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Foundation Document Overview, Great Basin National Park, Nevada

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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Foundation Document Overview Great Basin National Park Nevada Contact Information For more information about the Great Basin National Park Foundation Document, contact: [email protected] or (775) 234-7331 or write to: Superintendent, Great Basin National Park, 100 Great Basin National Park, Baker, NV 89311 Park Description Great Basin National Park, established by Congress in 1986, lies within a vast geographic region known as the Great Basin, the only region in North America where water has no outlet to the sea. Consisting of a seemingly endless expanse of mountains and desert valleys, the Great Basin also holds the distinction of being the largest desert in the United States. The story of the Great Basin includes ecology, geology, and more than 13,000 years of human history. The park’s natural environments range from sagebrush flats on the desert floor, through extensive conifer forests, to the alpine peaks of the South Snake Range, including Wheeler Peak—the second highest mountain in Nevada. The ecology of the South Snake Range is an excellent example of “island biogeography,” where the surrounding desert has isolated species in areas of higher elevation, forcing them to develop unique adaptations to survive. This varied landscape is home to a rich diversity of plant and animal communities, including ancient groves of bristlecone pine, the oldest living trees on the planet. Great Basin National Park showcases an exceptional combination of geological features, with more than 40 known caves, including beautiful Lehman Caves. Archeological sites, rock art, and traditional cultural places in the park illustrate the past and continuing presence of American Indian peoples, including the Shoshone and Paiute. Miners, cattle ranchers, farmers, and sheepherders have left their own distinctive mark on the landscape. Collectively, the park’s ecological and geological diversity, remoteness, and challenging environmental conditions highlight the importance of adaptation—for plants and animals, as well as for people—and offer an ideal setting for researchers to observe and study the effects of climate change. Great Basin National Park is located in a remote area along the eastern border of Nevada with limited services, so visitors must plan ahead. Those who make the journey are rewarded with a variety of recreational and educational opportunities, including rigorous alpine hiking, fishing in backcountry streams, camping, stargazing, sightseeing along the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, cave tours, and several other ranger-led programs. Lehman Caves Visitor Center to: Bristlecone pine Trail Ranger station Restaurant Sacramento Pass (BLM) Ely 68mi 109km area Pioche 121mi 195km Information Lodging No camping area/ no fires Primitive trail Restrooms Pay telephone 6 (route finding 50 Unpaved road difficult) Picnic area Fishing Self-guiding trail Parking Overlook High-clearance- vehicle road RV sanitary station Campground Wildlife viewing Primitive campsite 6 North 50 Osceola (historic mining site) Park Map k e e r 0 2 4 Kilometers C 0 2 4 Miles k e y e r r r C e b w a r t S To Ely and k r e Pioche e e v r a C e k Cree Weaver W l Windy Peak il 6 10144ft M 50 Lehman Caves Visitor Center to: 3092m Delta 106mi 171km y eek berr Cr Salt Lake City 234mi 377km aw tr S No water available. The Border eo Osc la Dit ch 487 Cash machine available N O Y E N G ID A R C E E U k ee U L Baker Archeological r e C L B ON v Y B i N Site (BLM) r A C S D L IL Willard M T N N c R Buck Mountain i U n B 10972ft e c A 3344m S 8000ft Travel is closed to single vehicles or 9000ft 2439m trailers in excess of 24 feet in length k Road may K a 2744m on Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive past Great Basin Pe Wheeler be closed by Great Basin Bald Mountain heeler snow. Upper Lehman Campground. 