Snake Creek Road

Trail Overview

Located south of Great Basin National Park, Snake Creek Road is a pleasant trip up into the mountains. There are two ways to get to the road; the first is off Nevada Highway 487/21 past Baker, while the second is at the intersection of Highways 487/21 and 159 in the town of Garrison. Both roads intersect with Snake Road and head into the mountains, ultimately reaching an altitude of over 8,100 feet. This in/out trail totals around 25 miles in length (12 miles one way) and isn't a particularly challenging road. It's graded and maintained, so almost any vehicle can traverse it, though there are some areas of light to medium washboarding since it is a dirt and gravel road. This road offers several dispersed camping sites which are available on a first-come, no-fee basis. It's a great option for camping in the area, and several of the sites are near the small but picturesque Snake Creek (and some sites even have access to vault toilets). When you reach the parking lot at the end, there are several hiking trails leading further up into the mountains. In the area are several beautiful Aspen trees that turn a glorious fall gold if you time it right, with a particularly nice grove around 2.5 miles up the trail. Snake Creek Road is narrow and windy and has several blind corners. It narrows to one lane when you get closer to the end. Be cautious about oncoming traffic, and of course, during periods of heavy rains or snow the road could become slippery and muddy. Even though this road will not present a 4WD challenge, it is a very pleasant side trip if you visit Great Basin NP.

Photos of Snake Creek Road

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Difficulty

This dirt road is regularly maintained and typically accessible by most any 2- or 4-wheel-drive vehicle. During periods of heavy rains (or snow) the road could become slippery and muddy, so caution is urged in the winter or rainy season. The road narrows to one lane part-way up and there are some blind corners and drop-offs, so caution is urged while traversing this section. There's some washboarding in areas.

Technical Rating