Great Basin National Park is located in Nevada, USA. Originally known as the Lehman Cave National Monument, it was combined as a national park in 1986. Some highlights of the park include the Wheeler Peak sitting 13,063 feet high. Bristlecone pine trees that are over 5,000 years old. Lehman Caves, a cave discovered in 1870. Stargazing on a dark night is some of the best in the country. And Lexington Arch, one of the largest limestone arches in the western United States.

Much of the park is the Great Basin Desert whose climate is affected by the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountains. It is a temperate desert and has hot, dry summers and snowy winters. A variety of animals reside here as it has such a drastic elevation change. Some that call the Great Basin National Park home are water shrew, yellow-bellied marmot, beaver, sagebrush vole, porcupine, bighorn sheep, pygmy rabbit and the ring-tail cat.http://www.nps.gov/grba/naturescience/animals.htm

Lehman Cave is a marble cave with stalactite, stalagmite, helictites, flowstone, popcorn and 300 other rare formations. Tours are offered daily with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. There are two tours, one is 60 minutes and the other is 90 minutes long. Adults are $8 to $10/ Youth $4 to $5. Reservations are recommended by calling: (775) 234-7331 x 242

Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is a 12 mile, paved but steep and windy road. The upper part of the road is only open June through October. Other scenic drives are Baker Creek Road, Strawberry, Snake and Lexington Arch roads. Check with visitor center for conditions.

Bicycling is allowed only on the roads but there are primitive roads for those who want more of a challenge.

Pin Nut Gathering is allowed in fall at the park. There are regulations, so check with visitor center for more information.http://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/pinenutgathering.htm

Stargazing can be amazing at the park. On a good night thousands of stars, five planets, star cluster and the Milky Way can be seen. The Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Trail parking lot is a recommended spot, along with Mather Overlook, pullouts along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive and the Baker Archeological Site.http://www.nps.gov/grba/planyourvisit/great-basin-night-sky.htm

Wildflower Viewing is on hand beginning in May. Some recommended areas are the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, Island Forest Trail and Baker Creek Trail.

Winter activities available are skiing and snowshoeing, winter backcountry camping, winter hiking. Safety can be an issue and regulations are enforced. Check with visitor center for more information.

Other activities located in the park are bird watching, camping, caving, climbing, fishing, hiking and backpacking, horseback riding and picnicking.

The Fremont, a horticultural people, are known to have been in the Baker area about 1,500 years ago. About 700 years ago, the Shoshone came to the Great Basin area and their descendants live in the Ely, Nevada.

In the early 1800’s, trappers and military passed through the area. The 1850’s brought the pony express and people on the California Trail making their way west. Ranches began to be established a few years later With gold and silver discovered in the South Snake Range, six mines opened.

Absalom Lehman in 1870 discovered the Lehman Cave. He spent much of his life offering to show people the cave.