Bristlecone Trail
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 0.7 mi
- round trip
- 578 ft
- climb
- 10,461 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Bristlecone Trail open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Great Basin National Park. It doesn't name Bristlecone Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive Winter Closure
Park closure covering Great Basin National Park · NPS · Great Basin National Park
As of · Source: NPS · Great Basin National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Bristlecone Trail is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Great Basin National Park in Nevada, managed by the National Park Service. The trail is about 0.7 miles long, and the round trip covers roughly 1.5 miles with a total elevation gain of about 578 feet, from a low point of about 10,175 feet to a high of about 10,461 feet. The steepest stretch comes early on, around 0.13 miles from the start, with a grade of about 14 percent. The hike is free to do, and it makes a quick addition to a day spent exploring the park's network of trails. The route is short enough to fit into about an hour, so plan on a short outing rather than a full-day commitment. Several other trails sit close by. Glacier Trail is about 0.6 miles away, and Wheeler Peak Summit Trail and Alpine Lakes Loop Trail are each about 0.8 miles off. Summit Trailhead is about 1.1 miles away.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Glacier Trail
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~1 min drive
Bristlecone Trailhead is located at the end of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. This is one of the most popular trailheads at Great Basin National Park. The Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Grove is a 1.4-mile hike from the trailhead. This trailhead also offers access to the Sky Island Fore…
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~2 min drive
The Summit Trailhead gives access to the Wheeler Summit Trail. This trail leads to the summit of Wheeler Peak, over 4.2 miles one way. This trail is considered strenuous and hikers should be prepared for a steep and exposed hike. Thunderstorms and high winds are common. Durin…
Photo: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Baker Creek Trail
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5.67-mile out-and-back hike in Nevada with 1,392 ft gain and 2,754 ft loss.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
