Pyramid Peak (Nevada)
Place Name: Great Basin National Park
Place Description: State: Nevada
Date: 07/22/2022
Elevation: 11,926 Feet
Prominence: 764 Feet
Miles: 15
Elevation Gain: 4,006 Feet
Lists: Great Basin Peak List, Nevada Peaks Club, Las Vegas Mountaineers Classics
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Difficulty
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Solitude
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Kid Friendly
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Summit Views
Deep Inside Great Basin National Park
Deep inside Great Basin National Park lies some beautiful country full of flowers, wildlife, and water. Baker Lake, Baker Creek and Pyramid Peak are all attainable along this hike and the best part is you will probably have it all to yourself!
Overall
3.4Pros
- Nice trail
- Great views
- Lake and creek
Cons
- Long day
- Warm in the lower sections
- Not accessible in winter
When it comes to peaks, Great Basin National Park is mostly known for 13,000-foot Wheeler Peak. What they forget to mention in the brochures is there are some very fine back country peaks. One of these is Pyramid Peak, which is the 7th highest peak in Nevada.
At 11,926 feet, Pyramid Peak is no slouch. From the summit of Wheeler, it actually looks like a pyramid. The best part of this hike is that you get to visit Baker Lake!
Getting There
Another easy approach thanks to the National Park. Drive in on Lehman Caves Rd and make a left onto Baker Creek Rd.
Follow this nicely graded dirt road past the campground and to its end where you will start your day. There is a nice large parking area and toilet here.
The Trail
Right at the start there are two trails. Follow the trail to the right towards Baker Lake.
Baker Lake TH
The trail follows the creek off and on through aspens and chaparral. As you start to climb up through the drainage, it gives way to more of a pine forest. The creek disappears for awhile, however, when it’s nearby, it’s beautiful and soothing.
Baker Creek
After 5 miles you enter a beautiful glacial cirque with high cliffs above Baker Lake. At this point, you are 10,600 feet. To the right are the talus slopes of Baker Peak and to the left lies Pyramid Peak and the pass to Johnson Lake.
Baker Lake in Great Basin National Park.
Follow the trail towards the pass and across a beautiful basin. It’s climbs up to 11,200 feet at the top of the pass.
View towards the pass and Pyramid Peak.
Johnson Peak is off to the right and the finale 700 foot climb up to Pyramid Peak is to the left.
Johnson Lake
The talus is pretty consolidated heading up the final .33 miles to the summit. At times you may even come across a use trail. It should only take 15-20 minutes to make it up.
View of Pyramid Peak from the pass.
The Summit
Even though you are lower than Wheeler and Baker Peak across the basin, the views are still quite nice. False Pyramid is steeply below you in one direction and you can observe the power of what an avalanche can do below.
Looking east from Pyramid Peak. Avalanche zone below.
Looking at Wheeler Peak from Pyramid Peak.
The views out towards the Southern Snake Range are nice and it beckons for a long traverse. Pyramid Peak offers some of the finest views you will see in Nevada.
Snake Range views from Pyramid Peak.
The Final Word
This hike is longer than I expected and even though it goes to a popular lake, only one person was seen all day.
Pyramid Peak is a great peak to pair with Baker Peak, coincidentally, it would make for a great overnight backpack destination.
The area is quite enjoyable. We saw lots of deer, turkey, wildflowers, and the creek is beautiful. Just another amazing day in Great Basin National Park. Get this one on your to do list right away!
