Region: Mountain West (Great Basin National Park, Nevada)
Length: 13 miles (2 days)
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
- Steady climbing to Baker Lake and steep / short climb over the pass
- Trail is well-maintained and well-graded
- More climbs on the second day that can feel soul-crushing
Logistical Difficulty: Easy
- Loop trail
- No permit required
- Some route finding over the pass connects two well-established trails
Season: Spring / Fall
Elevation (Average): ~8,000 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 3,300 feet
Hiking the Baker-Johnson Lake Loop
This loop hike puts you on a few different trails, all really easy and well signed. You’ll start out at the Baker Lake Trailhead, following the Baker Lake trail about 5.5 miles to Baker Lake, with plenty of signs along the way. The trail climbs moderately, but can feel more challenging as you’re at a higher elevation. You can camp at Baker Lake, or look for the less distinct trail heading over the pass toward Johnson Lake.
We finished the day by hiking over and camping at Johnson Lake. Follow the cairns over the pass, then the steep switchbacks down the other side (pictured below). From Johnson Lake the next day, take the obvious Johnson Lake Trail. There are a few intersections that will get you back to the trailhead. We took the Johnson Lake Trail to the Timber Creek Trail to the Baker Meadows Trail, all the way back to the trailhead.
Great Basin National Park is a designated International Dark Sky Park, which means on a clear night, you’re getting some AMAZING star gazing.
Look for the historical mining structures on the trail out of Johnson Lake. This was the site of expansive mining operations in the late 1800s, and the remains of the structures (with interpretive signs!) are right along the trail.
How to get to the Baker-Johnson Lake Loop
Closest Major City: Salt Lake City, Utah (234 miles)
The trailhead is located at the end of Baker Creek Road, reached by taking Lehman Caves Road and turning off about a half-mile before the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. I recommend stopping in at the main visitor center. They’re super friendly and since this park doesn’t get a ton of traffic, more than happy to chat about routes and directions.
When to Hike the Baker-Johnson Lake Loop
Hit this trail in late spring, summer, or early fall. The park may look like it’s in the middle of the desert, but with elevations passing 11,000 feet, the snows lasts a while. We hiked it in early July, and the weather was in the mid 70s and sunny, with the night dropping into the high 30s, as we camped at 10,000 feet.
Baker-Johnson Lake Loop Terrain
The Baker-Johnson Lake loop winds through forests and then into open, high-elevation flats and hillsides. The trail is well graded for the most part. The one steeper section is the pass between the two lakes—about a 600-foot climb, followed by a steep descent with some loose shale. The trail is very well maintained and signed, and you’ll get a great taste of the Nevada high country surrounded by peaks and the valleys in the distance.
Logistics: Camping, Permits, Water
Permits and Land Management: Unlike most national parks, you don’t need a permit for camping or staying overnight in the backcountry. Great Basin National Park is one of the least-visited national parks in the US, which is one of the reasons it has fewer restrictions than other parks.
Camping: Camping is free and not regulated; just remember to follow all LNT principles to ensure it stays this way. There were nice spots at both Baker Lake and Johnson Lake.
Water: No concerns about water… you’ll be following a creek for most of the trail, then camping at a lake. Just remember to drink plenty of water, since it can be hot and you’re way up there in elevation.
Know Before You Go
This trail is high up there—be prepared for an adjustment to the elevation. If you camp at Baker or Johnson Lake, you’ll be sleeping at around 10,000 feet, which is a lot for people coming from lower down. Bring extra layers and a warmer bag than you think you might need to account for the temperature change at the higher elevation.
Since this loop connects two popular out-and-back trails to the two lakes, the only route-finding you’ll need to do is getting over the pass. Even this is pretty simple though—look for the cairns and the faint trail heading straight up.
