Hike the Bristlecone and Glacier Trail in Great Basin NP

Baker, Nevada

5.0/5

based on 1 reviews

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Distance

4.6 miles

Elevation Gain

1100 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by Sarah Levant

Hike through ancient Bristlecone Pine groves to Nevada's only glacier.

Great Basin National Park is known for its unparalleled dark skies and stunning display of ancient Bristlecone Pines. This hike starts at 9,800 feet elevation and will ascend about 1,000 feet in elevation upon reaching the only glacier in Nevada! Great Basin is a desert, receiving less than 10 inches of rain per year so witnessing a view of this glacier is pretty spectacular. Not to mention the trek will meander through groves of magnificent Bristlecone Pines which are some of the longest lived life forms on the planet. We loved this hike as an alternative to the Wheeler Peak summit which is an 8+mile trek with 3k elevation gain.

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Reviews

Julie Arsenault

Hike the Bristlecone and Glacier Trail in Great Basin NP

12/13/17

Two major rewards on this relatively short hike make it a must-do for anyone visiting Great Basin NP. The bristlecone pines are really cool to see and learn about up close - some of these trees are 4000 years old! The views of the glacial valley are incredible as well, rivaling anything in Glacier National Park (though there's just one glacier here...). The hike starts out pretty easy, though the last section is over quite rocky terrain so wear sturdy footwear.

5.0

Leave No Trace

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Wheeler Peak Campground in Great Basin NP

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Hike the Alpine Lakes Loop in Great Basin NP

The Alpine Lakes Loop is a 2.7 mile round-trip trail starting at 9,800ft and gaining 600ft at its highest point. The loop trail travels past two pristine alpine lakes, Stella and Teresa Lakes, while providing excellent views of Wheeler Peak as a nearby backdrop. The trail is easy and accessible to hikers of any level, depending upon the season and amount snow found at the trails elevation. It i...

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Not a feat for the faint of heart. You have to want this one. Especially if you are dealing with intermittent patches of snow. The Upper Lehman Creek Trail, the Wheeler Peak Trail, and the summit are not overly challenging when done on their own, but the sum of it's parts makes this combination trek one for the books. Before getting along, its worth noting that since this is a long haul and h...

Hike the Bristlecone and Glacier Trail in Great Basin NP

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Leave No Trace

Nearby

Teresa Lake

Bristlecone and Alpine Lakes Loop

Wheeler Peak via Alpine Lakes Trailhead

Wheeler Peak Campground in Great Basin NP

Hike the Alpine Lakes Loop in Great Basin NP

Wheeler Peak via Upper Lehman Creek

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