Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive
Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
Great Basin has been on my list for a while now (it's about a three hour drive from where I live in Utah), but I'll admit I had low expectations when I went because the photos I saw online while researching it made it look pretty drab. After spending a weekend in the park, I'm happy to report that I was pleasantly surprised by what it had to offer and would totally recommend it for a weekend getaway. We camped at Grey Cliffs Campground, which during the day is less scenic than other campgrounds in the park, but makes for perfect star gazing at night because there are fewer trees. It's also a five minute drive to the Lehman Caves Visitor Center.
Things to do in Great Basin National Park:
Lehman Caves Tour: If I had to choose just one activity to do in the park, it would be this. I loved this activity because it was good for all ages and comfort levels, and both the kids and adults on our tour thought it was cool. Book your tickets online in advance (we snagged the last tickets for our time slot a couple weeks before we went), because they'll likely be sold out if you try and buy them once you're there.
Stargaze: Great Basin claims to have one of the darkest skies in America. I'll admit I was a little skeptical at first, because I've been to a lot of parks that claim to have good star gazing, but the towns surrounding Great Basin are so small that there is hardly any light pollution. We visited the park in August, which is a great time to see the Milky Way.
Hike: We did a few hikes while we were there, and my favorite was the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail. This hike was long enough to feel like you got a good hike in but wasn't too steep or challenging. I also thought it was the prettiest of the hikes we did: the trail takes you through green forest areas (we saw a lot of deer!) and past two lakes.