Things To Do In Great Basin National Park: Lehman Caves and Alpine Lakes Loop

Before You Venture Out

• Reserve your Lehman Cave tours early here by searching for Lehman Caves! As of April 2025, the Parachute Shield Tour is the only tour being offered. Book early as the tour is limited to 20 visitors.
• White-nose Syndrome is a big deal and is very threatening to the bat population.
  • Further, please don’t wear any clothing into this cave that has been worn in another cave. Rangers may ask you questions about your attire when you arrive. You may be asked to wipe down phones, shoes, and other clothing. This may sound scary, but White-nose Syndrome does not affect humans. However, please protect the bat population.
• Wear proper shoes – flip-flops will not make your life easy. Parts of the cave are wet and slippery.
• Cameras, jackets, and flashlights are the ONLY items allowed in the cave.
  • Bring a jacket. Even if it’s hot outside, it will be cool and chilly in the cave. Sometimes a welcome relief in the summer months!
• No food, water, gum, or smoking is allowed in the cave.

Weather and General Safety at Great Basin National Park

Lightning

• In fact, this is a major concern! Thunderstorms are common in the summer months. Always monitor the weather forecasts and plan accordingly. Further, storms might pop up at any time. If caught in a storm:
  • Descend to lower elevations in the park and get to your car or a shelter.
  • Don’t hide under trees – they could get hit by lightning.
  • Crouch near the ground if in an open area.
  • Do not be the tallest object in the area and avoid other tall objects.

• Cell phone coverage is spotty in this national park as it is very remote. Do not rely on your phone for communication. Always have an alternate plan.
• Carry plenty of snacks and water. It’s recommended to carry at least 1 liter of water for every 5 miles you are hiking. We pack PB&J and other snacks to eat around lunchtime on the trails.
• Always carry a first aid kit.
• Make a plan to tell at least one person where you plan to be on each day in case something happens.
• Reduce your risk by preparing and having the proper gear for all hikes you plan to complete. This means good shoes and proper hiking attire. No flip-flops!
• Be aware of altitude sickness.
  • Difficulty breathing, incoherent speech, headaches, and nausea can be some symptoms to watch for. If you are affected, descend immediately. Altitude sickness can be life-threatening.

Animal Safety at Great Basin National Park

• Great Basin National Park is home to many animals, including mountain lions, rattlesnakes, porcupines, marmots, bighorn sheep, etc.
  • Review the steps to take if you encounter a mountain lion along the trail.

Lehman Caves, The Grand Palace Tour – moderate, 0.6 miles, 90 minutes

First, enter the park from the entrance on the West and drive up Lehman Caves Road until you reach the visitor center. This is where you will pick up your tickets for your cave tour. The cave tours begin here as well.

Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Then, rangers will complete a screening for White-nose Syndrome. There are no restrooms in this cave, so plan accordingly!

The ranger will lead you down the tunnel outside the rear of the building to begin your tour. On the Grand Palace tour, you will experience the Gothic Palace, Music Room, Lodge Room, Inscription Room, and the Grand Palace section of Lehman Caves. There is also a chance to see the Parachute Shield formation.

Interestingly, Lehman Caves is home to a few species that only live in the cave! Two examples are the Great Basin cave pseudoscorpion and the Snake Range millipede. Also, the bats present in the cave here are Townsend’s big-eared bats. Learn about the history of the cave and how it used to be visited and vandalized in years past.

Bristlecone, Alpine Lake, and Sky Island Area

After you complete your awesome cave tour, drive up Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive to the higher elevation areas of Great Basin National Park. If you remember, you can hike up here using the Lehman Creek Trail if the road is closed.

Luckily, Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive opened on our last day exploring, so we could not bypass a visit to this area of the park even though we had a 6-7 hour drive ahead of us. There are pit toilets at the summit, should you need them.

Bristlecone Grove & Glacier Trail – moderate/strenuous, 3.7-4.3 miles, out and back

Once you complete the 12-mile drive, you’ll be at 10,000+ feet! First up is the Bristlecone and Glacier Trail. This trail begins at the parking lot and follows the Alpine Lakes loop before reaching the Bristlecone Pine/Glacier Trail at about 0.6 miles.

