Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Fall Colors Along The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Great Basin National Park is an eastern Nevada wilderness area vast and remote. The park has several mountain ranges, canyons, waterfalls, and hot springs, making it an ideal year-round destination for hiking, camping, wildlife viewing, and stargazing.
Great Basin National Park never fails to charm people with its beauty and sense of wonder. With its beautiful mountains, lush alpine forests, caves that are millions of years old caves, and many different kinds of animals, a desert park is a spectacular place for outdoor adventurers to play. It’s also a great place for people who love history. Even though Great Basin is one of the newest national parks in the United States, it has a long history that goes back before humans were even around. Since then, stories of Native American communities and early settlers in the West have spread through the Great Basin and its vast area, leaving many interesting artifacts, cultural relics, and heritage for travelers to enjoy and admire today. So, before you go to this fantastic park, you might want to learn some of its unique facts. These facts might spark your imagination and make your next trip even better.
We’ve compiled a list of the most beautiful places to take pictures in Great Basin National Park. Here, you’ll look at the park from a photographer’s point of view.
THE BEST GEAR TO TAKE PICTURES IN GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK
We recommend you bring the holy trinity together with a high-quality camera. The equivalent of a magnifying glass that can see through solid walls. Anything between 14 and 24 mm is fine. You’ll need a lens that can capture images from 24-70 millimeters and another that can capture images from 70-200 millimeters.
Do not worry if you do not have these lenses; something extremely close will do the job. In order to take breathtaking photos of the night sky and sunset, you should invest in a tripod.
Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
1. Wheeler Peak
Colorful Quaking Aspen Along Alpine Lakes Trail. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Fall Colors Along The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Early morning light on Wheeler Peak. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Wheeler Peak is one of the most popular destinations in Great Basin National Park, and it’s easy to see why. It stands at 13,063 feet tall – the highest point in Nevada – and has breathtaking views from its summit. The mountain is accessible via a short hike, making it ideal for families with young children and anyone who doesn’t want to travel far for some excellent photo opportunities.
2. Lehman Caves
Lehman Caves Gothic Room. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Lehman Caves in Great Basin Nevada. Stalagtites still growing. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Lehman Caves are a magical place in Great Basin National Park. They are one of the most spectacular features of the park and have been used as shelters by Native Americans for centuries. The stalactites, stalagmites, and flowstone add to the beauty of these caves. The formation is located in a large room with an arched ceiling, about 150 feet above the floor of the cave. It’s also known for its unique color palette.
3. Mather Overlook
Sunrise Over Confurion Range In Utah Viewed From Mather Overlook. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
The Mather Overlook is a popular spot for photographers, as it offers excellent views of the surrounding area. You can see two enormous mountains in Great Basin National Park for miles, including Wheeler Peak and Sardine Peak. The overlook is only a few minutes drive from the visitor center, and the road is paved, so it doesn’t take much effort to get here! Visit us at Great Basin NP today!
4. Jef Davis Peak
First light of day on Jeff Davis Peak. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Jef Davis Peak is a tall, narrow summit with several exciting features, including a pointed ridge on its south end and wide clefts through the middle. The summit is obstructed by a cliffy area with two cracks that lead to the top of the peak, offering some fun technical climbing for experienced climbers.
5. Bristlecone Pine Grove Trail
One Tree Bristlecone Pine Grove Trail. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
The Bristlecone Pine Grove Trail winds its way through a grove of bristlecone pines: one of the oldest species on Earth. These gnarled and weathered trees have been around since the time of the dinosaurs and have lived over 3,000 years longer than humans have existed. The trail is fairly short so you don’t need to be an experienced hiker to enjoy it. Though it’s rated Medium, it only has a 330-foot elevation gain along 0.65 miles. This trail is one of the best photography spots in Great Basin National Park, with wonderful views of the bristlecone pines. The Bristlecone Pine Grove Trail is a delightful hike through the ancient bristlecone pine forest that showcases aspen and oak groves amid sagebrush and wildflowers.
Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
6. South Fork Baker Creek Trail
South Fork Baker Creek Trail. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
South Fork Baker Creek Trail is one of the best photography spots in Great Basin National Park. The trail takes you through forests, high meadows, and volcanic terrains. It’s a great hike for families with children, with many locations to stop and rest along the way. There are many different types of flowers and animals to observe, so plan on bringing your camera!
7. Stella Lake
Stella Lake and driftwood. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Stella Lake is one of the best photography spots in Great Basin National Park. The lake itself is beautiful but it is also surrounded by some great rock formations. You can get down to the water level for a close-up shot or climb up the canyon walls for some really amazing views. During the fall and winter when the wildflowers are in bloom, this place looks like something out of a fairy tale.
