It was September 2016 when we headed to Utah through Nevada. Before this trip, I thought that Nevada is limited with Tahoe, Las Vegas and some red rocks on the south. That it’s only a big, hot, and dusty desert.
Truth to be told I planned to stop at Great Basin NP for this trip. Drive to Utah was long and we needed some exploration stops on the route. I didn’t research, so I had no ideas what waits for us there.
We left Elko on the morning with the goal to end up in Utah later that day. The only stop we planned was Great Basin. Navigator led us via highway 80 with the detour to Route 299. It was exactly the moment I cannot believe this is Nevada.


Scenic road that like snake headed somewhere between granite mountains, yellow desert flowers alongside the road, dramatic clouds. We stopped like few times, and I did series of photos on the go.







The road was long. Way longer that I thought it would be. Tired we stopped at the visitor center on the Great Basin park entrance. And it was hot.
We have few hours to check the park, so obvious choice was to head to Wheeler Peak Drive. And do short hike among bristlecones tree to the peak.

If down at the visitor center was hot on the elevation felt fresh. Clouds covered part of the skies, and my biggest worry was the possibility of the storm.
It was like the very beginning of the September but yellow colors were seen in some places.

The trail to the peak and its glacier goes through the ancient bristlecone trees. And it’s a sight to see!

When we reached the final section of the trail to the Wheeler peak we were the only there. And it become even more colder. The mountain did the expression. Tall and grey they reminded me about Torrey Pines, or about Tatres. It was a wow.
The brown and yellow desert valley was seen from this place to the very horizon and it made impression that we are on the top of the world.

It’s sad we had so little time to see the place. The timing of this visit and the views were so perfect. The lake, caves, unusual rocks and arches, and I even don’t mention snowshoeing in Winter!