There are plenty of hiking trails at Great Basin National Park in Nevada. So many, in fact, that the park wanted to make your choices a little easier by dividing the hikes not only by location, but also by difficulty level, in addition to going ahead and listing every single trail from which to choose, regardless of location or level.
Hiking up the Bristlecone Grove Trail, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson
Hikes Featured On The Traveler
Stella Lake
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.
To read more of this hike, head to this page.
Bristlecone Grove Trail
There are living things on this planet that defy the passage of time, surviving harsh winters, drought-dry summers, an altering climate, and less-than-pristine air. These hardy, long-suffering lifeforms twist and turn, becoming gnarly and even stunted as they reach for the sky at upper elevations. Great Basin National Park in Nevada is a sanctuary to these ancient lifeforms thousands of years old. They are the bristlecone pine trees and there’s a trail that you can hike up and pay your respects to the elders.
To read more of this hike, head to this page.
Hikes By Location
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive Hiking Trails
Hikes By Difficulty Levels (Including ADA Accessible Hikes)
When out on a trail at Great Basin, bear in mind many of these trails (like the Bristlecone Grove Trail) are rocky with exposed tree roots waiting to grab your ankles. Wearing sturdy shoes or boots with good tread mitigates the possibility of injury. Also, take plenty of water with you, and by that, take more than a 12-oz bottled water. Take snacks too – especially salty snacks to replace the salt lost while sweating.
A trail through the aspen trees, Great Basin National Park / Rebecca Latson
