Great Basin National Park

Wheeler peak in Nevada. Photo is looking east-...

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Great Basin National Park

  • Where is it?: – Baker, NVNational Park
  • Special Topics: Caves ·
  • Recreation Activities: Auto Touring · Biking · Camping · Educational Programs · Fishing · Hiking · Horseback Riding · Wilderness Area · Wildlife Viewing

Great Basic National Park on first glimpse might seem barren, desolate, dead – but look a little closer and you’ll see that it’s actually very much alive and kicking – this region is extremely diverse, but unlike the many famous ghost towns close by, it is certainly not dead. You can definitely find more than your fair share of solitude in this wonderful vast place shaded by Wheeler Peak, all 13,063 feet of it, the desert is vast and one of the darkest places on earth – and that’s official.  Even though America is a vast country, many of its residents live in places which have measurable light pollution so they can’t really see the night sky in all its glory – enter the Great Basin National Park – a place which has such dark night skies that people flock there for its Astronomy Programs, in fact, an annual Astronomy Festival is held there every July – so if you like to gaze at the wonders of the Universe you know where to go.

Great Basin National Park is also just a great place to hang out – camping, hiking, biking, fishing – you know, all of the usual stuff in this very unusual and beautiful part of America.  The weather around there is not to be trusted so you really must be prepared for all eventualities – hot summers with thunderstorms, cold winters with snow and everything in between. Wrap up warm and remember your water-proofs.

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Stunning isn’t it? I’m not sure that some of the inhabitants look that well though, maybe they don’t get their five portions of fruit and veg a day!