The “Great Basin” is an area covering parts of 6 states (Nevada, Oregon, Utah, California, Idaho, and Wyoming) where water can only escape through evaporation; no oceans or rivers offer an escape route so precipitation is contained within its lakes and swamps.

Although beautifully representative of the area for which it’s named, Great Basin National Park covers only 120 square miles, whereas the region for which it’s named covers 200,000+ square miles. You do the math.

Located 300 miles north of Las Vegas in a remote part of Nevada, Great Basin National Park is best known for its ancient bristlecone pine trees, Lehman Caves, and 12 miles of trails with scenic features including Lexington Arch and Wheeler Peak.