of 1,020 feet. It is a relatively easy hike if you discount the elevation gain if you are not used to it. I suggest taking your time and soaking up all the fresh air and natural beauty.
I would say that the Bristlecone Trees are one of the most amazing features of the park. They are the oldest living organism on planet earth, some living upwards of 5,000 years. And they grow in the most unique and amazing shapes, some thought to be a little creepy. There are informative signs all along the path giving a brief description and history of each tree. My trip to Great Basin National Park would not have been complete without visiting the Bristlecone Trees!
Whichever way you decide to visit Great Basin National Park and its darkest night skies, you cannot go wrong- just absorb nature, beauty, and all that is it. But please, always remember to stay on the marked trails, hike with a buddy, and have loads of fun! Let me know below how your visit was.
Fantastic! What a grand nature lovers paradise, and it’s off Nevada’s beaten path, too.
I’m glad you liked it!!