![]() Alana Dimmick Great Basin National Park is home to the only glacier in Nevada, and one of the southernmost glaciers in the United States. The Wheeler Peak Glacier sits at the base of Wheeler Peak, in a protected cirque around 11,500 feet in elevation. The alpine glacier is about 2 acres in area. Exact depth is unknown.
There are two types of glaciers. Contintental ice sheets cover large areas with ice. Alpine glaciers, like the Wheeler Peak Glacier, are smaller, and found in mountainous terrain. NPS/G. Baker A rock glacier is a lobe of angular boulders and cobbles that resembles an alpine glacier in outline and in its slow downslope movement. They are found in mountain ranges throughout the world. Inside a rock glacier, ice fills the spaces between the blocks. By freezing, thawing, and sagging, the ice works with gravity to provide the force that moves the rock glacier. Viewed from the cliffs above, arc shaped ridges are visible on the surface of the Wheeler Peak Glacier. These ridges are curved because the blocks near the midline of the rock glacier are creeping faster than those on either side. You can find more information about rock glaciers at our subject site. NPS/G. Baker The Wheeler Peak Rock Glacier can be seen from several locations in the park. The Wheeler Peak Overlook on the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is the only vantage point from the road. The rock glacier is seen at the bottom of the sheer rock face of Wheeler Peak. The Bristlecone/Glacier Trail (4.6 miles roundtrip) will take you to the foot of the glacier. The trailhead for this hike is located at the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. The trail begins at an elevation of 9,800 feet and climbs another 1,100 feet. Use caution around the toe of the glacier, as the boulders may not be stable, and small rockslides are common from the cliffs above. To see the ice in the alpine glacier, late fall is best, after the mantle of snow melts. How the Wheeler Cirque Glacier Has Changed![]() ![]()
1958 photo of Wheeler Cirque Glacier
W.D. Massey, Ed. Lawrence, Darwin Lambert
2012 photo of Wheeler Cirque Glacier
Gretchen Baker
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Last updated: June 30, 2020