11562ft W Peak Visitor Center National Heritage Route E 3524m 10000ft Overlook 6000ft Headquarters Mather Overlook 7000ft 3049m 1829m Board Vault toilet, Mather plaque, 2134m C Bench, Viewing scopes ree s 10000ft 488 k e r Cree Lower Lehman 3049m ehman k fi L k Creek Ba er Creek BAKER o 7300ft Lehm n Wheeler Peak an / Upper Lehman Creek 2225m Cre a e k 9886ft k ee e 3013m 7752ft Shin Cr r 5317ft gl a 2362m Lehman Caves e 1621m Brown V g n Lake i Stella p Lehman Caves Lake Teresa A 159 m Bristlecone pine grove Pacific Time Zone Pacific Time a Lake Visitor Center c Mountain Time Zone Mountain Time L k eek o 6825ft ee y r Cr nl C N 2080m o L e r s in e le P S ak ic B h E Rock Road may e Moraine v glacier be closed by e N c Y snow. n a r Ridge a Creek e Jeff Davis l Grey Cliffs -c A N h Peak g i Wheeler Peak Group Camping O 12771ft H 13063ft Reservations required Y 3893m N 3982m K N A Baker Creek O C 487 7530ft Y 2295m N E A C G Baker Peak N 12298ft U E O 3748m 12305ft ek Cr k L r e UTAH e Y 3751m r e e O C k r P N NEVADA a N C I r B S O e Y k A a r N B N k e A B A r b C C S o im U F T O I h 11456ft t K ek u G re Baker Lake 3492m o N Mahogany C S U O Spring Y Spring 11540ft Pyramid Peak 3517m 11926ft S M 3635m IA CAN 10842ft YO 10249ft L L N 3305m WI 3124m Bristlecone pine Clay Spring Johnson Lake grove EAVEN H GRANITE SE Dead HOR GARRISON Lake BASIN (no facilities) C 11775ft 5273ft 3589m A k V 1608m e E e r ek 8250ft C Cre C A 2515m N Y Shoshone O e N Snak ON ANY C DRY e 21 k 7680ft a Mount 2340m L Washington Snake Creek Bristlecone pine 11658ft grove 3553m Spring Creek Rearing Station Nevada Department of Wildlife CANYON (fish rearing station) OX B Lehman Caves Visitor Center to: Milford 90mi 145km Bristlecone Cedar City 142mi 228km pine GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK grove R ANYON C y E A nl L Nor o O th les P 10885ft ehic Fo arance v 3318m r -cle d N k h a ig B H o ig R W To 21 a h sh c G n a R n o Lincoln Peak E y High clearance n 11597ft a vehicles only C 3535m dden Pruess 11001ft Hi Lake 3353m h as 5359ft h H s W a 1634m I W G ig B y H g l Bi n N 11532ft L Fork o O s Y 3515m A h L IN N ut le COLN A N o ic C S h D e v e c n a r a le c R - I h D g k i G e H e E r Mustang C To 21 Spring n No to rth Fork Lexing Lexington Creek 10016ft 3357m k No camping area/no fires e learance ve re High-c hicles re xington C commended Le ANYON OW C Granite Peak rk ALL CANY o SW Lexington Arch ON F 11218ft 8270ft h 3419m ut 2521m H o C S R A J o h n s D E 10699ft C A 3261m T H O W N a s h C A N Y O N HIGHLAND RIDGE WILDERNESS AREA (BLM) Purpose Significance Significance statements express why Great Basin National Park resources and values are important enough to merit national park unit designation. Statements of significance describe why an area is important within a global, national, regional, and systemwide context. These statements are linked to the purpose of the park unit, and are supported by data, research, and consensus. Significance statements describe the distinctive nature of the park and inform management decisions, focusing efforts on preserving and protecting the most important resources and values of the park unit. • Great Basin National Park preserves an outstanding segment of the Great Basin geographic region and highlights its four defining characteristics: the Basin and Range topography; the hydrographic Great Basin, where no water flows to the sea; the Great Basin Desert, North America’s largest; and the presence of numerous cultures over many millennia. GREAT BASIN NATIONAL PARK preserves • With nearly 8,000 feet of vertical relief, Great Basin an outstanding segment of the Great National Park rises from the desert floor to alpine tundra, Basin, including old-growth bristlecone protecting exceptional biodiversity and providing an excellent example of island biogeography, where the pines, rich biodiversity, Lehman Caves surrounding desert has isolated plants and animals, forcing and other distinctive geologic features, them to adapt and evolve. expansive scenic views, and 13,000 years of human history for the inspiration, • Great Basin National Park protects iconic bristlecone pines, the oldest living trees on the planet, a remnant strain of enjoyment, and scientific understanding Bonneville cutthroat trout once thought to be locally extinct, of current and future generations. and several plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. Significance • Great Basin National Park showcases an exceptional combination of geologic features and processes, including historic Lehman Caves, classic Basin and Range topography, and glacially carved lakes, all crowned by 13,063 foot Wheeler Peak, the highest point in the central Great Basin.
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