Wheeler Peak and Bald Mountain in Great Basin National Park, NV

Hike Wheeler Peak and Bald Mountain Great Basin National Park, NV

Class 2 9.7 miles 3500 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Sep 12, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Great Basin National Park sprawls across 77,000 acres in eastern Nevada, blending high desert expanse with ancient bristlecone pine forests. Wheeler Peak is the cloud-poking colossus at the highest point of the park, and while this park's remoteness does preclude higher visitation, the combination of incredible views and a well-maintained trail leading to the summit means this is still a popular hike. If not for Boundary Peak on the opposite side of the state this would be Nevada's high "point", but since Boundary Peak doesn't make the 300-foot prominence rule, Wheeler Peak is technically the highest "peak". It's nice that the road begins so high up that the hike to the peak is relatively short, and the views toward Wheeler Peak's eroded, pinnacle-filled north slopes along the scenic drive excite me every time. A few years ago I pieced together a lengthy traverse of the central/southern Snake Range, and today was supposed to be a traverse of the northern peaks, but poor weather stopped us at only two we intended to summit.

Matt and I both forgot various things from the car multiple times before we finally set out from the Wheeler Peak Trail, initially a mostly flat hike with views through the aspens toward the Wheeler Peak cirque. The trail bypasses Stella Lake, but I recommend taking the short side-trip to enjoy the relaxing little alpine lake. The majority of this hike follows the Wheeler Peak Trail, but we deviated to reach Bald Mountain on our ascent. This minor summit to the north of Wheeler Peak is among Nevada's coveted 11,000-foot peaks, but doesn't have a trail leading to it. After leaving the trail, a progressively steepening slog up a grassy slope brought us to the peak's south ridge, where a mixture of tundra and rocky terrain continued to the summit. We enjoyed the views toward the various peaks of the Great Basin Desert and Range, especially Mount Moriah's bulk to the north.

We headed south to rejoin the Wheeler Peak Trail, rocky terrain bordering on Class 2 and a short section of forest breaking up the otherwise easy tundra hike. The trail's grade became more significant as it began working up Wheeler Peak's northern slope and above tree line. Toward the base of the ascent the talus was small and the trail tame, but the talus grew in size. The trail builders for this one hopefully received a medal because the talus has been rendered a non-issue and we were able to preserve nearly our normal hiking pace. It was nice to not have to boulder-hop for a change and just get to enjoy looking down thousands of feet to the desert floor below. Clouds rolled in, and then thunder, but we pressed on. Normally I would have turned back, but there's something about passing other people on the trail during a thunderstorm that makes a dumb decision feel safer. A wall of mist hit the summit ridge, a really cool phenomenon, but of course this meant we wouldn't be seeing much at the summit of Wheeler Peak. We finished the last few hundred feet of the steep trail and rushed back down as the thunder intensified. I supplemented below with photos from my first time up here in August, 2015 when there was more favorable weather. On our way back we took the Wheeler Peak Trail the whole way to the car.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Bald Mountain
11562 ft
688 rise
2
Wheeler Peak
13063 ft
7563 rise

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Starting from the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail.
Starting from the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail.
A very gradual start to the trail.
A very gradual start to the trail.
A view through the aspens toward Wheeler Peak (right) and Doso Doyabi (left).
A view through the aspens toward Wheeler Peak (right) and Doso Doyabi (left).
Image 3 from gallery
Progress along the Wheeler Peak Trail as it starts to switchback toward the ridge.
Progress along the Wheeler Peak Trail as it starts to switchback toward the ridge.
We left the trail to ascend this grassy slope so we could reach Bald Mountain first.
We left the trail to ascend this grassy slope so we could reach Bald Mountain first.
View back as we ascend the slope, Wheeler Peak in the distance.
View back as we ascend the slope, Wheeler Peak in the distance.
Along the ridge, heading toward Bald Mountain.
Along the ridge, heading toward Bald Mountain.
View back toward Wheeler Peak as we progress to Bald Mountain.
View back toward Wheeler Peak as we progress to Bald Mountain.
Near the summit, view back.
Near the summit, view back.
Bald Mountain summit, view toward Mount Moriah.
Bald Mountain summit, view toward Mount Moriah.
Mount Moriah and its various sub-peaks.
Mount Moriah and its various sub-peaks.
We backtracked and continued to the Wheeler Peak Trail.
We backtracked and continued to the Wheeler Peak Trail.
View back toward Bald Mountain. There were some rocky sections, but nothing too annoying.
View back toward Bald Mountain. There were some rocky sections, but nothing too annoying.
Approaching the trail.
Approaching the trail.
Back on the trail, view back toward Bald Mountain.
Back on the trail, view back toward Bald Mountain.
Ascending the north ridge of Wheeler Peak.
Ascending the north ridge of Wheeler Peak.
A view back, Bald Mountain seen center.
A view back, Bald Mountain seen center.
Image 18 from gallery
The steeper stuff is coming.
The steeper stuff is coming.
Another shot back as we start up Wheeler Peak's talus.
Another shot back as we start up Wheeler Peak's talus.
The trail was constructed very well, cutting through pretty much all difficulty.
The trail was constructed very well, cutting through pretty much all difficulty.
Wheeler Peak ahead.
Wheeler Peak ahead.
View back at our progress up the ridge.
View back at our progress up the ridge.
Getting higher. Stella Lake seen center.
Getting higher. Stella Lake seen center.
A bit rockier, but still a well-constructed trail.
A bit rockier, but still a well-constructed trail.
Doso Doyabi poking out.
Doso Doyabi poking out.
The cloud-cover swarmed us.
The cloud-cover swarmed us.
View down into the Wheeler Peak cirque.
View down into the Wheeler Peak cirque.
Nearing Wheeler Peak's summit.
Nearing Wheeler Peak's summit.
View south toward the Snake Range. Photo from August 2015.
View south toward the Snake Range. Photo from August 2015.
View south toward Baker Peak and the southern Snake Range. (August 2015)
View south toward Baker Peak and the southern Snake Range. (August 2015)
Doso Doyabi and the cirque from near the Wheeler Peak summit. (August 2015)
Doso Doyabi and the cirque from near the Wheeler Peak summit. (August 2015)
A shot toward the cirque at the base of Doso Doyabi. (August 2015)
A shot toward the cirque at the base of Doso Doyabi. (August 2015)
A view toward the desert floor far below. (August 2015)
A view toward the desert floor far below. (August 2015)
Looking down at Stella Lake from the Wheeler Peak trail. (August 2015)
Looking down at Stella Lake from the Wheeler Peak trail. (August 2015)
Wildflowers along the Wheeler Peak Trail. (August 2015)
Wildflowers along the Wheeler Peak Trail. (August 2015)
Along the Wheeler Peak Trail, a shot toward the cirque. (August 2015)
Along the Wheeler Peak Trail, a shot toward the cirque. (August 2015)
Stella Lake spur trail. (August 2015)
Stella Lake spur trail. (August 2015)

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Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!