Top 10 Best Hikes in Great Basin National Park to Explore

Our list of the best hikes in Great Basin National Park is listed by length, from shortest to longest. 

We have also included the AllTrails link for each trail, so that you can read current conditions before you head out. Be sure to get AllTrails Plus so that you can download the map and ensure you never get lost! (Use our code aplusk30 for 30% off!) 

And while we’ve included many of these hikes in our list of the best things to do in Great Basin National Park, there’s several other fun things to do on that list too. So be sure to read both guides before heading to the park!

1. Alpine Lakes Loop Trail (2.7 miles)
2. Serviceberry Loop (3.1 miles)
3. Baker Creek Loop (3.5 miles)
4. Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail (3.9 miles)
5. Lexington Arch Trail (5.5 miles)
6. Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes Loop (6 miles)
7. Lehman Creek Trail (6.6 miles)
8. Pole Canyon Trail (6.7 miles)
9. Wheeler Peak Summit Trail (8.7 miles)
10. Baker Lake-Johnson Lake Loop (12.5 miles)

1. Alpine Lakes Loop Trail

Miles (round trip): 2.7
Elevation (feet): 475
Where to Park: Bristlecone, Alpine Lake and Sky Island Forest Trailhead
Reviews & Current Conditions

Easily one of our favorite hikes in Great Basin National Park is to both Stella Lake and Teresa Lake. These two clear, alpine lakes have a striking mountain backdrop. And will make you think you’ve transported to the Rocky Mountains!

The most straightforward way to visit these lakes is along the 2.7 mile Alpine Lakes Loop Trail. But for an extra adventure, we highly recommend combining them with the Bristlecone Pines and the Wheeler Peak Glacier, which we will be sharing more about below!

2. Serviceberry Loop

Miles (round trip): 3.1
Elevation (feet): 734
Where to Park: Serviceberry Trailhead
Reviews & Current Conditions

Hidden in a quiet corner of the park, the Serviceberry Loop is a hidden gem that starts with a 13-mile gravel drive to the trailhead. Although the road is rough, it’s possible for any type of car to navigate. 

Starting at over 8,000 feet, this roughly 3-mile loop is great for acclimating to the altitude, though it includes a few steady climbs to get your heart pumping. We recommend hiking clockwise for a more gradual climb and sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and wildflowers. Along the way, you’ll see open hillsides and shady pines. Plus an aspen grove, which has stunning foliage in the fall. And since it’s not a popular trail, you’ll likely have most of it to yourself.

3. Baker Creek Loop

Miles (round trip): 3.5
Elevation (feet): 935
Where to Park: Baker Creek Trailhead
Reviews & Current Conditions

The Baker Creek Loop winds you through the forest and meadows, plus along Baker Creek, with some mountain views along the way. At 3.5 miles round trip and 935 feet of elevation gain, it’s definitely not a flat stroll, but is overall pretty moderate. And since it’s a loop, you’ll have different scenery the entire trail! We recommend hiking counterclockwise around the loop for a more gradual incline.

Miles (round trip): 3.9
Elevation (feet): 797
Where to Park: Bristlecone Parking Area
Reviews & Current Conditions

Great Basin National Park is home to three groves of Bristlecone Pines, but the easiest to access are in the Wheeler Peak region. What are Bristlecone Pines you may ask? These are the oldest trees in the world, with many being over 4,000 years old. They only grow in select places in high altitude settings, typically from 5,600 feet up to 11,200 feet. And they are famous for their gnarly shapes, which is partially due to the harsh environment they live in.

To see them, head onto the Bristlecone Pine Glacier Trail! This route takes you by Teresa Lake (make sure to add on Stella Lake too!) as you climb up into a grove filled with these wildly shaped trees.

What we loved about this trail is not only do you get to see the Bristlecone Pines, but there are also interpretive signs to educate you about the trees along the way.

5. Lexington Arch Trail

Miles (round trip): 5.5
Elevation (feet): 1,315
Where to Park: Lexington Arch Trailhead
Reviews & Current Conditions

Great Basin offers a wide variety of scenery and one feature you may not expect is an arch! The Lexington Arch Trail takes you to a giant and unique limestone arch, which is very different from the arches you can find in the nearby Utah National Parks!

However, getting here requires a bit of effort. First off, the road is unpaved and in very rough condition. It is recommended that you have a higher clearance vehicle to get there. Secondly, do NOT follow the generic Google Maps instructions, as this will take you down some gnarly roads. Instead, use these directions, which takes you down Highway 487, which turns into Highway 21 once you cross into Utah. You will turn right just after Pruess Lake (there will be a sign that says Lexington Arch). Parking for the hike is about 1 mile before the official trailhead, due to the rest of the road being washed out.

The trail itself is very exposed, which means you will have views along the entire way. But it also means it can get very hot. So we suggest hiking early, bringing plenty of water, and wearing lots of sun protection!

As a bonus, this is the ONLY dog friendly hike in the park (on a leash)! But keep in mind that this is rattlesnake territory.

