## ![](media/image1.wmf){width="0.875in" height="1.125in"}*A Quick Look at*

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.5708333333333333in"
height="3.6354166666666665in"}**Great Basin National Park**

**[Location:]{.underline}** Great Basin National Park is

located in eastern Nevada, 13 miles

from the Nevada -- Utah border. The

park is surrounded by public land

managed by the Bureau of Land

Management (BLM).

> **[Park Area:]{.underline}** The Great Basin Visitor\
> Center is located near the town of Baker.
>
> The Lehman Caves Visitor Center is just
>
> inside the park entrance. Exhibits, books,
>
> audiovisual programs all help illustrate the
>
> park's diversity and landscape. Park\
> rangers are available to answer questions,
>
> help you plan your visit, or provide
>
> information on current activities in the park
>
> and/or surrounding area.

**[Size]{.underline}:** Great Basin National Park covers an area of 120
square miles, or 77,100 acres.

**[Visitation]{.underline}:** An estimated 85,000 visitors come to Great
Basin National Park each year.

Highest visitation months are May through September. About 50,000 people
visit Lehman Caves annually.

**[Precipitation]{.underline}:** This park receives an average of 11
inches of precipitation, mostly in the form of snow. Snow typically
falls October through March, but it can snow anytime of the year at high
elevations. In the summer months, thunderstorms are common in late
afternoon. Weather can change rapidly.

**[Flora & Fauna]{.underline}:** In Great Basin National Park and the
neighboring valleys there are 11 species of conifer trees, 73 species of
mammals, 18 species of reptiles (snakes and lizards), 238 species of
birds, 8 species of fish, and over 800 species of plants.

**[Night Skies]{.underline}:** Great Basin National Park is one of the
best parks to experience the dark, according to the National Park Night
Sky Team, who visited the park in October 2004 and 2005.

**[Designations:]{.underline}**

**\* National Park -** October 27, 1986

**\* National Monument** - January 24, 1922

![](media/image3.jpeg){width="3.75in"
height="3.4569444444444444in"}**[What is The Great Basin?]{.underline}**

The Great Basin is a huge area stretching

from the Sierra Nevada Mountains in the

west to the Wasatch Mountains in eastern

Utah, and from southern Oregon and Idaho

in the north to the deserts of southern

California and northern Arizona. Within this

210,000 square mile area, there are hundreds

of mountain ranges separated by vast basins

or valleys. The distinguishing characteristic

of the region is the internal drainage. All

precipitation, whether in the form of rain

or snow, drains down into the basins where

it either evaporates or filters down into

underground aquifers. None of this water

reaches the ocean.

**[Why was Great Basin National Park Created?]{.underline}**

Located in heart of the Great Basin region, Great Basin National Park
has exceptional examples of the regional geology, geologic diversity,
and scenic grandeur. Among the significant geologic attractions of the
park are rugged cliffs, deep gorges, block-faulted mountains, numerous
caves, pinnacles, and remnants of the glacial age. In the 77,100 acres
of the park, visitors will find prime examples of the Great Basin region
which covers 210,000 square miles.

The park protects an array of plant and animal habitats, ranging from
upper Sonoran sagebrush communities to the alpine tundra zone. The
12-mile scenic drive takes visitors through a remarkable diversity of
landscapes including sagebrush desert, pinyon-juniper forests, mixed
coniferous forests, sub-alpine forests and alpine tundra. Each five life
zones include unique plant and animal species. Great Basin has one of
the darkest night skies in the country.

Great Basin National Park also contains a variety of cultural resources
associated with the history of human activity in the west and Great
Basin region. You can find evidence of prehistoric Native American
cultures, explorers, trappers, mountain men, settlers, and ranchers.

![](media/image4.jpeg){width="2.598611111111111in" height="4.0in"}

![](media/image2.jpeg){width="3.303472222222222in" height="3.375in"}

**[Activities in Great Basin National Park]{.underline}**

**[Lehman Caves]{.underline}:** This beautiful limestone cave *(a single
cavern despite its name)* is located just behind the Lehman Caves
Visitor Center. Daily ranger-guided cave tours take visitors into an
underground world highly decorated with stalactites, stalagmites,
columns, draperies, helictites, and flowstone. Lehman Caves is most
famous for the abundance of relatively rare formations called shields.