8. Pyramid Peak
Pyramid Peak in the South Snake Range. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
This is one of the best photography spots in Great Basin National Park. It’s also incredibly beautiful. The hike itself is short and easy, with plenty of boulders to explore along the way. The valley below is stunning, with a blue sky dotted with clouds and Sheep Lake below. You can even find a little cave if you explore around the base! It’s a great spot for beginners. If you only have a few hours to spend in Nevada, we suggest that you make time to see Pyramid Peak at Great Basin National Park.
9. Alpine Lakes Trail
Nevada Great Basin National Park Alpine Lakes Trail. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
This hike is a great way to see some of the best scenery in Great Basin National Park. The alpine lakes are stunning and offer a variety of views. The trail is an easy five-mile trek that starts off through meadows and then gains elevation until you reach the first lake. From there, it drops in elevation again, leading you to more stunning views at the second lake before returning to your starting point. During the short season when snowmelt and spring rains fill these colorful lakes, the landscape is magical.
10. Quaking Aspen
Colorful Quaking Aspen Along Alpine Lakes Trail. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots 1
The Quaking Aspen is one of the best photography spots in Great Basin National Park. It is located on the south side of Wheeler Peak, just west of the park entrance at the Lehman Caves. This is a short hike but it’s worth it for the views, especially in the early season when there are fewer crowds. The colors of the landscape and the sweet scents of the wildflowers are as varied and beautiful as you would imagine. Try exploring this unique place for yourself. This photo shows a quaking aspen grove – one of our favorite photography spots in Great Basin National Park.
Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
11. Balanced Rocks
Great Basin Desert Balanced Rocks. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Balanced Rocks is one of the many hidden gems in Great Basin National Park. It’s located in the northern reaches of Snake Range, near the Nevada-Utah border. This dramatic rock formation is actually a collapsed cave system and is just 1 of 5 similar structures in the park. The hike to this scenic rock formation is relatively easy and gives you an opportunity to explore the beautiful landscape of Nevada’s high deserts. As you walk through this unique landscape, you’ll encounter an array of desert plants, including juniper trees, sagebrush, and prickly pear cactus.
12. Haskell peak
Haskell peak. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Haskell Peak is one of the best photography spots in Great Basin National Park. From this vantage point, you can see the entire Lincoln Creek area, as well as the entirety of Wheeler Peak Wilderness and other mountain ranges nearby. Hiking to Haskell Peak is one of the most spectacular hikes in Great Basin National Park. This 11-mile round trip hike takes you from the eastern edge of the Alvord Desert up over 6,947-foot-high Haskell Peak, which offers beautiful views of the surrounding country. Though it is an extremely challenging hike, with a 5,000-foot gain in elevation and constant exposure to the sun, high temperatures, and low humidity.
13. Teresa Lake
On Teresa Lake. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Lake Teresa is one of the best photography spots in Great Basin National Park. There is plenty of room for large groups and it’s a good place for all kinds of activities. It’s also very close to some wonderful hiking trails that are a must-do when visiting the park. The best time to photograph is early morning at sunrise when the sun hits the water, creating a beautiful golden glow.
14. Strawberry Creek Area
Sagebrush Fields in the Strawberry Creek Area. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Strawberry Creek is one of the best photography spots in Great Basin National Park. This area is best seen early in the morning when the sun is rising just below the horizon and lighting up the tall mountain peaks. While there, walk to an overlook to view picturesque landscapes and bright red trails. Stop by the visitors center to learn more about Great Basin National Park’s history. Strawberry Creek is a beautiful adventure photography spot, with a creek surrounded by cliffs and granite rock faces. It’s one of the best places to take images in Great Basin National Park. The area is set at 10,000ft elevation above sea level.
15. Granite Peaks
Granite Peaks Rising above the Desert on the Serviceberry Trail. Great Basin National Park Best Photography Spots
Granite Peaks is a beautiful trail that winds through alpine meadows and leads to incredible views of the Great Basin National Park. The hike is steep, strenuous, and long – but you’ll be rewarded by some of the best views in Nevada. While the park is popularly known for its namesake peaks, it’s also home to an abundance of wildlife and wildflowers that makes this a photographer’s dream. You’ll need to climb up a series of switchbacks and hike across a desert landscape to reach this epic vantage point. But one day is worth it for the breathtaking views that start at your feet as you climb up Skyline Drive.
THESE ARE OUR BEST PHOTOGRAPHY SPOTS IN GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK
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Where exactly are the balanced rocks located?