Quiet Times
Baker slows down tremendously in November, with many local businesses closed. The Great Basin Visitor Center is also closed, but the Lehman Caves Visitor Center in Great Basin National Park remains open year round. Cave tours are given daily at 1 p.m., with a 9 a.m. tour added on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Tours are limited to 20 people, with reservations available at Recreation.Gov.
As snow falls, access to the higher elevations will be restricted. However, with a little bit extra work, you can still get out there. Snowshoes are available to borrow from the Lehman Caves Visitor Center. You can drive up the Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive to Upper Lehman Campground and then hike up the trail to the Wheeler Peak Campground. It’s a steep 3.5-mile long hike, but very peaceful. Another great winter route is a loop from where the Baker Creek road is closed to Baker Creek Campground, then down the connector trail to Grey Cliffs Campground. See additional recommendations in the winter touring brochure.
Holiday Craft Fair
During the winter, the Border Inn serves as the social hub for the community, with its convenience store, bar, cafe, and special events. On Saturday, November 24, the Border Inn is hosting its eighth annual Holiday Craft Show from 1 p.m. To 5 p.m. This is a great opportunity to buy locally made ornaments, baked goods, crafts, and much more. There’s always excitement in the air during this fun event.
In Case It’s Dry
Last November it was an extremely dry winter in eastern Nevada. That resulted in the Scenic Drive being open longer than usual. With no snow, the sub-alpine lakes froze and made some great ice-skating rinks. With the 90-day forecast predicting a warmer and drier weather than normal, this may be the case again this year. If so, grab your ice skates (or rent them from Sportsworld in Ely) and head up to Stella or Teresa Lakes to glide near the mountains. Likewise, higher elevation trails may be accessible for longer.
— Gretchen Baker
Don’t miss Gretchen’s marvelous outdoor adventure blog, Desert Survivor.
