Welcome to the Great Basin!

Bristlecone Pine Photo Album The Midden is the Resource Management Newsletter Lehman Caves Photo Album

From the sagebrush at its alluvial base to the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak, Great Basin National Park includes streams, lakes, alpine plants, abundant wildlife, a variety of forest types including groves of ancient bristlecone pines, and numerous limestone caverns, including beautiful Lehman Caves. This wild and beautiful land is a great place to spend a day, a week, or more. Basic information follows. Explore the pages of this site to learn more about the park and the opportunities it offers.

Visitation
Highest in summer; lowest in January and February.

Telephone
(775) 234-7331
(ext. 242 for Cave Tickets)

Address
Great Basin National Park
Baker, NV 89311-9702

Located in east-central Nevada near U.S. Highway 6 & 50.

Visitor Center
Open daily 8:00 to 4:30 Pacific Time, with extended hours in the summer; closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. Located on NV Hwy. 488, 5.5 miles from Baker, NV, 0.5 miles inside the park boundary. It houses exhibits, two short audiovisual presentations, the Great Basin Association bookstore (775-234-7270), and a gift shop/cafe (775-234-7221).

Lehman Caves Tours
Offered daily year-round except for Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year's Day.

Park Roads
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive winds for 12 miles to end at the Wheeler Peak Campground (elevation 9,986 feet). Vehicles over 24 feet in length are not recommended beyond Upper Lehman Creek Campground (3.5 miles). Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive closes seasonally beyond Upper Lehman Creek Campground. Baker Creek Road is a 3.5 mile graded gravel road. This road is usually closed in winter.

Climate
This is an arid region, most precipitation received as snow or during summer thunderstorms. Winters are cool and summers are mild to hot. Be prepared for changes in weather. Lehman Caves remains close to 50 degrees F, 90% humidity year round, a jacket and suitable walking shoes are recommended. To see the real time weather and forecast for the park, click here.

Directions
The main park entrance is five miles west of Baker, NV, near the Nevada-Utah border. Driving distances in miles are Salt Lake City: 234; Las Vegas: 286; Reno: 385; and Cedar City: 142.

Transportation
The closest major commercial airports are located in Salt Lake City, Utah and Las Vegas, Nevada. No public transportation is available to, or in, Great Basin National Park.

Fees
There is no park entrance fee. Campgrounds $10.00 per night, $5.00 with Golden Age or Access Passports. RV Sanitary Station $3.00. These fees are scheduled to increase to $12.00 / $6.00 for camping and $5.00 for the dump station beginning May 1, 2005. Lehman Caves Tour fees vary with tour length.

Trails
Hiking options range from a 1/4 mile accessible trail to primitive routes taking several days. Pets are not allowed on park trails or in the backcountry.

Programs
Campfire programs and guided Bristlecone hikes are offered in the summer.

Park Campgrounds
Four developed campgrounds provide water (in summer), restrooms, fire rings and picnic tables.

Lodging and Private Campgrounds
Motel accommodations are available in Baker, Nevada. They include the Border Inn (775-234-7300) and the Silver Jack Inn (775-234-7323). The nearest cities are Ely, NV, 70 miles to the west and Delta, UT, 100 miles to the east.

Food and Supplies
Lehman Caves Cafe and Gift Shop is open April through October and is located adjacent to the Lehman Caves Visitor Center in the park. In the town of Baker are two restaurants, a small grocery store, and credit card gas pumps. A gas station, restaurant and motel are also located at the Nevada-Utah border.

Accessibility
All four campgrounds have a designated wheelchair accessible site. The visitor center is wheelchair accessible as is the First Room Tour of Lehman Caves.

Reservations
There are no reservations for camping. Ticket sales are available for Lehman Caves tours up to one month in advance. Bus tours must call at least two weeks in advance. For school groups, please contact the park Education Coordinator. Backcountry registration is free and voluntary.

August 7, 2002
GBA is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to support the interpretive, educational, cultural, and research activities of the park. Visit this site to learn more about the GBA or to browse their on-line bookstore.
Visit this site to learn about places to stay, eat, and shop in and near Baker and the park.
The Great Basin National Park Foundation's mission is to promote and support projects that enhance the values of the park. Visit this site to learn about current Foundation projects.