Dust still clung to my hiking boots after the last Great Basin National Park adventure, before I was already itching to get back. There was no denying that I couldn’t wait to return and explore more of the park.
Arriving for our second trip, Wheeler Peak once again posed a tempting call to hike to the top, however timing and trail restoration from the winter storms once again managed to detour our efforts of climbing the trail. With that option off the table however, we were able to spend our time navigating the lower elevations (though still ranging from 7,964- to 9,680-feet).
On our first trip to the park we got a brief taste of this trailhead with a quick glance at the streams and surroundings. Now, with a full day dedicated to hiking the area we were able to explore everything the location had to offer. We weaved together our own adventure by traversing a number of paths from Baker Lake Trail, to Baker Meadows Trail, to Timber Creek Trail for just over six miles of hiking that transformed the landscape from rushing streams to snowy forests, offering a taste of the park's diverse ecosystems.
This hike managed to provide us with views of low lying desert sagebrush, open grassy meadows, aspen and pine forests, continuous views of Pyramid Peak and the other surrounding mountains, as well as a clear overlook to the town of Baker.
Early on, after making our way beyond the streams and emerging into the desert mountainside, we experienced a hiking first as our path was momentarily blocked by a group of large wild turkeys content with standing on the path and pecking for bugs. Bears, deer, coyotes, horses….we know protocol for them all, but the turkeys very much threw us off, providing a good bit of humor at this early stage in our hike. After a comical pause, watching turkeys’ confusion in response to the sounds of our shuffling feet and coughs as we tried to encourage them to move off the trail, we were able to progress further. Soon we traded in the exposed desert sagebrush for stream-side forests, and parts of the trail under foot soon became hidden under large patches of snow.
The trail continued to remain an uphill climb and in total the hike included 1,703 feet of elevation gain over the course of the trek. Although the trail continued upward, the forest yielded to reveal a breathtaking panorama from a vast meadow that stretched before us. Standing in tall dried grass as we took a break to enjoy a snack, the view was framed by a majestic wall of mountains and fringed with contrasting forests: thick aspens on one side, and pines on the other.
While the landscape was regularly changing through the hike, the creek was a constant companion, requiring us to cross it a number of times; no two crossings ever being the same in look or feel. Sometimes we stepped over smooth stones, other times we balanced over logs or constructed bridges. The continued crossings and constant shift in landscape was the hike's hidden gem, a kaleidoscope of scenery at every turn.
Still climbing upward through the meadow we eventually reached the intersection of Timber Creek and Baker Meadow before choosing to head down Timber Creek and further into the now snow covered forest. With deep snow blanketing the trail even the midst of Spring, at moments our path became a bit of a treasure hunt as we relied on impressions of previous boots and the occasional tree marker, navigating us until we emerged from the snowy wonderland back onto the familiar dirt path.
The snowy forest conquered, before basking in the victory of returning to the initial Baker Creek trail and the trailhead in which we started, a new challenge awaited: a series of switchbacks carved into the hillside and a decent was more than expected. With all the upward hiking we knew we’d be headed down soon, but what I wasn’t anticipating was the steep set of short switchbacks that dug into the hillside. Though the views from this point were beautiful open horizons toward the town of Baker, and wildflower blooms lined the pathways in large sections, the decent was so steep I continued making jokes that I’d be better off in pointe shoes than boots for this portion as the angle of my feet were so extended that the back of my boots were pushing my achilles and calves forward down the hill. This portion of the switchbacks required taking brief moments to stop to enjoy the stunning vista that stretched out below, without the need to focus on the precarious angle of my boots. Once past the steepest decline, the remainder of our journey to the trailhead was surrounded by aspen trees, wildflowers and vibrant greens, and the hike itself concluded with the gorgeous views and sounds of the rushing creek.
All in all this hike was everything I expected and more. From the vibrant aspen forest and flowing creek, to open mountainside, lush meadows and snowy forest made for the perfect combination of physical challenge and stunning views.
Who knows what the next adventure to Great Basin National Park holds - perhaps a triumphant return to take on Wheeler Peak, or maybe another hidden gem awaits discovery along the park’s many trails.
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