Located near the little town of Baker in east-central Nevada, 296 mi/476 km northeast of Las Vegas, Great Basin National Park is one of the least-visited parks in the U.S., but that's not to say there's nothing to see. It offers 77,100 acres/31,201 hectares of impressive mountains, meadows, lakes, limestone caves and solitude. Established in 1986, Great Basin includes ice fields and a forest of bristlecone pines thought to be the oldest living things on Earth. One tree has been identified as being more than 4,900 years old.
Visitors can follow the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, a spectacular route reaching 10,000 ft/3,050 m in elevation as it passes many of the park's highlights. The other must-see attraction is Lehman Caves, limestone caverns that have produced complex and beautiful underground formations.
Another notable feature of the park is Lexington Arch, a towering limestone formation. There are also plenty of places for hiking, camping, picnicking and cross-country skiing.
The park is open daily, and there is no admission fee. Phone 775-234-7331. http://www.nps.gov/grba.
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