Plan Like a Park Ranger: Top 10 Know Before You Go

Great Basin National Park

1.) Plan Ahead- Campgrounds fill early, especially that one favorite spot, so reserve your space at recreation.gov ahead of time. If you need to stay outside the park, remember local motels are likely to fill quickly as well. You can find local lodging options here.

2.) Reserve a Cave Tour - Lehman Cave Tours are a popular pastime here at the park. Since you can only see the cave on a guided tour, be sure and reserve yours up to 30 days in advance on recreation.gov.

3.) Check the Weather - The forecast can be unpredictable and ever-changing. Although the park is surrounded by desert climate, we also experience alpine temperatures due to high elevation trails and campgrounds. Check current conditions and bring gear and clothing for all weather types, just in case.

4.) Adjust and Acclimate - Know about any potential weather hazards, such as fire season and the summer monsoon, and be ready to adjust your plans if they arise. If you're visiting from sea level, allow yourself time to acclimate to the altitude: the park entrance is located at around 6,800 feet, and everything else in the park is even higher in elevation!

5.) Get Self-Contained - Getting to the park requires that you travel on some of the loneliest highways in the United States. Have maps or print-outs for navigation when your cell service enters a dead zone, never let your gas tank get below half-full, and always bring extra snacks and water. There is only very spotty cell phone service in the park, and the closest full-service grocery store is one hour away.

6.) Learn Our History - This area of Nevada is the unceded homeland of the Shoshone and Paiute peoples, whose ancestors have lived in and stewarded the landscape for centuries. Learn more about their history here. Since colonization, many other groups also call the Great Basin home; check out their stories here.

7.) Pursue Pet Alternatives - Visit our pets page to get caught up on our pet regulations and see options for kenneling (be sure and verify what documents you need to kennel). If you are looking to walk your pet on hiking trails, we are surrounded by public land administered by the Bureau of Land Managment and the US Forest Service, both of which have more relaxed pet restrictions and lots of trails! Inquire about opportunities at the park visitor center.

8.) Showcase the Night Sky - Check our event calendar to see if there's an astronomy program happening during your visit. Wherever and whenever you choose to view the night sky, remember to turn off all white light, use the red light setting on any headlamps, or tie red cellophane over your flashlight with a rubber band to save your "night vision."

9.) Find Your Passion - What do you love? Whether it's history, birding, wildflowers, fall colors, quality time with loved ones, chances for solitude, or something else, you'll find it here. Stop at the park visitor center and talk with staff to see where your passion meets the park.

10.) Grab the App - The new NPS App has all the camping and visiting information for Great Basin National Park and over 400 of your favorite parks! You can also choose to download the park info to your phone to use it when you are out of cell coverage. Download through the Apple Store and on Google Play.

Find more park Top Ten Lists here.

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