Last updated: November 22, 2023
Thing to Do
Hike the ADA Sky Island Forest Trail
NPS
Trail Overview
Total Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 kilometers
Elevation Gain: 20 feet / 6 meters
Difficulty: Easy & Accessible
Time: 15 minutes - 45 minutes
Begin at: Bristlecone Trailhead/End of the Scenic Drive
The ADA Accessible Sky Island Forest Trail is the best trail for visitors wanting to take a simple walk through the trees or for those visitors who use wheelchairs. The rubber matted surface makes for fairly even travel until a wooden boardwalk is reached. Interpretive signs along the trail talk about this unique ecosystem, the meaning of a "Sky Island," and the recovery from a wildfire in years past. Steal a view of Wheeler Peak through the trees, view wildflowers near the streams, and enjoy the lower temperatures of high elevation.
Beginning at an elevation of just under 10,000 feet, these trails provide both a respite from the summer heat of the Snake Valley, but also added dangers in the form of altitude sickness and afternoon thunderstorms. Be prepared with plenty of water and salty snacks, or to return to your vehicle if you become symptomatic of altitude sickness or see thunderclouds rolling in.
This hike starts at the Bristlecone Trailhead at the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Parking outside of designated spaces or along the road is prohibited.
No pets permitted on park trails. Trained service animals allowed. Learn more about service animal regulations at this link.
Water
Potable water is not available along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Pack sufficient water with you, about one gallon per person per day. Water is available year-round at the nearby Lehman Caves Visitor Center or seasonally at the dump station.
Restrooms
The nearest restrooms are pit toilets with no running water at the Bristlecone Trailhead.
Details
Duration
15-45 Minutes
Activity
Hiking
Pets Allowed
No
Activity Fee
No
Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.
Location
Bristlecone, Alpine Lake and Sky Island Forest Trailhead
Reservations
No
Season
Summer, Fall
Time of Day
Day, Dawn, Dusk
Accessibility Information
This trail is accessible with a matted trail surface or wooden boardwalk and ubiquitous benches. Elevation change is a matter of a few feet over the whole distance.
NPS
Trail Map
Find the Sky Island Forest Trail on the trail map emerging from the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive's entrance is located off Highway 488 leading to the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. The road is paved with an 8% grade. Vehicles longer than 24 feet are not permitted past the Upper Lehman Creek Campground.
Ranger Tip: This loop is accessible for wheelchairs, but impossible to access by wheelchair when the Scenic Drive is closed.