Wheeler Peak (Nevada)

Wheeler Peak is a major mountain in Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada, rising to about 13,065 feet (3,982 metres). It is the highest peak within the core ranges of the park and a focal point for high-elevation recreation.

Hikers and climbers use trails that gain the summit area, which offers wide alpine views and access to high-elevation features such as a small cirque glacier and stands of ancient bristlecone pines. The area also provides backcountry routes and day-hike opportunities from trailheads inside the national park.

The peak is named for George M. Wheeler, leader of a late 19th-century U.S. government survey; the surrounding landscape later became protected as Great Basin National Park in 1986, preserving its geological and biological features.

Wheeler Peak is located within Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada, near the small town of Baker and well east of Nevada’s population centers.

• Elevation: The summit rises to about 13,065 feet (3,982 metres) and is the high point of the core Great Basin ranges within Great Basin National Park.
• Glacier and bristlecones: Hosts a small remnant glacier and stands of ancient bristlecone pines, notable ecological features within the park.

What to See#

• Wheeler Peak Glacier: A small cirque glacier lies below the summit and is one of the most southerly named glaciers in the United States.
• Summit and bristlecone pines: Summit area with alpine meadows and ancient bristlecone pines at high elevations.

• Plan for a summer visit (late May-September) when the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive and higher trails are usually open; check Great Basin National Park road and trail status before you go.
• Start the Wheeler Peak hike from the official trailhead at the end of the scenic drive early in the morning to avoid afternoon thunderstorms and to give yourself time for altitude acclimatisation.
• Include the Bristlecone Pine Trail on your itinerary-it's nearby, less crowded than the summit trail, and offers access to ancient bristlecones without adding a long detour.