Posted in Nevada Nature October 29, 2017 by Natalie Faulk

Most People Don’t Know This Majestic Nevada Park Is Hiding A Mammoth Glacier

Great Basin National Park is located in eastern Nevada — near the Utah border — and is, truly, one of Nevada’s most beautiful areas. From the impressive Wheeler Peak to the mysterious Lehman Caves to the world’s oldest tree stump, Prometheus — and much more — this majestic park has a secret not many people know. In fact, there is a mammoth glacier hiding in plain view.

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The glacier can be viewed in many areas of the park; however, the only road-accessible viewing spot is the overlook at the end of the gorgeous Wheeler Peak Scenic drive.

The Wheeler Peak Glacier sits comfortably at the base of its namesake mountain.

The trail to the glacier is called the Bristlecone Pine Trail for a reason: oodles of ancient, twisted, and interesting Bristlecone pines.

This glacier is classified as an alpine one that began melting at 9,000 feet. Wheeler Peak is 13,063 feet: the tallest in the Snake Range and the second tallest in Nevada behind the 13,147-foot Boundary Peak. Wheeler Peak Glacier is nestled at 11,500 feet.

The glacial effects can be seen in the canyons, slopes, and streams the melting glacier water has cut over 10,000 years when the Holocene period began to warm the area.

The glacier is also unique in that contains a variety of minerals and rocks including limestone, marble, shale, gypsum, sandstone, quartzite, aragonite, moonmilk, and granite.

At "only" approximately 120,000 square feet, Wheeler Peak Glacier is small by most standards.

Alpine glaciers like this one are also commonly referred to as "niche," "cirque," or "mountain" glaciers. Only the surface ice is visible as the remainder is covered with debris.

Great Basin National Park is located five miles west of Baker off Nevada State Highway 488. When you visit, plan to spend a few days to enjoy everything this fantastic park has to offer. For more information or directions, please call (775) 234-7331 or visit the National Park Service’s website.

Did you know about this mammoth glacier? Have you had the pleasure of witnessing its majesty in person? Please share your experiences below.