This moderate loop trail is 5.5 miles long round trip with a 1734 ft. change in elevation. It is located in Great Basin National Park. This trail is shady for most of the way and very pleasant overall. We started along the Timber Creek Trail, so the elevation graph reflects that starting point.
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| Topographical Map |
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| Graph of Elevation (starting from Timber Creek Trail) |
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| Trail in Google Earth |
The trail starts out crossing a couple bridges that go over the creek. In general, the trail from this direction gets slightly steeper as it continues along to the top. About 0.7 miles up, the Timber Creek Trail intersects with the end of the Pole Canyon Trail. The trail follows the narrow canyon until about 1.2 miles in, where a series of long switchbacks weaving in and out of the trees takes hikers up a hill. The trees open up into a meadow at the top of the hill. The trail then continues to the point it intersects with the South Fork Baker Creek Trail, about 2.6 miles up. A sign marks the different trails here. Continuing straight here will take hikers to Johnson Lake and the historic Johnson mines, but turning right takes hikers around and back toward the parking lot along the South Fork Baker Creek Trail. There are nice views of the surrounding peaks in this area, including Pyramid Peak.
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| Pyramid Peak |
The South Fork Baker Creek Trail follows the creek pretty closely all the way down. The trail heads back into the trees, making it mostly shady once again. About 1.5 miles down from the Timber Creek Trail, the trail intersects with the north portion of the Baker Creek Trail. If you prefer a slightly longer hike, you could turn off here and still head back down the trail to the parking lot. We continued on the South Fork Baker Creek Trail all the way back.
There were a lot of wildflowers in bloom when we hiked this trail in mid-June, including shooting stars and columbines. All the wildflowers attracted lots of butterflies.
Pets are not permitted on these trails, but pack animals are so long as park regulations regarding them are followed.
Directions
This hike is located in Great Basin National Park in Nevada. From US-50, turn onto NV-487. Continue for just under five miles then turn right onto NV-488. From there turn left onto Baker Creek Rd., which is unpaved. Continue to the end of this road, which loops around. There is a parking area with an outhouse at the far end of this loop, and the trail starts here.
