Summit Trailhead
Photo: NPS / public domain- 1.1 mi
- round trip
- 449 ft
- climb
- 10,356 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Summit Trailhead open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Great Basin National Park. It doesn't name Summit 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.
Summit Trailhead is a trailhead in Great Basin National Park in Nevada, managed by the National Park Service. It sits about a mile from the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail, which leads to the summit of Wheeler Peak, over 4.2 miles one way. The trail is considered strenuous, with a steep and exposed route, and hikers should plan for a long day. The trailhead is an out-and-back with a total climb of about 450 feet, from roughly 10,180 feet to 10,350 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about half a mile in, with a grade of about 11 percent. Parking is limited, so follow all parking and driving regulations. Summer brings thunderstorms and high winds, and snow may still sit on the trail at higher elevations. The Wheeler Peak Summit Trail and the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail are both within about a mile. The Bristlecone Trail and the Glacier Trail are a little farther out.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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: 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)Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
~2 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: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Wheeler Peak Summit Trail
~2 min drive
Wheeler Peak Summit Trail is a 3.03-mile out-and-back trail in Nevada.
HIKE
Bristlecone Trailhead
Next door
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…
Photo: simonov, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Osceola Ditch Trail
~3 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: cm195902, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)Baker Creek Trail
~7 min drive
5.67-mile out-and-back hike in Nevada with 1,392 ft gain and 2,754 ft loss.
Photo: Ken Lund, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)Bristlecone Trail
~2 min drive
0.74-mile out-and-back hike in Nevada with 121 ft elevation gain.
