Great Basin National Park

Welcome to Great Basin National Park, where you can experience desert heat and alpine cold in one day. The park rises from a sea of sagebrush to treeless rocky summits. Its name refers to the huge geographic area shown at right where waters have no outlet to the sea. Streams and rivers drain into shallow salt lakes, marshes, and mud flats, eventually evaporating in dry desert air. The Great Basin contains many smaller basins separated by mountain ranges running north to south. The undulating basin-and-range topography stretches across Nevada and into four other states.

The repetitive landscape could seem monotonous, but looks can deceive. Life teems in the desert's sagebrush "sea." Mountain ranges are "islands" of cooler air and more water. Plants and animals have adapted to thrive in such isolated environments.

Congress set aside Great Basin National Park in 1986 to preserve one of these desert mountain islands-the South Snake Range. From desert and sagebrush at its base to Wheeler Peak's 13,063 foot summit, the park offers streams, lakes, abundant wildlife, varied forests, alpine plants, and limestone caverns.

Great Basin National Park also provides a rare opportunity in our world to view a truly dark night sky. This remote park still has clean air hardly any light pollution. Its night sky offers brilliant views of planets, constellations, and the Milky Way. To protect and celebrate these panoramic views of the night sky, Great Basin National Park was designated an International Dark Sky Park in 2016.

Business Fax: 775-234-7269

ZIP Code: 89311

Membership Year: 2008