Nevada · Hiking

Sage Steppe loop trail

1.2 mi
loop
246 ft
climb
8,154 ft
high point
Loop
route
Apr–Oct
best months

Clear today

Weather is good · OpenWeather · checked 58 min ago

Is Sage Steppe loop trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Great Basin National Park. It doesn't name Sage Steppe loop 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.

The Sage Steppe loop trail is a short, easy hike in Great Basin National Park in Nevada, managed by the National Park Service. The loop is about 1.2 miles long, with a total elevation gain of 246 feet, and it rises from a low point of about 7,892 feet to a high of about 8,154 feet. The trail is a loop, so it starts and ends at the same place. It is rated easy, and the climb is gentle, making it a good choice for a short outing in the park. Horses are allowed, but dogs and bikes are not. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 85°F with lows near 58°F, while winter highs sit around 40°F. That station sits about 1,300 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the loop run cooler. The Upper Strawberry Trail is about half a mile away, and the Osceola Ditch Trail is about a mile off. The Wheeler Peak Summit Trail and Wheeler Peak are both about 2.6 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Oct

    Best time to visit Sage Steppe loop trail

    Best months: April–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      40° / 20°

      6 wet

    2. Feb

      41° / 21°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 27°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 32°

      7 wet

    5. May

      64° / 40°

      7 wet

    6. Jun

      76° / 49°

      5 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 58°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 56°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 48°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      60° / 36°

      5 wet

    11. Nov

      48° / 26°

      6 wet

    12. Dec

      40° / 20°

      6 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Great Basin Np, NV, 5.6 mi away at 6,850 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Wheeler Peak Summit TrailPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wheeler Peak Summit Trail

~4 min drive

1.06-mile out-and-back hike to Wheeler Peak summit in Nevada, gaining 454 ft.

Wheeler PeakPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Wheeler Peak

~4 min drive

Standard route to Wheeler Peak (13,065 ft) from Summit.

Osceola Ditch TrailheadPhoto: Seth Tisue, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Osceola Ditch Trailhead

~5 min drive

The Osceola Ditch Trailhead is located about 4.5 miles up the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive. The Osceola Ditch Trail follows the path of a historic mining ditch used to carry water from Lehman Creek to the mining boomtown of Osceola. Due to trail damage resulting from the 2016 Str…

Timber Creek TrailPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Timber Creek Trail

~11 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.

HIKE

Summit Trailhead

~5 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…

HIKE

Baker Creek Trailhead

~11 min drive

Located about three miles up the Baker Creek Road, the Baker Creek Trailhead has access to three trails; South Fork Baker trail, Timber Creek Trail, and Baker Lake. These trails venture through aspen groves and pine tree stands up to alpine lakes and meadows. Parking is limit…

Alpine Lakes Loop TrailPhoto: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Alpine Lakes Loop Trail

~6 min drive

Scenic out-and-back alpine lake trail in Nevada's high country.

HIKE

Osceola Road

~8 min drive

A 5.73-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada.

Osceola Ditch TrailPhoto: paulinkenbrandt, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Osceola Ditch Trail

~5 min drive

5.23-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 1,375 ft elevation gain.

Highland Ridge RoutePhoto: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Highland Ridge Route

~13 min drive

18.18-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada with 6,859 ft elevation gain/loss

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors