Great Basin National Park: Lakes Loop
See trees older than the Bible, the only glacier in Nevada, and more on this 4.4-miler through the rippling Snake Range of eastern Nevada.
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Trail Facts
- Distance: 5.6
Waypoints
Wheeler Peak Glacier
Location: 38.9975242614746, -114.304542541504
Wheeler Peak Glacier, a remnant from the last Ice Age, clings to the east side of Wheeler Peak. ©Timbre Beck-Murphy
Bristlecone Grove
Location: 39.0028190612793, -114.304611206055
These thousand-year-old trees cling to the rocky slopes below Wheeler Peak. This area was home to the infamous “Prometheus” tree; w hen it was cut down it was the oldest specimen on earth. ©Timbre Beck-Murphy
Views to Wheeler
Location: 39.0052337646484, -114.309364318848
Climbing the trail, views open to the spires of Wheeler Peak. ©Timbre Beck-Murphy
Long view
Location: 39.0059509277344, -114.304489135742
An open glance to the full wall of Wheeler Peak. ©Timbre Beack-Murphy
Quiet Stream
Location: 39.0027008056641, -114.311874389648
Here the trail cross a shaded outflow stream off of Teresa Lake. ©Timbre Beck-Murphy
Alpine Zone
Location: 39.0063552856445, -114.318542480469
Reaching Stella Lake, take in a wide-open gaze across this sparse alpine tundra–one of Wheeler Peak’s five life zones. ©Timbre Beck-Murphy
Meadow
Location: 39.0092468261719, -114.311180114746
An open meadow gives looks to the crumbly peaks that dominate the horizon during this hike. ©Timbre Beck-Murphy
Flower
Location: 39.0097961425781, -114.309173583984
©Timbre Beck Murphy
View from the road
Location: 39.0099639892578, -114.307739257812
Snow-draped mountains rise to the west from the Scenic Drive. ©Timbre Beck-Murphy
GBL001
Location: 39.0098838806152, -114.30786895752
Head W on Alpine Lakes Trail; cross creek on walkway, scanning for trail marker on hill to R
GBL002
Location: 39.0093383789062, -114.311096191406
Hop over creek; plenty of mule deer frequent this spot
GBL003
Location: 39.0094299316406, -114.315101623535
Turn L @ T
GBL004
Location: 39.0077857971191, -114.317070007324
Go L @ Y into sun-kissed meadow with views of Wheeler Peak. Peakbaggers: Turn R for tough 3.1-mi. trek up Wheeler
GBL005
Location: 39.0063018798828, -114.318702697754
Pass shores of glacier-fed Stella Lake
GBL006
Location: 39.0027008056641, -114.311996459961
Head downhill to feeder stream above Teresa Lake, an emerald tarn reflecting the giant peaks above
GBL007
Location: 39.0053482055664, -114.309501647949
R @ Y onto Bristlecone and Glacier Trail
GBL008
Location: 39.0058898925781, -114.30460357666
Bear S for more glimpses of Wheeler’s crumbly spires
GBL009
Location: 39.0028114318848, -114.30460357666
L @ T onto small loop in super-old bristlecone groves; in 1964, a grad student cut down the nearby 4,862-year-old Prometheus Tree. Close loop, turn L, and climb to moraine of Wheeler Peak glacier
GBL010
Location: 38.9975318908691, -114.304702758789
Ribbons of boulders line amphitheater carved by an active glacier. Backtrack to WPT 7 and go R on Alpine Lakes Trail for .5-mi. return to car
