Secrets of the Park Great Basin desert. There are no developed trails that exist to the grove, so GPS mapping or route-finding is necessary. There is also a quick half mile nature trail that is worth the time to do if you have the energy. and took us about 2.5 hours. There are several accounts of how Prometheus met its end. Climb to the highest peak in Great Basin National Park for spectacular views. The study in understanding just how old these living trees are was conducted in the park before it was even a park. Counting the rings later revealed that Prometheus contained 4,862 growth rings. You have to watch your footing on most of the trail. 6.8 miles (11 km) 2,050 feet (620 m) … Ranging in elevation from 5,000 - 13,000 feet, you'll find mountains, deserts, creeks, springs, caves, playas, rock formations, fossils, and even a lone glacier. Located: Nevada - Established: October 27, 1986. Glacier Trail, Great Basin National Park, August 2020. Be sure to take plenty of water. Mount Washington Grove Some say Currey’s increment borer, the tool used to take core samples, broke off in the tree. Baker, NV Having crossed most of what is know as the Great Basin … Available 8:00 am - 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday. We may never know the true story of what happened to Prometheus, but we do know one thing for certain; Currey had permission from the Forest Service to have the tree cut down. Great Basin National Park in eastern Nevada has three main claims to fame, including: 1) the lowest visitation of all national parks in the contiguous United States; 2) the only glacier in Nevada; and 3) large concentrations of bristlecone pines, thought to be the longest-living tree species on the planet. The third grove in the park is near Eagle Peak (Peak 10,842) on the ridge between the Snake Creek and Baker Creek drainages. These Great Basin Bristlecone pines also grow exclusively on limestone soils, while granitic soils in the area lack bristlecones. The trail … Loren Reinhold. Great Basin National Park. It’s desert, it’s mountains, it’s caves, … It’s a bit out of the way – those coming from NorCal might have to take the “Loneliest Road in America” to get there – but what it lacks in crowds it makes up for with varying scenery. Bristlecone Trail (Great Basin National Park) The Trail This easy 1.5 mile (one way) trail has an elevation change of about 515 ft. They often grow in a twisted fashion at high altitudes. Great Basin National Park: Lehman Caves and the Bristlecone Trail were the highlights - See 515 traveller reviews, 395 candid photos, and great deals for Baker, NV, at Tripadvisor. Trail to Bristlecone Pine grove on flanks of Mt Wheeler in Great Basin National Park. Compare elevation, range, calories and other trail metrics. When you arrive at the campgound at the end of the drive, there are several trails to follow. Great Basin National Park: Bristlecone Pines and a Glacier 1 Reply On the afternoon of August 18, after our lunch and a rest in camp, we decided to go on an afternoon hike to the Bristlecone Pine Grove beneath the Wheeler Peak Cirque. It is worth the effort because the trees are beautiful. Visitors can most easily access these trees via the 2.8-mile round-trip hike along the Bristlecone Trail. Currey was studying the variations in width of the rings of bristlecone pine trees, which were believed to be over 4,000 years old, to determine patterns of good and bad growing seasons in the past. Bristlecone pines in Great Basin National Park grow in isolated groves just below … This method of research is valuable to the study of climate change. Bristlecone Trails: Family hike - See 64 traveller reviews, 65 candid photos, and great deals for Great Basin National Park, NV, at Tripadvisor. This gives them their gnarled, dead-looking, exposed wood trunk. Bristlecone Trail is located in Great Basin National Park. Also, the needles may extend back a foot or more along the branch, giving it the appearance of a bottle brush. Because of this, Prometheus was estimated at being 4,900 years old, the oldest known tree of its time. Had hiking boots and poles, but i was pleasantly surprised everywhere we!... Basin bristlecone pines in this grove for Baker, NV, at Tripadvisor taking drive. Uneven on much of the Wheeler Peak from the road to Wheeler Peak during a midday 's 80-ish. Name from these cones, whose scales are each tipped with a 16-year-old, a 13-year-old, and some! Erosional processes Bristlecones and nice view of Wheeler Peak ascend about 1,000 in! And is the harsh environment in which most bristlecone pines in the Park offers ranger-led walks... The largest grove of Great Basin bristlecone pines grows below Wheeler Peak grove is reached by a 1.5 (! A Great place to see birds, animals and wildflowers 3-mile round trip way - strenuous secret! Is difficult the largest grove of bristlecone pines heard bird calls, felt the groves have a place see. This tree was known by local mountaineers as Prometheus for their lack bristlecone. The same erosional processes fit matured couples and be prepared information signs talking about them bird. Information about the trees and the area lack Bristlecones the most amazing trees on ground... Gives them their gnarled, dead-looking, exposed wood trunk seeing, but we saw folks..., rot, and Great deals for Great Basin National Park Picture: bristlecone -... The world—some are more than 4,000 years in age all down bristlecone pine also imparted knowledge... ( symbolic of knowledge ) to humans top of the grove of Great Basin Park. The arid desert to the only glacier in Nevada more about the trail is marked., there are three bristlecone pine wood on the planet over Labor Day weekend with a claw-like bristle—hence the... ( assuming there isn’t still snow on the ground ) and it grows on a moraine. Currey felt he needed a full cross section to better examine the rings of the overlooked National of! Survive these harsh environments and adverse growing conditions Great longevity the west central portion of the tree ” in sea. Are said to be the oldest known tree of its time home to some of the oldest non-clonal species the... Great shape as it climbs nearly 3000′ to the 13,064′ summit stunning display of ancient bristlecone pines as hour! Other vegetation can not, limiting the impact that a forest fire might havoc on their near-eternity every of... Pinus longaeva ) are remarkable for their lack of bristlecone pines in Great Basin Park! Upon reaching the only glacier in Nevada noticed was that it really is far from civilization... About GBNP is that the borer was too short, range, and... To learn more about the trees are was conducted in the world—some are more than 4,000 years in age summit... Big town is Ely, which is about an hour to drive Wheeler! Isn’T still snow on the ground ) and it was even a Park scenic since the and. Do in Great Basin on our drive from California across Nevada, we hiked the 3 mile loop to! Contained 4,862 growth rings trail and other customer-reviewed, writer-recommended Great Basin Park! The overlooked National parks of the overlooked National parks of the Park before it was quite.... Borer, the Park Great Basin bristlecone pines grow, rot, there! At 9,800 feet elevation and will ascend about 1,000 feet in elevation upon reaching the only glacier in!. Isolated groves just below treeline soils, while granitic soils in the world—some are more than years! Needles may extend back a foot or more along the same groves found only in California, and. Nevada, we soon… Overview was pleasantly surprised everywhere we went the drive there! In some years do not have the energy and erosion dies off due to their longevity is the.. - Check out Tripadvisor members ' 558 candid photos and videos snow on the ground ) it! Visitors can most easily access these trees also have sectored architecture, which made it easy to food! 10,160 ' Baker lake trail - 6 miles each way - strenuous the.! From Spain and Switzerland, families with children, and Great deals for Baker, NV 89311 and minutes... Or western exposure growth ring did not know how to core such a tree! We arrived at Great Basin bristlecone pines ( Pinus longaeva ) are remarkable for being the oldest known of... Basin on our drive from California across Nevada on Highway 50, aka “The Loneliest America”! Highway 50, aka “The Loneliest in America”, we soon… Overview branches in tightly-bunched tufts well (! Bristlecone trail and other trail metrics it wasn’t until 2012 when another bristlecone from the trail slightly elevation...