Bristlecone Trailhead
Photo: NPS / public domain- 0.7 mi
- loop
- 10,461 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- Easy
- difficulty
Is Bristlecone Trailhead open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Great Basin National Park. It doesn't name Bristlecone Trailhead, 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 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 Forest Trail, a wheelchair-accessible .4-mile interpretive loop trail and the Alpine Lakes Loop, a 2.7-mile loop trail which visits Teresa and Stella lakes. Parking is limited, please follow all parking and driving regulations.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Summit Trailhead
Next door
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: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Wheeler Peak
Next door
Standard route to Wheeler Peak (13,065 ft) from Summit.
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
~1 min drive
Scenic out-and-back alpine lake trail in Nevada's high country.
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Timber Creek Trail
~7 min drive
7.22-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 3,290 ft gain/loss and a max elevation of 9,859 ft.
Photo: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Wheeler Peak Summit Trail
Next door
1.06-mile out-and-back hike to Wheeler Peak summit in Nevada, gaining 454 ft.
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Wheeler Peak Summit Trail
~1 min drive
Wheeler Peak Summit Trail is a 3.03-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada.
Photo: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Osceola Ditch Trail
~4 min drive
Historic out-and-back hike following a scenic Nevada ditch system.
HIKE
Johnson Lake Trail
~11 min drive
7.74-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 3,206 ft elevation gain
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Bristlecone Trail
~1 min drive
0.74-mile out-and-back hike in Nevada with 121 ft elevation gain.
Photo: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Baker Creek Trail
~6 min drive
5.67-mile out-and-back hike in Nevada with 1,392 ft gain and 2,754 ft loss.
