Wheeler Peak

Wheeler Peak is a mountain summit within Great Basin National Park, reaching 3,982 meters in elevation and ranking as Nevada's second-highest peak. The landscape surrounding the summit transitions from desert vegetation at lower elevations to forest and alpine meadows as you climb higher.

The peak was named after Lieutenant William Wheeler, a 19th-century American geologist and surveyor who mapped and studied the region. His work helped establish geographical knowledge of the Great Basin area.

The mountain environment supports diverse plant communities, including ancient bristlecone pine trees that rank among the oldest living organisms on Earth.

Two main hiking trails lead to the summit, with the Williams Lake Trail offering a shorter but steeper route of approximately seven miles round trip. The climb demands good physical stamina and should be attempted in stable weather, as conditions can change rapidly at high elevation.

A glacier on this mountain is one of North America's southernmost permanent ice masses, surviving in the desert environment in unexpected ways. Seeing this ice surprises many visitors given the dry, hot surroundings.

Location: White Pine County

Elevation above the sea: 3,982 m

GPS coordinates: 38.98577,-114.31391

Latest update: December 7, 2025 10:02