What to do in Great Basin National Park with Kids
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With a mid-day visit to Great Basin, we set up a tripod and had a mini photo shoot!
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the bristlecone pine grove was absolutely UNREAL
If you’re looking for what to do in Great Basin National Park with kids, you’re in the right place. Great Basin was established as a National Park in October 1986. Whether you are traveling with kids or without, you’ll fall in love with this absolutely gorgeous National Park. Great Basin National Park is visited by approximately 90,000 people annually and is about is 77,180 acres. It is the 43rd largest National Park of the 62 in the United States.
Every visitor to Great Basin National Park should make a stop at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center to get a park map, get a weather update, and info about the park’s road conditions and possible closures. You can also visit HERE to see up-to-date hours. Park Rangers are also a wonderful resource for finding out the parks more off the beaten path spots. Directly next to the Visitor Center, you will find a gift shop/cafe. The food is DELICIOUS and I highly recommend breakfast or lunch there. The shop has a variety of snacks, sandwiches, and drinks, as well as an array of souvenirs.
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When to Visit Great Basin National Park
Hands down, Summer is the best time to visit Great Basin National Park. The temperatures are mild all day long. We visited in June and at around 10:30 AM it was 48F and by mid-afternoon, it hadn’t even hit 60F yet.
In winter, visitors can expect loads of snow and frigid temperatures. In early spring and the fall, the temperatures do drop. Fall offers visitors a chance to see the changing leaves of the Aspen trees.
Any time of year, visitors must be aware of unexpected storms. They form quickly and can be brutal. Hikers need to come prepared for sudden changes.
The average annual weather for reference courtesty of Weather-us.com
How to get to Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park is amazing, but it isn't super convenient t to get to. To give you an idea of how long it will take to get to the park, here are a few examples.
Obligatory national park sign photo!
How far is Great Basin National Park from Las Vegas? 4 hours and 31 minutes
Zion National Park to Great Basin National Park is 3 hours and 19 Minutes
Salt Lake City to Great Basin National park is 3 hours and 45 minutes
Arches National Park to Great Basin National park is 5 Hours & 4 minutes
Reno to Great Basin National park is 6 hours and 10 minutes
Great Basin National Park is easiest accessed from Salt Lake City. It would definitely be an overnight trip, so check out our recommended places to stay near Great Basin!
READ NEXT: Big Bend National Park with Kids
Where to Stay in Great Basin National Park
Great Basin National Park Campgrounds:
This is the view of lake from the alpine lakes trail
Lower Lehman Creek Campground: This campground offers 11 Campsites. Water is available spring through fall.
Fee: $15 per night
Elevation: 7,300 feet (2,200 meters)Map: HERE
Upper Lehman Creek Campground: This is the only campground open year round. This campground offers 24 campsites with 2 accessible sites. Water is available spring through fall.
Fee: $15 per night
Elevation: 7,752 feet (2,362 meters)
Map: HEREWheeler Peak Campground: Campground is CLOSED for the entire 2020 season This campground contains 37 sites with one accessible site. The campground is closed to vehicles and trailers longer than 24 feet. Water is available spring through fall.
Fee: $15 per night
Elevation: 9,886 feet (3,013 meters)Map: HERE
Baker Creek Campground: This campground offers 38 sites with one accessible site. Water is available spring through fall.
Fee: $15 per night
Elevation: 7,530 feet (2,295 meters)
Location: On Baker Creek Road, 3 miles from the Lehman Caves Visitor Center.
Map: HEREGrey Cliffs Campground: This is the only campground that accepts online reservations HERE. This campground has 16 sites with 2 wheelchair accessible sites. Group Camping sites are available. This campground does not have water.
Fee: $15 for individual sites, $30 for group camping
Elevation: 7,530 feet (2,295 meters)
Map: HERESnake Creek Campground: This campground has 12 sites; 2 of which are walk in and 3 are group sites. There is no water available at any site.
Fee: free (no water)
Elevation: 7,800 feet (2,377 meters)Strawberry Creek Campground: Campground is CLOSED until further notice due to fire recovery effort
Elevation: 7,800 feet (2,377 meters)
Whatever you do, definitely visit the bristlecone pine grove. these trees are worth the hike.
