Lehman Creek Trail - Great Basin National Park

Overview

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( Rated 3.0 / 1 Ratings )

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RATING: Moderate Hike

LENGTH: 1-2 hours if doing it one way (One Way Down 3.8 miles)

MAPS: WINDY PEAK, NV

SEASON: Summer, Fall

WATER: Bring all you need.

Wed

64° | 48°

Thu

67° | 48°

Fri

69° | 51°

Sat

70° | 52°

Sun

71° | 52°

Wide open views on the upper section of the trail.

Connecting the Wheeler Peak Campground to the Upper Lehman Creek Campground, the Lehman Creek Trail has a little over 2,000 feet of elevation change between the two trailheads. The trail passes through dramatically changing ecosystems - moving from pinyon-juniper woodlands and lush riparian creek bottoms filled with water birch into dense stands of quaking aspens, Douglas firs, and subalpine pines.

Shuttle Recommended: As an out-and-back hike, I wouldn't recommend this trail. If you can have someone drop you off at the top (or hitch a ride) and then hike down, it makes a lovely morning or evening hike.

Season Tip: If you're hiking in early autumn, the upper half of this trail is one of the premier spots in the park for fall foliage, as the massive aspen groves along the creek turn brilliant gold and orange.

Aspens on the upper section of trail.

Getting There

The trailhead is the Bristlecone Trailhead at the end of the Scenic Drive in Great Basin National Park. To get there, from downtown Baker, Nevada, head west on Lehman Cave Road (signed for Great Basin National Park) for about 4.8 miles, where you will turn right to follow the Scenic Drive up past the Lehman Creek campgrounds. This junction is right after entering Great Basin National Park.

Follow the scenic drive as it heads up.

Upper Lehman Campground Trailhead (recommended end)
The Upper Lehman Campground is about 2.4 miles up the scenic drive on the left, just before a hairpin turn. To spot a vehicle here, enter the campground and head toward the upper end of the campground. The trailhead is on the right with a small parking area and is signed.

Bristlecone Trailhead (recommended start)
From the Upper Lehman Campground, continue up the scenic drive for about 10 miles to its end at the Bristlecone Trailhead, just before the Wheeler Peak Campground.

Parking Note: The Bristlecone Trailhead is the start of several trails and also in a very scenic spot. It gets BUSY and can fill up early in the day. I would recommend an early start if visiting on a weekend or holiday.

Seasonal Note: The road to the trailhead is closed in the winter just above Upper Lehman Creek Campground. It is open to vehicles typically from late May or early June through late October depending on snowfall. Some people ski or snowshoe the road in the winter.

Dense forest along the trail.

Route Description

To The Trail
From the Bristlecone Trailhead, walk the campground road. It doesn't matter which way you go around the loop, but I went left. Follow the road to the low end of the main campground loop, where the trail leaves the campground road. It is signed and easy to find.

The Trail
Once on the trail, follow as it winds down the hillside. Initially, it meanders down away from the stream in more open forest. The trees and terrain change as the trail descends in elevation through different climate zones.

About 2.7 miles from the campground, the Oceola Ditch is crossed. There is a junction here that is signed. Continue straight, heading down to the Upper Lehman Campground trailhead about 3.5 miles from Wheeler Peak.