A nice day to hike to Stella Lake, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson

After an hour’s drive from Ely, Nevada to Great Basin National Park, I wanted to stretch my legs and hike a short trail. Great Basin is host to several iconic trails: Bristlecone Grove Trail, Wheeler Peak Trail, and the trail to Stella Lake, so I opted for the 2.7-mile roundtrip route to Stella Lake, with an elevation gain of 250 feet. It’s “a popular trail for visitors that have only a short time to hike,” according to the NPS.

The trail to Stella Lake is part of the longer Alpine Lakes Loop Trail, a 4.3-mile (7 km) roundtrip hike showcasing Stella and Teresa Lakes. If you choose to do that full loop, you can begin your hike at the Bristlecone Parking Area. I only wanted to hike to Stella Lake, so I parked in the small Summit Trailhead lot where I accessed what officially is the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail that forks off to Stella Lake.

Wheeler Peek Summit and surrounding trails, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson

The moment I set foot on the trail, I noticed the rocky, uneven ground with exposed tree roots ready to grab the unwary ankle. Sturdy hiking shoes with good ankle support are a good choice although I noticed one hiker easily maneuvering those rooty rocky pitfalls while wearing Teva-type sandals. Another hiker leaving me in her wake wore sneakers.

Starting the hike, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson

Photogenic aspen trees with their white-bark trunks lined the trail sides. Btw, those interesting curved trunk bottoms on the aspens resulted from the weight of snow pushing against them during their early growth.

Hiking among the aspen, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson

After hiking a little over one mile, I encountered a fork in the trail. Hmm, should I turn right and continue up to Wheeler Peak, or turn left to reach Stella Lake. Turning left, I finished the short distance between myself and the lake, approaching what looked more like a pond surrounded by a “bathtub ring” in the grass. The late season plus a long, hot summer in the park resulted in lower lake levels, but this didn’t diminish the beauty of the scene.

A late-summer view of Stella Lake, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson

After visiting with a family of four who considered continuing up to Wheeler Peak, I wandered and photographed the scenery, enjoyed a small snack, then began my own ramble back to my vehicle. I’m glad I managed to snag a spot that late in the morning, because by the time I returned to the parking lot, not only was it full but the shoulders on either side of the narrow Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive were jam-packed with lines of cars, some of which were precipitously placed flush with the edge of the steep drop-off along one side of the road. Let this be a good reminder to you (as it was to me) to arrive at any trailhead parking early – like 6 a.m. early – so you won’t need to park precariously along the narrow road shoulders. Great Basin may be out in the middle of nowhere and not entertain the crowd numbers a park like Yosemite or Mount Rainier gets, but there are still summer crowds in this park.

The Summit Trail parking lot filling up early, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson

If you decide to hike this trail, remember to wear a hat. Sure, most of the way is shaded by aspens, but that last little bit to and around the lake is exposed and the high altitude is a recipe for a quick sunburn – more so if you choose to continue to Wheeler Peak’s summit.

Speaking of high altitudes, as you begin your hike to Stella Lake, bear in mind you are hiking at an elevation of over 10,000 feet (3,097 m). If you are not used to that lofty elevation and want to avoid altitude sickness, you should drink plenty of water during your hike and munch on those snacks, too. In truth, this piece of advice applies to any of the hikes you tackle within Great Basin.

While there are numerous trails at Great Basin National Park, Stella Lake is a great first trail to hike while adjusting to the altitude and dry atmosphere. The views of Wheeler Peak are a nice plus, as well.

The view along the trail, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson