Great Basin National Park

On June 21, 1997 I began a several day visit to Great Basin National Park.

Links for Great Basin National Park information:   Geology Videos - Visitor Information - Visitor Map (2019) Click on map for large view - More Maps - Hiking - Picture Gallery

Got to the park about 11 a.m. and bought a ticket for the 2 p.m. hour and a half cave tour at the Visitor Center, then drove to Wheeler Peak Campground and got almost the last available site.

A week ago there was eleven inches of snow on the picnic table in this campground.

Ate lunch and headed for my tour.

On June 22, I took a 4.5 mile loop hike to Stella Lake (10,385') and Teresa Lake (10,230') with fine views of Wheeler Peak and the ridge leading up to the top.

Also visited a Bristlecone Pine area which had some well done interpretive signs.

Met a summer ranger at the Bristlecone Pine area who had led a nature hike up from the parking lot near the campground.

We talked about this, that and the other.

He had been a summer ranger at Mt. Rainier for two seasons and had participated in the acid rain study while at Sequoia-Kings Canyon.

Weather was cool and breezy but very pleasant.

On June 23, I headed up the trail to Wheeler Peak (13,063'). It is four miles and 3,000+ feet to the top - which I didn't expect to make. Topo Map

The trail follows a pretty little stream for a short ways then contours off through an open mixed evergreen and aspen forest.

Very pretty hike.

It is just under a mile to Stella Lake where you turn off and head up toward the Wheeler Peak ridge on a well graded trail.

I was passed by a gung ho group of college kids - one of them very proud of himself that he was "leading the pack" - hope he took time to enjoy the scenery.

This is a very nice hike. I made it to about 11,200 feet (from 9,800' at the campground) and was doing okay for a fat, old out of shape hiker <grin>.

I decided that at the rate I was going it would take more time and energy than it was worth to make the peak so turned around.