Great Basin National Park

Just west of the Nevada-Utah state line, Great Basin National Park is named for the larger Great Basin, a vast chunk of the western United States without an outlet to the ocean. When rain falls in Nevada and Utah, as well as parts of Oregon, Idaho, and California, it does not flow to the sea. The park is centered on the 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, the tallest mountain located entirely in the state of Nevada. Hiking the trails on the mountain and spelunking in Lehman Caves under the mountain's surface are among the most popular pursuits for the park's visitors, as are wildlife-watching and camping. The former includes an excellent chance at ...

Just west of the Nevada-Utah state line, Great Basin National Park is named for the larger Great Basin, a vast chunk of the western United States without an outlet to the ocean. When rain falls in Nevada and Utah, as well as parts of Oregon, Idaho, and California, it does not flow to the sea. The park is centered on the 13,063-foot Wheeler Peak, the tallest mountain located entirely in the state of Nevada. Hiking the trails on the mountain and spelunking in Lehman Caves under the mountain's surface are among the most popular pursuits for the park's visitors, as are wildlife-watching and camping. The former includes an excellent chance at spotting a bighorn sheep or a golden eagle; the latter offers a spectacular night sky, thanks to Great Basin's remoteness. The downside of the park being off the beaten path is that there is little to do in the area outside of park boundaries, but the solitude visitors enjoy more then compensates. This 77,100-acre park is one of the best places in the West to get away from it all in a meaningful way: unlike the trails at Yosemite and Yellowstone, you can usually count the number of passers-by on one hand - or less.

About the Expert

Eric Peterson has written and contributed to numerous Frommer’s guidebooks covering the American West, including Montana & Wyoming, Yellowstone & Grand Teton National Parks, and Texas.