Great Basin National Park, near Baker, Nevada, is one of the more isolated national parks in the Lower 48 states, but it is well worth the drive. It protects Lehman Caves and the southern half of the Snake Range, including Wheeler Peak, the tallest at 13,063 feet. One feature of Wheeler Peak is a small glacier, the only glacier in the Great Basin region.

Visitors can tour Lehman Caves (actually just a single cave), one of the most decorated caves in the region. The scenic drive leads to a parking area at 10,000 feet. From there, hiking trails pass through bristlecone pine forests, which live for thousands of years. Trails lead hikers to alpine lakes, the glacier moraine and to Wheeler Peak itself. At that altitude, temperatures are cool or cold, and oxygen is thinning, so plan accordingly for any hiking.

There isn/t much in Baker, NV, although food at the Outlaw is pretty good. Nearby cities include Ely, Nevada, at 70 miles away, and Delta, Utah, at 100 miles away.

Mark Wasson, http://www.markwasson.com > Trips has detailed summaries of my trips