Miles (round trip): 6
Elevation (feet): 1,217
Where to Park: Bristlecone, Alpine Lake and Sky Island Forest Trailhead
Reviews & Current Conditions

The Wheeler Peak Glacier is the only glacier in Nevada and one of the southernmost in the US. And hiking to it is a must while in Great Basin National Park!

To get to the glacier, you will follow the Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes Loop, which also takes you by both alpine lakes and the Bristlecone Pines. It’s the ultimate hike in Great Basin National Park, offering such a wide mix of scenery along the way! 

But be warned, the last part of the trail, after leaving the Bristlecone Pines, is pretty rugged and rocky, taking you to over 10,900 feet! So make sure to have good shoes on, plenty of water, and pace yourself. Breathing is quite a bit tougher up here!

The Wheeler Peak Glacier itself is very small (about 2 acres) and looks more like a patch of snow than glaciers you can find in Alaska. But it’s still well worth a visit, just for the mountain views alone. At the end of the hike you will essentially be in a bowl, surrounded by some very rocky and jagged peaks!

Miles (round trip): 6.6
Elevation (feet): 2,030
Where to Park: Lehman Creek Trail
Reviews & Current Conditions

The Lehman Creek Trail is another great hiking option in the higher altitude area of the park, starting at around 7,000 feet at the Upper Lehman Creek Campground and climbing all the way up to over 9,800 feet, to the Wheeler Peak Campground. It’s no walk in the park!

Along the way you’ll walk through the trees and along the creek, with sporadic views of the area.

We personally wouldn’t hike the entire trail, unless you want a good workout. Instead, we’d hike about 1.8 miles to a meadow with gorgeous views. And then if the road to the Wheeler Peak Campground is open, drive up the rest of the road and explore that area along different trails.

However, if the road is not fully open yet, this trail is your only option to reach the higher elevation destinations, like the Bristlecone Pines and alpine lakes. But keep in mind that these trails could be snow covered if you go early in the season, so only attempt those if you have proper snow hiking gear.

8. Pole Canyon Trail

Miles (round trip): 6.7
Elevation (feet): 1,584
Where to Park: Pole Canyon Trailhead
Reviews & Current Conditions

Pole Canyon Trail is a hike that really shows off just how diverse Great Basin National Park can be. There’s cliffs, creeks, meadows, forests, and sweeping mountain views all in one hike. The trail is well-marked and in great condition, with a steady climb that eventually turns steep near the top, giving it just enough challenge without being overwhelming.

Along the way, you’ll cross streams, pass through birch groves and open meadows, and maybe even spot wildlife like deer or wild turkeys. The full route is around 7 miles and can take about 4 hours, but some people choose to turn around early just to repeat the most scenic sections, since the last two miles are along a dirt road near the campgrounds. If you’re lucky, you might have the trail completely to yourself, which makes this already beautiful hike feel even more special.

9. Wheeler Peak Summit Trail

Miles (round trip): 8.7
Elevation (feet): 2,906
Where to Park: Summit Parking Lot
Reviews & Current Conditions

One of the ultimate hiking experiences in Great Basin National Park is summiting Wheeler Peak. This is the second tallest peak in Nevada at 13,065 feet, just 82 feet shy of the state’s highest point, Boundary Peak.

And getting to the top is a doozy! The trail gains over 2,900 feet in around 4.25 miles (one way), all while at a higher elevation, so breathing is tough. Despite being pretty experienced hikers, including at altitudes above 11,000 feet, this hike kicked our butts a bit and we were moving very slowly at the end. Especially because the trail is extremely rugged and rocky.

However, it was more than worth the struggle to stand at the top of the park! From here you can see the park’s lakes, the valleys below, Wheeler Peak Glacier, and tons of mountains in the distance. Fun fact: Nevada has 314 named mountain ranges, which is more than any other state (crazy, huh?!). And from the top, you can see quite a few of them.

While hanging out at the summit, look for the small rocky enclosure. This is intended to act as a small shelter if it’s windy at the top, which it often can be. But inside this enclosure you’ll find a mailbox, which has a logbook. Make sure to sign it!

A+K Tip: Start this hike before sunrise so you can see the sunrise on the way up! We packed coffee to make along the way, which was the perfect way to start the day (and a nice break). Plus, with this trail’s exposure, you will want to get to the top as early as possible. The sun and heat will only make this tougher!

Miles (round trip): 12.5
Elevation (feet): 3,717
Where to Park: Baker Creek Trailhead
Reviews & Current Conditions

For another tougher and longer hiking experience, tackle the Baker Lake-Johnson Lake Loop! This 13.1 mile loop takes you by two small alpine lakes, up Pyramid Peak, and has a wide mix of scenery along the way. It will take the entire day to complete, so make sure to start early!

But if you want to spend more time along the trail, it can be done as a one night backpacking trip as well. To do this, you will need to get a backcountry permit. These permits can be obtained at the visitor center and are free. We hope to backpack this trail next time!