Great Basin National Park

Great Basin National Park protects an astonishing diversity of life zones from sagebrush desert to alpine tundra on Wheeler Peak's 13,063-foot summit. This 'island in the sky' harbors some of Earth's oldest living things - bristlecone pines that have witnessed over 5,000 years of history, their gnarled forms sculpted by millennia of wind and ice. Beneath the mountain, Lehman Caves reveal an underground wonderland of rare shield formations, delicate soda straws, and massive columns in marble passages. The cave's constant 50-degree temperature provides refuge from desert heat and winter snow. Above ground, the park exemplifies basin and range topography with over 30 miles of perennial streams unusual in this arid region. Exceptional darkness makes Great Basin one of America's best stargazing destinations. The Milky Way stretches horizon to horizon while ancient pines stand sentinel against star-filled skies. Diverse habitats support everything from desert bighorn sheep to Bonneville cutthroat trout. This remote park offers solitude and discovery in a landscape where time moves at geological pace.

Water Features

Perennial mountain streams, alpine lakes

Ecosystem

This destination features a desert ecosystem.