Great Basin, Nevada & Cedar Breaks, Utah

Last Updated: May 28, 2026

From Idaho we headed south through Nevada to visit Great Basin National Park — one of the most remote and least-visited national parks in the lower 48 — before swinging east to Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah and then south to Las Vegas for a week of rest and family.

Great Basin National Park

The drive to Great Basin was peaceful, scenic, and genuinely remote. We crossed multiple small mountain ranges separated by broad valleys — each one roughly 15 miles wide — and saw almost no traffic. This is Nevada as few people ever see it.

The few human inhabitants in this region are cattle ranchers, spread so far apart it is hard to imagine life without a neighbor within 20 miles in any direction. After months of RV parks with 20 feet between sites, the scale of the emptiness was striking. At night the skies were completely free of light pollution — as dark as anywhere we camped on the trip.

Great Basin National Park covers about 77,180 acres in the Snake Range of eastern Nevada. Wheeler Peak — the park’s crowning summit — rises to 13,063 feet, the second-highest peak in Nevada. The park also contains Lehman Caves, a network of marble and limestone caverns formed over millions of years, and some of the oldest living organisms on Earth: ancient bristlecone pines, several of which are over 5,000 years old.

The aspen were in peak fall color and lined the hiking trail we took up above 11,000 feet. We hardly noticed how short of breath we were — the aspen gold against Wheeler Peak and a deep blue sky made the altitude entirely worth it.

Visitor Information — Great Basin National Park: Address: 100 Great Basin National Park, Baker, NV 89311. Hours: Park open year-round; visitor center daily 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Admission: Free (no entry fee). Phone: (775) 234-7331. Website: nps.gov/grba.

Cedar Breaks National Monument

Cedar Breaks was designated a National Monument in 1933. The rim of the natural amphitheater sits at over 10,000 feet elevation — we had tried to visit here in spring but the road was still closed from snow. A hiking trail runs along part of the rim with sweeping views into the eroded formations below.

Similar to Bryce Canyon, the eroded formations display brilliant layers of red, orange, and yellow — carved from the same Claron Formation of ancient limestone and iron-rich sediments. Cedar Breaks sits at a higher elevation than Bryce and tends to draw far fewer visitors.

The aspen along the rim trail were at peak color — golden yellow against the red rock below and a clear blue sky above.

A hawk posed in the aspens while sheep grazed the hillsides nearby — giving Jake a chance to observe them at close range. The Brian Head ski resort is just a short drive away, though it was between seasons with no restaurants open during our visit.

Visitor Information — Cedar Breaks National Monument: Address: 2390 W Hwy 56 Suite 11, Cedar City, UT 84720. Hours: Open late May–mid-October (road closed in winter due to snow); dawn to dusk. Admission: $10 per vehicle. Phone: (435) 986-7120. Website: nps.gov/cebr.

Las Vegas

We stayed at the Las Vegas RV Resort — a very nice property with five pools and hot tubs. It was a bit pricey, but the internet was fast enough for Netflix every night, and after months on the road that felt like luxury. Las Vegas was a good place to rest, resupply, and catch up before heading on.

Michael’s sister Terri is an amazing artist based in Henderson. She incorporates organic materials — flowers, leaves, and pomegranates — directly into her paintings, creating textured, living pieces unlike anything else. We have been fortunate to have some of her work hanging in our home.

Visitor Information — Visit Las Vegas: Address: 3150 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109. Hours: Daily 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Phone: (702) 892-0711. Website: visitlasvegas.com.

Practical Tips

Great Basin National Park is one of the least-visited national parks in the lower 48 — and one of the most rewarding for those who make the effort. Go in late September or early October for peak aspen fall color combined with smaller crowds and open hiking trails. The Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive reaches 10,000 feet and offers dramatic views without strenuous hiking.

Book a Lehman Caves tour when visiting Great Basin. These marble caverns beneath Wheeler Peak are the park’s most unique feature and can only be seen on a ranger-led tour. Tours sell out, especially on weekends — reserve online in advance through recreation.gov.

The altitude at both Great Basin and Cedar Breaks will catch you off guard. Trails at Great Basin climb above 11,000 feet; Cedar Breaks sits entirely above 10,000 feet. Pace yourself, stay hydrated, and allow a day to acclimatize if arriving from lower elevations.

Cedar Breaks road closes entirely in winter, typically November through June. The road to the rim is not plowed and is inaccessible under snow. Check current conditions on the NPS website before planning a visit — late September to mid-October is the ideal window for fall color and open access.

Fill your gas tank before leaving Baker, Nevada if heading deeper into the Great Basin. Services on US-93 and US-6 through eastern Nevada are minimal and spaced far apart. The Basin and Range landscape is beautiful but unforgiving if you run low on fuel or supplies.

The Las Vegas RV Resort is convenient but expensive. It books up quickly, especially on weekends and holidays. For a longer stay, consider alternatives in nearby Henderson or Boulder City that offer lower rates while still being easy driving distance from the Strip.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Great Basin National Park worth the remote drive? Great Basin is one of the few national parks with no entry fee, minimal crowds, and an extraordinary range of experiences in a small area — Wheeler Peak at 13,063 feet, Lehman Caves marble caverns, ancient bristlecone pine groves, and some of the darkest skies in the continental United States. It is one of the most underappreciated gems in the entire national park system.

What are the bristlecone pines at Great Basin, and why are they significant? Ancient bristlecone pines (Pinus longaeva) grow in the high elevation groves near Wheeler Peak and are among the oldest living organisms on Earth. Some individual trees in the region are over 5,000 years old — older than the Egyptian pyramids. The harsh, rocky, high-altitude environment paradoxically extends their lifespan by slowing growth and limiting disease.

How does Cedar Breaks National Monument compare to Bryce Canyon? Cedar Breaks is carved from the same Claron Formation as Bryce Canyon and displays similar vivid hoodoo colors of red, orange, and white. Cedar Breaks sits at a higher elevation (over 10,000 feet at the rim) and is significantly less crowded than Bryce. It is smaller — essentially a single natural amphitheater — but the views are just as spectacular, and the fall color along the rim trail is exceptional.

When is the best time to visit Cedar Breaks National Monument? The road to the rim is typically open from late May or June through mid-October, depending on snowpack. Late September and early October offer the best combination of open access and peak aspen fall color. Summer months bring wildflowers and cooler temperatures than the desert below. The monument receives little visitation compared to its southern Utah neighbors.

What should RV travelers know about driving to Great Basin National Park? The approach roads through Nevada’s Basin and Range landscape are stunning but very remote. US-93 south from Twin Falls and US-6/50 west of Ely cross some of the least populated terrain in the lower 48. Full RV hookup options near the park are limited — plan ahead, carry extra supplies, and verify campground availability at the park’s Wheeler Peak Campground (first-come, first-served) or Baker, Nevada.

What is Lehman Caves at Great Basin National Park? Lehman Caves is a single large cavern beneath the Snake Range, featuring marble and limestone formations including stalactites, stalagmites, cave shields, and rare cave helictites. Rancher Absalom Lehman discovered the cave in 1885. Today it can only be visited on a ranger-led tour — the 60-minute Grand Palace Tour is the most popular option and is highly recommended as a complement to the surface hiking.