READ NEXT: How to ENJOY Tent Camping with Toddlers
Where to Stay Outside of Great Basin National Park
We Stayed at Hidden Canyon Retreat and LOVED it so much
Baker, Nevada
Recommended Camp Ground:
Whispering Elms: Whispering Elms is conveniently located at the entrance to Great Basin National Park. They offer RV and tent sites plus have hotel rooms! Whispering Elms Lodge offers "THE BEST VIEW IN TOWN" and a cold beverage while you relax and enjoy the beautiful sunsets the area is famous for. Whispering Elms offers offers a peaceful place to relax and unwind after a long day of exploring the many things the Great Basin National Park and Lehman Caves have to offer.
Recommended Hotel:
HIdden Canyon Retreat: We stayed here for 2 nights during our time at Great Basin. We were blown away by the size of the rooms, the cleanliness, the amenities and the absolute serenity of the property. Hidden Canyon is tucked away in the foothills just outside the east boundary of Great Basin National Park. The property is comprised of 375 acres of juniper, pinyon, and sage with pasture land and a stream side habitat for wildlife. Hidden Canyon Ranch offers suites with separate bedrooms, living areas and equipped kitchens. There is a hot tub, pool, restaurant, and convenience store located on the property.
The best family-friendly Airbnbs in Baker, Nevada near Great Basin National Park.
What to do in Great Basin National Park with Kids
1) Lehman Cave Tours:
The most popular thing to do at Great Basin National Park is taking a tour of Lehman Caves. Great Basin is home to over 41,000 acres of karst. Karst is a landscape of supporting caves. The most famous cave in the park is Lehman cave. This cave is over 2 miles in length and is filled with speleothems, some streams and some parts even contain perennial ice. Visitors can only explore the cave system with a guide.
There are 2 Cave Tours available:
Lodge Room Tour: This 60 minute tour covers an easy 0.4 miles. The tour takes visitors through the Gothic Palace, Music Roome and Lodge Room of the Lehman Caves. This tour is recommended for families with young children.
Grand Palace Tour: This 90 minute tour covers .6 miles and children under the age of 5 are not permitted. This tour takes visitors through the Gothic Palace, the Music Room, the Lodge Room, Inscription Room, and the Grand Palace.
Tickets:
Tickets for these tours sell out quickly and it is highly recommended that you purchase your tickets in advance.
2) Hike:
From the National Park Service:
“Day hikers are asked to sign in at trailhead registers. Permits are not required for backcountry camping, but registration is free and strongly encouraged. Registering provides rescuers with critical information in case of an emergency. Stop at a visitor center or call (775) 234-7510 for current information on trail conditions and routes.”
Best Hikes for Toddlers in Great Basin National Park
We did the alpine lakes trail and it was AMAZING
Osceola Ditch Trail: This 0.8 mile trail takes hikers through ponderosa pine, white fir and Douglas fir trees to the remnant of an 18 mile long channel built by gold miners in the 1880's.
Mountain View Nature Trail: This .3 mile trail takes hikers through the pinyon-juniper forest. The trail conveniently starts at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. This trail only has 80ft in elevation change.
Sky Islands Forest Trail: This .4 mile flat trail is wheelchair and stroller accessible. The trail takes hikers through a high alpine conifer forest.
Best Hikes for Kids in Great Basin National Park:
the Bristlecone Pine Grove was absolutely amazing to experience
Alpine Lakes Loop Trail: This 2.7 mile hike is absolutely perfect for families. The trail takes hikers past Stella and Teresa Lakes and offers breathtaking views of wheeler peak. The trail has an easy 600 feet elevation change, but be warned that this trail starts at over 10,000 feet.
Bristlecone and Glacier Trail: This 4.6 mile trail can be accessed from the Alpine Lakes Loop trail or can be done by itself. From the Alpine trail, the Bristlecone Pine Grove is an additional .7 miles one way and the Glacier is 1.6 miles additional one way.
Best Hikes for Teenagers in Great Basin National Park:
Lexington Arch Trail: This 5.4 mile trail takes hikers to a 6-story limestone arch. The trail has steep sections and due to recent wildfires, the access road is severely washed out. The trailhead is outside of the park, about 25 miles (48 km) south of Baker.
Lehman Creek Trail: This 6.8 mile trail takes hikers through diverse habitats, paralleling a creek for parts of the trail. The hike has an elevation change of over 2,000 feet.
Baker Lake Trail: This 12 mile trail offers nice views of the surrounding peaks and ends at Baker Lake, an alpine lake with surrounded by beautiful cliffs. It changes over 2,600 feet in elevation.
Wheeler Peak Summit Trail: This 8.6 mile trail takes hikers along the ridge to the Wheeler Peak summit. The trail changes almost 3,000 feet in elevation and hikers must be very conscious of the weather. The weather changes rapidly along the ridge, so hikers need to start early & hike prepared.
teresa lake was absolutely stunning. the clear water, the mountains and the pristine weather
3) Stargazing!
the kids found snow and loved it so much!
