Eight thousand feet of elevation, and no public transport at all

From the 13,063-foot summit of Wheeler Peak down to sagebrush-covered
foothills, Great Basin National Park holds a sample of the diversity of the
much larger Great Basin region: the solitude of wilderness, **ancient
bristlecone pines**, the darkest of night skies, and subterranean
passages.

"There's a lot more than just desert here" is the park's own line, and the
elevation range is why.

The 8,000-foot problem

**There is almost an 8,000 ft (2,400 m) difference in elevation between
Wheeler Peak and the valley floor**, and conditions vary with it. The
practical consequences:

• **In late spring and early summer, days in the valley may be hot while the
  snowpack has not melted at higher elevations.** One park, two seasons, on
  the same afternoon.
• The Great Basin is a desert — low relative humidity, and **sharp drops in
  temperature at night**.
• Fierce afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer.
• It can snow any time of the year at high elevations.

Pack for both ends of the park, whichever month you come.

Getting there

From the east or west: from U.S. Highway 6 & 50, turn south on Nevada
State Highway 487 and travel 5 miles to Baker, NV. In Baker turn west on
Highway 488 and travel 5 miles to the park.

From the south (Utah): north on Utah State Highway 21 through Milford and
Garrison, to Highway 487. Turn west on Highway 488 in Baker, 5 miles to the
park.

From the south (Nevada): north on U.S. Highway 93.

No public transport is available to the park, or within it. Plan the whole
trip around having a vehicle.

Location: National Park, Nevada. Source: U.S. National Park Service.