Operating Hours & Seasons

 

Park Grounds

Great Basin National Park's grounds are open 24 hours a day, year round to hiking, stargazing, and camping.
 

Visitor Centers

 

 

Seasons

 
Silhouetted person looking out on the valley
A hiker stands under six-story tall Lexington Arch and enjoys the view.

NPS Photo/Kathy Billings

Summer

So arrives the season full of activity. Temperatures are comfortable with highs around 85 F and lows 55 F at 6,825 ft above sea level. Even the yellow-bellied rock marmots who hibernate nine months out of the year reveal themselves to sunbathe on rocky outcrops. Fishermen practice their angler skills in creeks. Hikers enjoy moderate to strenuous hikes early in the day to avoid common afternoon thunderstorms. As darkness falls, anticipation arises for another activity: connecting with the night sky. Stargazers enjoy the best visibility of the Milky Way in the Continental United States.

 
Aspens in fall color below Wheeler Peak
A grove of colorful Aspen trees in fall line the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive.

NPS Photo

Fall

When autumn arrives, Great Basin National Park shows its colors with groves of aspen trees dotting the mountains in hues of yellow, red, and gold. The air is cool and crisp, uncrowded trails beg to be explored, and pine nuts are ready for picking. Great Basin National Park takes some effort to get to, but those who make the journey reap the rewards of spacious campsites, friendly and available staff, and the company of the oldest trees on Earth. Fall colors typically start developing around the second or third week of September, just as we approach the official start of fall.

 
Stella Lake in snow
Endless opportunities for fun await skiers and snowshoers on Great Basin's snowy slopes.

NPS Photo

Winter

When winter arrives in Great Basin National Park you experience the true meaning of solitude and silence. Frost delicately ornaments blades of grass along stream beds as water gently runs under sheets of ice. As snow accumulates on mountain peaks, mule deer begin their seasonal migration patterns, moving down to lower elevations. With the arrival of fresh powder brings the anticipation of winter recreation. Trails and roads are explored by a few adventurous visitors on skis and snowshoes. Just when you think you are alone, a series of paw prints in the snow provide alluring signs of an animal that was recently in that same place. With practice, using a guide book, you will be able to identify a wide range of tracks and patterns. If you are still puzzled, ask for help from a friendly ranger at a visitor center.

 
A male and female bluebird in a tree
Birds signal the emergence of spring.

NPS Photo/Peter Super

Spring

With the arrival of the spring season comes a new beginning. The gradually warming temperatures awaken rock squirrels, and other critters, from their long sleep reminding them to forage. Even though days in the valley may be hot, there is generally snow pack in the high elevations. With the gradual melting of snow, streams dance down the mountain. Diversity explodes. Bouquets of prickly-pear cacti, Indian paintbrush, and globe mallow begin to dot the desert with shades of yellow, pink, red, and orange.

 
A close up of a small flower with thin alternating white and purple petals with a yellow center.
Visiting Great Basin in Spring

Spring is a transitional time leaving an uncertainty to current conditions. Come ready for cold and snow or the start of a warm summer.

A lone gnarled tree stands atop a gravel covered mountain peak
Visiting Great Basin in Summer

Summer at Great Basin is a wonderful season to visit with reliably comfortable conditions.

A line of golden leaved trees above golden shrubs with a clear blue sky
Visiting Great Basin in Fall

Fall usually means great access to the park but without the crowds of summer. Fall colors abound & find night skies stretched above

A snow covered road surrounded by trees has a closed metal gate across it with cones in front.
Visiting Great Basin in Winter

Winter is the quietest season of the year and offers unique experiences in the park not seen during the summer.

Last updated: June 22, 2025

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Contact Info

Mailing Address:

100 Great Basin National Park
Baker, NV 89311

Phone:

775-234-7331
Available 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day

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