About
Length (round trip)4.8 mi
ShapeOut-and-Back
DifficultyHard
Elevation gain1,100 ft up
Typical time3 hr
TrailheadBristlecone trailhead, Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
SurfaceForest, then a large boulder field
Best seasonJuly to September for the high trails; the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive is closed by snow roughly November to June.
DogsLeashed / limited stretches
AccessibilityThis trail is not accessible.
What you'll see 🌄 Big views

Trail Overview Total Distance: 4.8 miles / 7.7 kilometers Starting elevation: 9,890 feet / 2,987 meters Elevation Gain: 1,040 feet / 317 meters Difficulty: Moderate Time: 2 hours - 4 hours Begin at : Bristlecone Trailhead/End of the Scenic Drive Great Basin National Park is unique for many reasons, but one rare sight in the deserts of the southwest are glaciers. The Wheeler Peak Glacier is the last surviving glacier in Nevada and getting smaller by the year due to the effects of human caused climate change. Nowadays referred to as a "Rock Glacier," The Wheeler Glacier is an amalgamation of rock and ice, slowly drifting down the sides of the Wheeler Cirque, once solid but slowly carved out by glaciers like the surviving one. Follow the trail past the Bristlecone Pine grove to see the glacial remnants and read interpretive signs about this park's long history of glacial formation. The Bristlecone Trail overlaps the first 1.4 miles of this trail and the total distance above includes the Bristlecone Trail in its calculations. See the trail map below (unavailable on NPS app) for clarification on the overlapping sections. Beginning at an elevation of just under 10,000 feet, these trails provide both a respite from the summer heat of the Snake Valley, but also added dangers in the form of altitude sickness and afternoon thunderstorms. Be prepared with plenty of water and salty snacks, or to return to your vehicle if you become symptomatic of altitude sickness or see thunderclouds rolling in. This hike starts at the Bristlecone Trailhead at the end of the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Parking outside of designated spaces or along the road is prohibited. No pets permitted on park trails. Trained service animals allowed. Learn more about service animal regulations at this link. Water Potable water is not available along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. Pack sufficient water with you, about one gallon per person per day. Water is available year-round at the nearby Lehman Caves Visitor Center or seasonally at the dump station. Restrooms The nearest restrooms are pit toilets with no running water at the Bristlecone Trailhead.

Tips
The final section crosses a big unstable boulder field - slow going and hard on ankles. The ice is buried under the rock, which is what has preserved it.
Location

Bristlecone trailhead, Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive

Other Hikers
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