When you reach this junction, take the trail left to visit the Bristlecone Pine Grove. As you continue on the trail, you will reach the Bristlecone Pine Grove at about 1.6 miles in.

Then, continue on the trail to reach the Wheeler Cirque Glacier. This is one of the southernmost glaciers in the United States and sits at 11,500 feet. Now, head back the way you came.

If you take the trail back to the parking lot, it’s 4.3 miles round trip, but if you head left at the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail junction, this part of the hike is 3.7 miles. Taking the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail will add more distance, but check out these gorgeous lakes in the photos below. How can you pass that up?!

Now, if the snowpack is anything like it was when we were there, you may not be able to complete this trail. We started down the trail, but when Kathy slid down the mountain in the snow, we figured it was time to turn around! Interestingly enough, the trail ended up being closed a few days later due to too much snow. 😬

What is a Bristlecone Pine?

Great Basin Bristlecone Pines are an extremely rare species. Only present in California, Nevada, and Utah, you have to try to see one if you can! Great Basin National Park is home to the remains of the Prometheus tree, a Great Basin Bristlecone pine once recorded as the oldest tree in the world. Its age was estimated between 4700-5000 years old!    

Alpine Lakes Loop – easy – 2.0-2.6 miles, loop

Great! You have decided to take the Alpine Lakes Loop after completing the Bristlecone Pine Trail. This will add 2 miles to your total distance, but this trail is pretty easy. Once you turn left at the junction of the Bristlecone Pine Trail, you will reach Teresa Lake. If the water is calm, the reflections on this lake are amazing! This is a great spot for photography or a quick snack.

Next, continue along the trail, and eventually, you will reach Stella Lake. WOW! This lake offers amazing views of Doso Doyabi and Wheeler Peak. The reflections in this lake are also stunning. Finally, when you have taken way too many pictures, continue down the trail to reach the parking lot.

Other options

One other option at the Bristlecone Pine/Alpine Lakes area is to hike the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail. Wheeler Peak is the second-tallest point in Nevada! Plan to complete this hike in the summer months only.

Be prepared for very steep inclines and know that this trail is very exposed with very little to no shade. Further, the threat of thunderstorms increases your risk if you are caught in one on this trail.

If you choose to hike this trail, complete it early in the morning hours at sunrise or just before. The trail gains 3,000 ft in elevation over 8 miles from the Wheeler Peak Campground parking area.

Drive Back to Reno, NV

Afterward, it’s time to make the long and painful journey back to Reno, NV. This is about a 7-hour drive, so head back to Baker or Ely, NV, gas up, and get ready for another ride on The Loneliest Road in America.

You may choose to fly out of Salt Lake City or Las Vegas, which are a bit closer. However, you might pay extra when flying and dropping off a rental car at a different location.

Where to Stay Near Great Basin National Park

Let’s be real here! With Great Basin National Park being so remote, there are limited accommodations near the park. However, if you are camping, there are many options inside and near the park.

We chose to stay at an Airbnb close to Baker, NV. Below are some nearby hotels and other places to stay near Ely, NV. Note that Ely is a 1-hour+ drive time to Great Basin National Park.

• Prospector Hotel and Gambling Hall – this western-themed hotel has a casino, restaurant, and is pet-friendly. Book now on Expedia or Booking.com.
• La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Ely – breakfast included at this nice hotel in town! Check out the rates on Expedia and Booking.com.
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ely, an IHG hotel – close to the Ghost Train of Old Ely and breakfast included. Top-rated by guests who have stayed here. Reserve your room on Expedia or Booking.com.
• If you really want to stay close to the park and enjoy those dark skies, check out VRBO!

Final Thoughts

We had an amazing time on our last day at Great Basin National Park. The Grand Palace Tour was very cool, informative, and a must-do attraction when visiting. Just be aware that some cave tours may not be available. It just depends.

Further, we were elated that Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive opened, and we could not pass up a visit to the higher elevations! Sadly, we did not make it to see a Bristlecone Pine, but the alpine lakes in this region were absolutely breathtaking.

It was so much fun to trudge along the snow-covered trails as we had to try our best to even stay on the trail! Some areas were waist-deep. Luckily, we made it and were content with all we saw at Great Basin National Park!

That being said, we will be returning someday to see a Bristlecone Pine! 🤓