Hiking the Bristlecone Trail in Great Basin National Park
Distance (RT on Bristlecone Trail Only): 2.8 miles / 4.5 km
The Bristlecone Trail, also called the Bristlecone Pine Trail, in Great Basin National Park is a fun and relatively easy day hike beneath Wheeler Peak that leads to the most accessible of the three Bristlecone Pine groves in the Snake Range!
Once in the beautiful grove, visitors then have the opportunity to hike a very short interpretive loop through some of the oldest trees on Earth and learn about their life cycle, why they grow so old in Great Basin compared to other areas—such as those on the Bristlecone Loop Trail in Bryce Canyon National Park—and even what it takes to date these ancient trees!
This is all to say that the Bristlecone Trail is often treated as an extension of the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail, as well as just half of the Glacier Trail, which continues beyond. That said, there’s quite a bit to know about hiking the best parts of the Glacier Trail, which I encourage you to learn more about in my longer description at the end of this article.
Bristlecone Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Bristlecone Trail is located at the very end of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, in the same parking area that serves the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail, the Glacier Trail, the Island Forest Trail, and the alternate route up Wheeler Peak.
That said, the Bristlecone–Alpine Lakes Trailhead is the most popular trailhead in Great Basin National Park, though using the word 'popular' does not mean the same thing here as it does in countless other parks, such as all the different trailheads off the Yosemite Valley Loop Trail in Yosemite National Park.
Google Maps Directions: Bristlecone Trailhead
Hiking Checklist - Great Basin
Here is a complete list of must-have things that you will want for any hike in Great Basin National Park.
Hiking the Bristlecone Trail
The Bristlecone Trail begins at the same trailhead as the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail and follows the same path for roughly 0.6 miles (1.0 km), at which point the two trails split just before Teresa Lake.
Bristlecone-Island Forest Junction
After just a few steps, the Bristlecone Trail passes the junction for the Island Forest Trail.
Once here, go right to continue on the Alpine Lakes Trail toward the start of the loop. However, I recommend keeping the Island Forest Trail in mind for the hike back, as it’s such a quick adventure to add to an already fairly short day hike up to the Bristlecone grove.
Read My Separate Post: Island Forest Trail (Coming Soon)
Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km), the Bristlecone Trail reaches the start of the 2.5-mile (4.0 km) Alpine Lakes Loop that leads to both Stella and Teresa Lake, with Stella Lake being closer if you go right and Teresa Lake being closer if you go left.
With that in mind, go left at this junction to continue on the shortest and fastest route to the start of the true Bristlecone Pine Trail, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) away from this split.
Read My Separate Post: Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
After turning left at the beginning of the Alpine Lakes Loop, the trail gradually winds its way uphill to the Bristlecone junction, about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) before Teresa Lake.
Since the vast majority of the Bristlecone Trail and the entirety of the Glacier Trail are above 10,000 ft. (3,048 m), I highly recommend hiking in a hooded sun shirt, as it’s much easier to burn at these upper elevations—especially considering that Great Basin is typically very sunny in the summer!
Bristlecone-Alpine Lakes Loop Junction
After 0.6 miles (1.0 km), the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail finally reaches the start of the true Bristlecone Trail.
Once here, go left to leave the popular loop and begin hiking toward the start of the Bristlecone Interpretive Loop, roughly 0.7 miles (1.1 km) away from this point.
Read My Separate Post: Alpine Lakes Loop Trail
After turning left to begin the Bristlecone Trail, the hike simply parallels the prominent northeast ridge that extends off Wheeler Peak, the same ridge that can be seen from the Wheeler Peak Summit Trail with all the ancient Bristlecone Pines.
This section along the base of the northeast ridge climbs gradually, but it is nowhere near as steep as countless other day hikes in Great Basin, such as the Baker Lake Trail or the Snake Creek Divide Trail farther south.
This is where the Bristlecone Trail makes a hard right turn into the glacial valley carved by the Wheeler Peak Glacier.
It doesn’t take long after turning up the glacial valley for Bristlecone Pines to start dominating the landscape, which only increase the higher both the Bristlecone Trail and the Glacier Trail climb!
This hard switchback is a nice sign that the start of the Bristlecone Interpretive Loop Trail is not far ahead!
Bristlecone Pine Loop Trail
This is where the Bristlecone Trail reaches the start of the Bristlecone Pine Interpretive Loop Trail, often simplified to the Bristlecone Loop Trail.
Nevertheless, the interpretive signs are written and posted in clockwise fashion, which is why I recommend going left at the start of the loop, where sign #1 can be found just up the hill.
On a different note, the fastest way to the Glacier Trail is to go straight at this junction. However, whether hiking up or down, I highly recommend taking some time to walk the very short Bristlecone Loop, as there is truly so much to learn about what makes these ancient trees so special!
Read My Separate Post: Glacier Trail
This is where the short interpretive trail reaches the upper half of the loop.
Where and What is the Prometheus Stump?
As you may or may not know, the Wheeler Peak Bristlecone Grove specifically once was home to the oldest tree on Earth!
However, that changed in 1964, when graduate student Donald R. Currey received permission from the then-U.S. Forest Service to have the tree cut down for scientific research. After its rings were counted, the tree—later known as Prometheus—was estimated to be approximately 4,900 years old!
When news of what happened spread, it was met with quick public backlash, prompting the federal government to implement much stricter protections on these ancient trees.
As for the site of the once-oldest living tree, Prometheus, the stump is not found anywhere on the Bristlecone Trail, the interpretive loop, or even the Glacier Trail farther up the mountain.
In fact, the stump is located in a 'somewhat' secluded location on the northeast ridge off Wheeler Peak, but I’ve taken the stance that it is not my responsibility to disclose specific directions to get there.
After speaking with a park ranger about the stump, he kindly told me it’s a bit of a gray area. The National Park Service does not encourage hikers to leave the trail, but is it not illegal to hike there either. However, out of respect, it’s best to keep some things off the internet!
Bristlecone Pine Loop-Glacier Junction
This is where the Bristlecone Pine Loop Trail reaches the beginning of the Glacier Trail.
At this split, most hikers go left to begin the Glacier Trail toward the Wheeler Peak Rock Glacier. However, if you’re only interested in hiking through the ancient Bristlecone Pine grove, go right to return to the beginning of the short loop.
Is the Glacier Trail Worth the Effort?
Yes! The Glacier Trail is one of the best things to do in Great Basin National Park, but I say that with a caveat!
By this, I mean that hiking up to the Wheeler Peak Rock Glacier is worth the effort alone, as few rock glaciers are as easily accessible as this one on the Glacier Trail in Great Basin.
However, the rock glacier pales in comparison to how cool the exposed glacier is in the deepest part of the glacial cirque beneath Wheeler Peak.
That said, the maintained Glacier Trail stops about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) short of the exposed glacier, meaning that good off-trail hiking/ scrambling skills are needed to reach the best and most beautiful part of the entire hike.
There’s a little bit more to know about what it takes, including the best route at the very end and and the risks associated with rockfall, which I encourage you to learn more about in my separate post linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Glacier Trail
Bristlecone Pine Loop Junction
This is where the very short Bristlecone Pine Interpretive Loop returns to the beginning.
Once here, go straight to begin the hike back to the Alpine Lakes Loop Trail and the trailhead at the end of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive beyond.