**[Hiking]{.underline}:** Wheeler Peak, second highest in Nevada at 13,
063 feet, is the dramatic apex of the park and cradles Nevada's only
glacier. A 4.3 mile trail leads to the top. Other trails in the area
lead to Stella and Teresa Lakes (1.1 and 0.7 miles respectively).
Another trail leads to an ancient grove of bristlecone pine trees, the
oldest living things on earth. Other noteworthy trails are Lexington
Arch, Baker and Johnson Lakes, and the Osceola Ditch Trails.

**[Scenic Drive]{.underline}:** The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, *12 miles
and 8 % grade*, gains 3,400 feet in elevation, passing through a variety
of habitats: pinyon-juniper woodlands, along a creek bed lined with
aspen trees, through a zone of shrubby mountain mahogany and manzanita,
into a deep forest of Engelmann spruce and Douglas fir, to the
flower-spangled meadows and sub-alpine forests of limber pine, spruce,
and aspen at the Wheeler Peak Campground. Several major trailheads are
located at the campground.

**[Fishing]{.underline}:** The Bonneville cutthroat trout is the only
fish native to Great Basin National Park. Other trout species in the
park include Lahonton Cutthroat, Rainbow, Brook, and Brown Trout. Lehman
Creek and Baker Creek are great streams to fish.

![](media/image5.jpeg){width="3.454861111111111in" height="3.75in"}

Whether you are here for a day trip\
or an extended stay, there are lots\
of things to do and see in Great\
Basin National Park. Other\
activities to enjoy include:\
backpacking, horseback riding,\
biking, bird watching, interpretive\
programs, camping, cross country\
skiing, snowshoeing, stargazing,\
nature walks, photography, and\
wildlife viewing.

![](media/image6.jpeg){width="3.25in" height="2.767361111111111in"}

Following photos by Marcia Phillips

**[Prehistory in the Great Basin Region]{.underline}**

![](media/image7.jpeg){width="3.4930555555555554in" height="4.875in"}The
area within and surrounding Great Basin National Park has been occupied
by people for approximately 12,000 years. The first cultural group to
occupy the area is what archaeologists call the **Paleo-Indians.** They
were in this area from about 12,000 to 9,000 years ago. They are
considered to have been game hunters; their prey were animals such as
bison, and the extinct mammoth and ground-sloth. They did not have
permanent houses because they were following the animal herds.

The Great Basin **Desert Archaic** is the next cultural group to occupy
this region. They were here from about 9,000 to 1,500 years

ago. These people were primitive hunter-gatherers who lived in roving
bands. A few stone tools, arrow points, and bones are all that remain of
this culture.

Later, between 650 and 1250 A.D. the

**Fremont** people flourished in the Great

Basin. Hunting in the mountains and

farming corn and squash in the valleys,

the Fremont developed unique and

distinctive types of pottery, moccasins,

![](media/image8.jpeg){width="1.7930555555555556in" height="2.25in"}and
basketry. They built small villages of adobe. Archeologists are puzzled

as to what happened to the Fremont

because they seem to have completely

vanished by 1250 A.D. Found throughout the Great Basin, thy mysterious
trapezoidal rock art figures of Fremont artists remain their greatest
legacy.

![](media/image9.jpeg){width="2.125in"
height="1.7708333333333333in"}**Shoshone** and **Paiute** peoples lived
in the area from 1300 until recently in small kin groups. They gathered
and hunted a variety of wild foods, but depended heavily upon the pinyon
pine nuts which they harvested every fall. Descendants of these peoples
still live in the area and continue to harvest this important food
source.

**[Plants of Great Basin National Park]{.underline}**

![](media/image10.png){width="1.6944444444444444in" height="2.375in"}*A
trip to Great Basin National Park is a journey into unsurpassed variety.
The hot, dry, monotonous views of the basins begin to change as one
begins to climb to the park entrance. Slight changes in altitude lead to
dramatic changes in natural communities.*

At the lower elevations near the park boundary you experience

the classic basin habitat. The dominant plants are **sagebrush**,

**greasewood**, **rabbit brush**, and **grasses**. Between 5000 to 8000

feet the first trees are found. **Pinyon Pine** and **Utah Juniper**

are dispersed with sagebrush, **Mormon tea**, and **prickly pear**

**cacti**. Many of the drier southern exposures support vast thickets

of **mountain mahogany**.

![](media/image11.png){width="1.9166666666666667in" height="2.03125in"}

![](media/image12.png){width="1.8888888888888888in"
height="2.1145833333333335in"} Between 8000 and 10,500 feet forests\
of **ponderosa pine**, **white fir**, and\
**Douglas fir** stand in stark contrast to\
the barren valley bottoms. Along\
stream courses the dominant tree is\
the **quaking aspen**. On the coolest\
north-facing slopes between 9000 and\
10,500 feet grow **Engelmann spruce**\
and **limber pine**. This cool, alpine\
climate is the least desert-like of all\
Great Basin communities.

