Solo Trip to the National Park: Great Basin 🏜️🌲

Day 1: Drive 🚗 After arriving in Las Vegas, I grabbed some supplies and headed north to Great Basin National Park. The drive was mostly through desert – for 2.5 hours, there were hardly any gas stations or fast-food spots. So glad I planned ahead! 🧴🥪 Eventually, I reached a small town, took a short break, had a quick meal, and continued on. Two hours later, I arrived at my destination, freshened up, and called it a night. 💤 Day 2: Exploring Great Basin NP 🌄✨ One of the best stargazing spots in the U.S. – and no entrance fee! 🆓 Started early with the one-hour Lehman Cave Tour (booked 30 days in advance). The natural limestone cave was breathtaking – a true testament to nature’s artistry and early explorers’ courage. 🕳️❤️ Temperatures inside stay around 50°F year-round. The path is smooth, with handrails in slippery sections. Thanks to development, no extra light is needed, but I asked the ranger for a camping lantern anyway – made it feel more adventurous! 🔦 After the cave, I hit a hiking trail. At high elevation and on rocky paths, I made it 2–3 miles up before calling it quits. 🥾💨 But I did see the ancient bristlecone pines – they can live up to 5,000 years! 🌲 Later, I bought a souvenir magnet at the visitor center. Hope it brings long-lasting vibes to whoever receives it! 🧲💝 That evening, I joined a ranger-led stargazing program. Through their telescope, I saw the moon’s surface and craters! 🌕 The ranger said the moon was so bright, they had to “put sunglasses” on the telescope to protect our eyes. 😎 Also spotted Mizar and Alcor – two stars so close they look like one to the naked eye. And an owl/alien-shaped star cluster! 🦉👽 If the moon hadn’t been so bright, we could’ve seen the Milky Way… (Bummer #1 😔) Day 3: I’d heard there was a solar telescope viewing in the morning, but it got canceled. (Bummer #2 😞) After refilling my water, I drove south and reached the town of La Verkin near Zion National Park by afternoon. Had a quick meal and rested early to recharge for the next day’s adventure! 🚙💨 Have you been to Great Basin NP? What’s your favorite national park for stargazing? Share below! 👇⭐ #NationalPark #NationalParks #Zion #GreatBasin #LasVegasTravel #CaveExploration #Hiking #Climbing #SoloTravel #Stargazing #NatureLovers #RoadTrip #USParks #ExploreNevada #DarkSkyPark