wheeler peak

**This review is for the drive up as well as wheeler peek campground only**While the drive up to the peak was very nice, you will encounter drivers that are on your tail wanting you to hurry up, as well as drivers in front of you that are driving at a snail’s pace. This however is not a big deal in the overall picture. There are a few very good spots to pull over and check the view out, but nothing that is jaw dropping. The one bonus is that there is no fee to enter the park.The campground itself is not good at all. Almost all of the sites are small, uneven, and provide no privacy. If someone is talking loud within 100 yards you will hear and see where it is coming from. It seems like the park management decided to cut their regular campsites in half in order to fit more people in. To me it was not worth it and I camped at the base of the park for free.

This peak is 13,063 ft. The trailhead is at 9886 ft, so it is a pretty strenuous hike. The first two miles are a stroll through the park, but once you hit treeline, it gets strenuous. Like using your hands to help get over the boulders strenuous. Bring lots of water and start the hike early to avoid potential afternoon thunderstorms.

The view from the top of Wheeler Peak is breathtaking. The air is fresh and crisp. The signage is good with several overlooks on the way up along with camp grounds. Good hiking trails. Dress warm in September. The rangers recommend shoes and socks with ankle supports.

Over 10,000 feet! Dress warm and be prepared for thin air. Beautiful views and great smell. We opted out of the "Full Moon" hike (we were under dressed and not up for the altitude). If you love mountain areas, check it out!

This was a wonderful 12 mile ride up to the top which is at 10,000 ft. There are a few pull offs which give you breath taking views of the Great Basin. We had a wonderful day at Great Basin National Park. I totally recommend this ride up Wheeler Peak.

Its about 3000 feet from the parking lot to the summit. A pretty straightforward if strenuous hike past a lake. Some boulder hoppng near the top of the rocky trail. The summit is actualy a narrow ridge with spectacular views in all directions. A very worthwhile hike.

We drove to the top of Wheeler Peak to explore the area. The drive is quite steep and windy. You rise over 3000 feet in elevation on the way up to wheeler peak in just under eight miles. Once at the top there is a campground and parking area so visitors can explore the area. We took the bristlecone tree hike. The hike is just over two miles but the area is so beautiful and peaceful it is well worth the time to take the hike.

Wow...tough hike up but completely worth the views at the top! Might be challenging for those who struggle with heights but still worth the adventure!

We greatly enjoyed our drive up Wheeler Peak. We could not go all of the way because the road was closed at the snowline, but there was a great parking area with restrooms, views, and decks. From the observation area we saw a flock of wild turkeys in a field below. The mountain views are just amazing. One important note is to be sure your vehicle is in the lowest gear on the way down, and stop occasionally to avoid burning out your brakes. You will want to stop for pictures anyway, and there are a number of good safe places to pull off the road. Wheeler Peak is definitely worth the drive.

Decided to drive out to this truly remote part of the country on Sept 27th of 2013. For those in lower elevations, special planning is needed to visit the higher peaks in the west. The hiking season is from June to late September, weather permitting, so pay careful attention to the weather before packing. We did our research and were expecting cooler temps at the summit but were a little worried when the forecast said snow, single digit temps, and 50+ mph winds. Layers! We drove the 3+ hours to Baker, NV from St George, UT and planned on acclimating at Wheeler Peak campground which is right at 10,000 ft. Unfortunately, the front with the cold air also brought up to 10 inches of snow in some places and the campground was closed. We asked for a special exception and were politely turned down. Instead we made the best of our new assignment at Upper Lehman Creek and hoped for a halfway decent spot. It was perfect. A fresh coating of snow in late September can do wonders for the spirit. We erected our tents as the flurries came down with the sound of the creek only 20 yards away. We left for the summit of Wheeler Peak at around 7am the next morning and were amazed by how much snow was on the trail. We opted for a longer route via the Alpine Lakes Loop. Views over the water with the mountains and aspen in the background are simply jaw dropping. The snow and ice turned this into an adventure through the rugged Swiss countryside. The trail got steeper after hitting the saddle, and 10 degree inclines turned to 20, then 30. Using my hands became common place, and the slick conditions turned this into a scramble. The drop offs just below the peak were hairy. Small stone wind-shelters lined the ridge at the summit, one of which contained the mailbox with the summit registry inside.100 mile vistas in all directions with the Snake Range as the main attraction... It was incredible. While the hike to the top of Wheeler Peak proved challenging, it was our lack of experience above 12,000 ft would be more costly. The temps were well below freezing, and the snow made loose footing that much worse, but it was the sun and thin air that ultimately did me in. It would be hours before I realized that the dryness in my eyes and the sensitivity to light was actually the onset of snow blindness. On the flight home that night, I woke up with tears streaming down my face, eyes burning, incapable of opening them even the slightest bit. When the flight landed and I woke up, I was able to open them just enough to drive home thanks to a cheap pair of sunglasses from a gas station. SUNGLASSES! I'll never leave home with out them again. The second casualty was AMS, or altitude sickness. This usually happens above 10K ft and symptoms include nausea, headache, slurred speech, loss of appetite, and lethargy. I had all those - but thankfully - not until I had already begun the descent! The only cure is to go down, which is what I was already doing, and once I hit the tree line, I was back to my old self. All in all, I got what I wanted from this trip which was to test my limits on a 13,063 ft mountain. I survived, but definitely did not win.

It is a strenuous hike and good physical conditioning is necessary to make it to the top. I went with my father (63) and we made it to the first summit, but didn't take the ridge to the top. I don't recommend this hike for seniors or small children. The last week of September will give you peak foliage -see attached photo taken 9/25/13.

Having ridden my motorcycle up the road to the Wheeler Peak campground a few years ago, and having seen the excellent bristlecone forest, I had to climb the mountain. For this trip in late August 2013 my friend Don and I did a number of local trails to become acclimated. At 63 we needed the extra time and there are some interesting sights to see at this 10,000 starting point.Wheeler Peak is really just a hike up, starting at a moderate elevation gain and then getting steeper as one approached the talus trail. The top is just a jumble of rock with many rock shelters built to protect one from the frequent thunderstorms. There is a summit register.The campground was not crowded for the Labor Day weekend and afford private sites in an aspen forest. Worth the long drive from anywhere.We have senior passes which saved $6 from the camping fee and the park does not charge for entrance. These senior passes are a joke, providing those who actually have the assets a free pass into any federal facility, along with their friends and family. This plus half the camping fees, all for a $10 lifetime pass. There really should be an entrance fee for everyone.

The drive up to the mountain is breathtaking. The glacier is wonderful and it is so quiet. We just sat and listened to the wind through the trees and took some nice walks.

A very challenging hike but worth every ounce of effort. You go up 3000 feet in 4.5 miles, and that's starting at 10,000 feet and going to just over 13,000. The views along the way and at the top are just awe inspiring and give a magnificent sense of what makes the Great Basin great. If you have what it takes, go for it by all means.

Wheeler peak is the 2nd highest pea in nevada! Although it is a strenuous 9 mile hike, the view along the trail and at the top is more than worth it!