![](media/image13.jpeg){width="2.7381944444444444in"
height="3.5104166666666665in"}The diverse habitats found in Great Basin
National Park give rise to hundreds of species of wildflowers. Many
flowers are attention-grabbing and dazzling with large blossoms and
stunning colors. Others require a more observant, but well rewarded,
eye.

On the highest, most barren and wind-blasted slopes

grow **bristlecone pines**. Forced by the harshest

conditions to grow slowly, bristlecones cling to life

for *literally* thousands of years, making them amongst

the oldest living things in the world. Some of the oldest

![](media/image14.jpeg){width="3.25in"
height="2.7083333333333335in"}bristlecones have been found near Wheeler
Peak.

![](media/image15.jpeg){width="4.5in"
height="2.8131944444444446in"}**[Wildlife of Great Basin National
Park]{.underline}**

Looking across the valleys of the Great Basin and its vast stretches of
sagebrush and desert, one would hardly imagine that 70% of all North
American mammals are found in this region. From the **kangaroo rat**,
which can survive without ever drinking water, to the **mountain lion**
that slips through the forest on silent paws, the variety of wildlife is
astounding. Many are secretive and low in population density.

In the lower elevation grassy plains, **pronghorn antelope**,
**coyote**, **jackrabbits**, **kit fox**, and **badgers** are frequently
seen. In the open woodlands and forests of the mid elevations look for
**mule deer, striped skunks**, **ringtail cats**, **ground squirrels**,
and **mice**. In the more rugged areas, **bobcats**, **mountain lions**,
**bighorn sheep**, and **marmots** are occasionally seen.

The park also provides habitat for a wide variety of reptiles such as
**sagebrush lizards**, **collard- lizards**, **skinks**, and the **Great
Basin Rattlesnake**.

![](media/image18.jpeg){width="1.9826388888888888in"
height="2.75in"}Bird observers have sited over 200 species of birds
within the park, including **golden eagles**, **pinyon jays**, **sage
grouse**, and **crossbills**.

With a little luck, correct timing, and patience, a wide array of
creatures may present themselves as you hike or drive across

![](media/image19.jpeg){width="1.7395833333333333in"
height="2.375in"}this area.

![](media/image20.jpeg){width="1.375in" height="1.0430555555555556in"}

![](media/image21.jpeg){width="2.4166666666666665in"
height="3.0208333333333335in"}

![](media/image24.jpeg){width="1.2631944444444445in"
height="2.0in"}**[The Geology of Lehman Caves]{.underline}**

*\"The finest workers in stone are not copper or steel tools, but the
gentle touches of air and water working at their leisure with a liberal
allowance of time.\"*

*Henry David Thoreau*

![](media/image25.jpeg){width="3.25in"
height="3.1493055555555554in"}Lehman Caves is a prime example of a

**limestone** solution cavern. The limestone

from which the cave is formed began

millions of years ago as soft, oozy

sediments at the bottom of a shallow sea.

Over time these soft sediments solidified

into limestone rock. Year after year rain

fell on the limestone. It soaked through

the soil and percolated downward through

tiny cracks until it reached the water table

(an area underground where every crack is

filled with water). The limestone around these

water-filled cracks slowly dissolved.

Cracks grew wider, formed open channels,

and became larger and deeper. Eventually

these cracks became open rooms, passages,

and chambers that make up Lehman Caves.

Over time the water in these underground chambers

drained away and was slowly replaced with air.

Seeping water has continued to enter these passages and chambers. Every
drop carries with it a small amount of calcite (mineral) that is
deposited along walls, ceilings, and floors. These deposits create
beautiful formations called **speleothems** (from Greek words
*spelaion*, meaning cave; and *thema*, meaning deposit). Lehman Caves is
decorated with fantastic examples of stalactites, stalagmites, columns,
draperies, flowstone, helictites, and shield formations.

![](media/image26.jpeg){width="6.5in" height="3.495138888888889in"}

Thank you for your interest in Great Basin National Park!

We hope that you find the enclosed brochure to be informative and
helpful. To obtain more in-depth information about the park resources
please visit: [www.nps.gov/grba](http://www.nps.gov/grba).

Or for specific questions, give us a call at (775)234-7331.

![](media/image27.png){width="5.5in" height="3.99375in"}

*"The National park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and
cultural resources and values of the national park system for the
enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations."*