Current Projects

 

Infrastructure Projects at Great Basin National Park, 2025.

NPS

Current and Scheduled Impacts (Updated 1/07/26)

• Lehman Caves Closure through spring 2026. Demolition of the existing 48-year old lighting system has begun with both volunteers and staff. Closure will allow for replacement and upgrade of the current electrical system in Lehman Caves during the slowest times of year.

Lehman Caves Electrical Upgrade and Replacement

This SNPLMA funded project will replace the aging lighting system inside Lehman Caves with modernized equipment and infrastructure. As it currently stands, parts are no longer manufactured for a number of cave systems, and sections of the cave are forced to go dark as components fail. The original lighting system was installed in 1941 and was replaced with the current lighting system in 1977.

Dates: Winter 2025 through Spring 2026

Status 01/2026: Demolition of the previous lighting system has concluded. Contractors are expected to begin installation of the new lighting system soon. Lehman Caves and the Lehman Caves Visitor Center are closed for the duration of the project.

Alternatives: While the Lehman Caves Visitor Center is closed, the Great Basin Visitor Center in Baker will be open 7 days per week. See current operating hours here. Cave tours will be offered once again in Spring of 2026 when the project is completed. The rest of Great Basin National Park remains open for hiking and winter recreation. See current status of park campgrounds and roads at this link.

 

Completed Projects

Pavement Preservation Project

This project includes a chip seal, micro surfacing, patching, crack sealing of all paved park roads and parking lots to improve the visitor experience, reduce maintenance costs, and extend the life of the existing pavement surface. Chip seals typically occur on 10 year cycles, with the Scenic Drive only undergoing two since its creation many decades ago.

Dates: Beginning week of July 8th through October 2024.

Status 10/16/2024: The chip seal and pavement preservation has been completed on paved roads within the park and in park facilities in Baker. No further road closures expected.

Protecting Lehman Caves Through Improved Infrastructure and Outreach

This project will remove aging and ecologically damaging sections of the cave tour path and replace them with updated materials and components allowing for a safer visitor experience and improving the long term infrastructure of the cave tour path.

Dates: Winter 2023 through June 9, 2024

Status: New tour paths and platforms have been installed in the Cypress Swamp and Sunken Garden. New infrastructure has been installed to support future Wild Cave Tours and maintain natural airflow through the deeper rooms.

Upgrade and Improve the Bristlecone Recreation Area and Trailhead System

A major renovation to the most heavily trafficked trailhead in the park includes replacement and expansion of asphalt parking lots, accessibility upgrades, crosswalks, a new picnic area, and improved signage.

Dates: Late July 2024 through October 2024.

Status 10/16/2024: The Bristlecone Trailhead has reopened and work has been largely completed.

Rehabilitation of Wastewater Collection and Water Distribution Systems

This Great American Outdoors Act - Legacy Restoration Fund project replaced the aging sewer collection system and potable water distribution piping in the areas surrounding the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. Previous systems were installed in the 1960s were heavily deteriorating, necessitating replacement.

Dates: Through Winter 2024 through July 2025

Status 07/03/2025: Work has completed and water and wastewater lines have been replaced.

Lower Lehman Creek Campground Refurbishment

This project involves redevelopment and expansion of Lower Lehman Creek Campground from 11 to 20 sites, including accessibility upgrades, a host site, information kiosk and trailhead improvements, new waterlines, and an expanded entrance road. Sites will be upgraded to accommodate those with accessibility needs.

Dates: May 19, 2025 through Winter 2025

Status 12/2025: Lower Lehman has reopened for the winter. 11 new sites were added and are anticipated to open Spring 2026.