In 2016, Great Basin National Park was recognized as an International Dark Sky Park. With the park’s pristine conditions, viewing thousands of stars, numerous planets, star clusters, meteors, man-made satellites, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Milky Way can be seen with your bare eyes at night.
Visitors can study the night sky on their own or they can join one of the many Astronomy Programs led by the Great Basin Park Rangers.
Every year the park is host to the Great Basin Astronomy Festival. This year it is September 17-19, 2020 — find out more information HERE.
4) Take the Star Train:
The Nevada Northern Railway and Great Basin National Park have partnered up to offer the Star Train! The journey starts in Ely, Nevada. On board, Park Rangers will offer trivia and be answering questions. The train takes passengers out of town where it will stop and riders have the opportunity to look through high-powered telescopes.
Find out more at the Nevada Northern Railway website.
5) Become a Great Basin National Park Junior Ranger:
Great Basin National Park offers TWO different Junior Ranger programs.
Junior Ranger Program: The first program takes kids through the life of a bristlecone, deep caves, and other fun subjects. The potential Junior Ranger will follow the instructions inside the booklet. (Pick up a booklet at the Visitor Center) Once they finish, turn it into a ranger at a visitor center to earn your badge.
Junior Ranger Night Explorer: Potential Junior Rangers will explore subjects like the night-sky, light pollution, the sun and other fun subjects. Grab a booklet from the visitor center and follow the instructions to complete. Once your Junior Ranger completes their booklet, bring it back to the visitor center to get your patch!
These two were brave to take their shoes off and explore the cold water at stella lake
6) Fishing
Visitors are Permitted to fish at 3 different creeks and Baker Lake inside of Great Basin National Park. Anglers will have the opportunity to snag Brown Trout, Brook Trout, and even Rainbow Trout. Extreme anglers will love making the 12 mile round-trip hike out to fish in Baker Lake. This one in a lifetime experience rewards fishermen with a chance to fish in a normally ice packed lake.
Please Note: Fisherman over the age of 12 will need a license to fish and the park does not sell them.
Teresa Lake offers clear water and unmatched mountain views
7) Take a Scenic Drive:
Jimmy and Charletta loved the Bristlecone Pine Grove.
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive offers park visitors a 12 mile paved tour that goes up to over 10,000 feet. The grade is a steep 8% the entire drive, so be sure your car is able to make the journey. Along the way, drivers are rewarded with absolutely stunning views of the valley and mountain peaks. I recommend stopping at Mather Overlook and Wheeler Peak overlook if it’s open.
READ NEXT: 10 TIps for Roadtripping with Toddlers
8) Grab a Meal:
Great Basin National Park has an amazing Cafe and Gift Shop. We ate breakfast and lunch there and I am here to tell you it was DELICIOUS. From fresh made breakfast burritos, to gourmet muffins, chili dogs, root beer floats to local wines and craft sodas - this little cafe packs a punch.
After a 4.1 mile hike, the kids were rewarded with ice cream cones, jimmy got a root beer float and I got an adult (alcoholic) root beer.
What to Pack for Great Basin National Park
Charletta fell and cut her leg - I was SO glad we had our small Preparakit First Aid Kit — click the photo to snag one for your next adventure.
Great Basin National Park is pretty remote. There isn’t a sporting goods store, big grocery store or anything like that for about an hour’s drive. Once in the park, you’ll immediately start being at altitude, so packing and coming prepared is essential. I’ve put together a list of our absolute favorite outdoors and travel gear.
Warm Jacket (this is the jacket my husband is OBSESSED with and me too - it’s lightweight and SO warm)
Comfortable Shoes (I’ve linked to the Keens waterproof kid shoe that our kids wear ALL the time)
Extra Batteries
Camera (This is the camera I use and LOVE)
Tripod (this is the tripod I use)
Lotion (I swear by this lotion, especially in the desert or high altitude locations)
Lightweight Hiking Bag (this can fold up into other bags when not in use)
Small First Aid Kit (see photo description)
Sunglasses
Snacks on Snacks for the hikes
Great Basin National Park is the perfect destination for families. There is so much amazing wildlife, Alpine Lake views, Mountain adventures, incredible weather, wildflowers, and Bristle Cone Pine Groves. No matter whether you try out backcountry camping or stay in nearby Baker, Nevada, Great Basin National Park is an unforgettable adventure.
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