Great Basin National Park campsites range in elevation from 7,300 feet at Lower Lehman Creek to nearly 10,000 feet at Wheeler Peak Campground. The park's remote location in eastern Nevada means temperatures often drop 30-40 degrees between day and night, even in summer months. Many campsites near creeks offer natural white noise and cooling effects during warmer months.
What to do
Bristlecone Pine Trail hikes: Access ancient bristlecone pines from Wheeler Peak Campground, where the scenic drive culminates at 10,000 feet. "The CG gives great access to Stella and Teresa Lake. The Bristlecone pine trail is worth it too," notes a camper who hiked multiple trails from the campground.
Cave tours: Book Lehman Cave tours well in advance, as spots fill quickly. "Make sure you make reservations early and purchase your tickets for the tour of the caves before you get there. Several people that just showed up were not able to get tickets," warns a visitor staying at Whispering Elms Motel, Campground & RV Park.
Wildlife viewing: Sacramento Pass Recreation Area offers excellent wildlife viewing opportunities. "Very large areas with tables and shade no hookups but it had vault toilets and a small fishing pond. Trails were mapped out with a history lesson on the information board," describes a visitor who appreciated the free camping option.
What campers like
Creek-side sites: Many Upper Lehman Creek Campground sites sit alongside a babbling brook. "Sites are situated near the creek and no matter which one your at the bathroom is just a short walk away," notes a satisfied camper. The sites at Upper Lehman feature "plenty of space between sites" with "clean outhouses."
Isolation and privacy: Campers consistently mention the lack of crowds compared to other national parks. "Out of the way and many opportunities for isolated reflection. Beautiful location next to a creek," writes an Upper Lehman visitor. Another camper at Baker Creek Campground appreciates how "the sights are good sized, and they're spaced pretty well. Definitely won't run into you're neighbors."
Night skies: The International Dark Sky designation delivers exceptional stargazing. A visitor to Sacramento Pass noted, "The stars are amazing." Grey Cliffs Campground visitors experience "gorgeous night sky views. The night sky is brilliant on clear evenings."
What you should know
Supplies and services: The nearest major services are 60-70 miles away in Ely. "This park is truly in the middle of nowhere, with almost no development close to the entrance. What that means is that you need to come prepared with groceries and supplies as not much is available in the tiny hamlet of Baker," explains a camper from Upper Lehman.
Limited connectivity: Cell service is minimal throughout the area. At Sacramento Pass BLM Campground, "AT&T coverage was poor, with 0 to 1 bar of 5GE and speeds of only 0.3 MB/s." At Snake Creek, expect "no cell, no internet, no nothing, no gas for miles."
Campground features: Many campgrounds offer only basic amenities. At Grey Cliffs, "There is no running water, vault toilets and trash cans put here and there." Lower Lehman visitor notes, "There were pit toilets, no showers, and the water faucets weren't working."
Tips for camping with families
Plan for elevation: The high elevation affects temperatures significantly. "You are really high up and it does get chilly at night. Bring your cold weather gear even in summer," advises a Wheeler Peak Campground visitor. Even in July, temperatures can drop into the 40s overnight.
Creek exploration: Children enjoy exploring the accessible creek areas. "Our site was right by the creek. It was quiet even though the spots weren't that far apart, and you feel like you're alone in a national park campsite," notes a Lower Lehman camper.
Wildlife opportunities: The park offers frequent wildlife sightings. At Baker Creek, campers enjoy "turkeys roaming through camp, roosting in trees, and yellow bellied marmots eating the road for it's salt content."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling challenges: Many campgrounds have uneven sites. "One issue to note is that most of parking pads are not very level (to help with snow melt) in the upper campground, so it made it quite challenging to level our little camper -- probably the most challenging over the past 6.5 years!" shares an Upper Lehman visitor.
Road restrictions: Some park roads have vehicle size limitations. "Be warned, the information on the parks website is a bit misleading. Road is not for RV's or trailers. Just after you enter the park on Snake Creek Road a sign clearly indicated no RV's or trailers past the roads first pull out."
Full hookups options: For those requiring full hookups, Whispering Elms offers the most complete services. "Only option that had full hookups and allowed reservations (essential as we had our dog with us and wanted to be able to run AC, no dogs allowed on most of the trials in the NP)."
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