Hiking the Mountain View Nature Trail in Great Basin National Park
Distance: 0.4 miles / 0.6 km
The Mountain View Nature Trail in Great Basin National Park is a very short, easy interpretive loop trail that begins at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, where visitors can learn about the landscape both in the Snake Range and the greater area, as well as identify all the surrounding peaks from the main lookout at the top of the loop!
However, what’s perhaps even more special about the Mountain View Nature Trail is that it passes the Natural Entrance to Lehman Cave—the original entrance before the modern tunnels were constructed closer to the visitor center in the late 1930s and 60s.
All this to say, I think the Mountain View Nature Trail is best hiked either before or after a scheduled cave tour, as the very short loop takes no more than 15–20 minutes to enjoy when taking your time to read the signs!
Mountain View Nature Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Mountain View Nature Trail is located at the Lehman Caves Visitor Center.
That said, this, along with the Bristlecone–Alpine Lakes Trailhead at the top of Wheeler Peak Scenic Drive, is one of the two busiest places to find parking in Great Basin National Park, but the word "busy" certainly does not carry the same meaning here as it does in much more crowded parks, like Zion National Park.
Google Maps Directions: Mountain View Nature 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 Mountain View Nature Trail
The Mountain View Nature Trail can begin from any number of places around the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, as the loop runs directly behind the building past the Lehman Caves Entrance.
However, this staircase near Rhodes Cabin, on the north side of the parking lot, is generally seen as the official start of the loop, which is why I chose to begin this article here.
On a different note, interested visitors can follow along with the trail markers on the loop by clicking the link below to view the trail guide or by asking one of the workers inside the visitor center for a hard copy.
Download: Mountain View Nature Trail Guide
Mountain View Nature Loop Trail (Rhodes Cabin)
Immediately after walking up the stairs, the Mountain View Nature Trail reaches Rhodes Cabin, a historic 1920s-era log cabin named after Clarence T. and Beatrice 'Bea' Rhodes, who served as the official custodians of Lehman Caves during its early years as a National Monument.
After acquiring land beside the cave in 1920, the couple helped transform the remote attraction into a rustic tourist destination by leading tours, advertising the cave, improving its passageways, and constructing lodging and other amenities for the growing number of visitors.
Today, Rhodes Cabin is the only surviving cabin from the complex and now contains exhibits interpreting the area’s history.
All this to say, Rhodes Cabin is the start of the 0.4-mile (0.6 km) interpretive loop, where I chose to go right in the direction of the trail markers.
As mentioned above, this is the Mountain View Nature Trail, hiked in the counterclockwise direction—the same direction that follows the order of the trail guide linked below.
Download: Mountain View Nature Trail Guide
There is not much to know about the Mountain View Nature Trail, except that there are hardly any great places to get out of the sun, even though there are trees throughout.
This is why I recommend hiking this trail—and every trail in Great Basin National Park—in a hooded sun shirt, especially considering the high elevation of most trails, including this at around 6,800 ft. (2,073 m).
This is the northernmost end of the Mountain View Nature Loop.
Mountain View
On the upper side of the loop, the Mountain View Nature Trail passes the main viewpoint on the hike, which points out all the notable nearby landmarks in and around the Snake Range.
If you’re arriving at Great Basin National Park early in the day, this viewpoint can make for a great, easy place to catch sunrise, as the best views face east toward the town of Baker below!
Lehman Caves Natural Entrance
After about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the previous viewpoint, the loop passes the Lehman Caves Natural Entrance, which I believe is one of the highlights of the short hike!
I say this because the Natural Entrance was once the only way in and out of the cave, until the much more modern entrance near the visitor center was constructed in the late 1930s. Just imagine what it would have been like as an early visitor trying to access the cave through this small hole!
For those that may be familiar, this spot can be most closely compared with the Prairie Vista Nature Trail in Wind Cave National Park, which also passes directly by the Natural Entrance into Wind Cave.
After the Natural Entrance, the Mountain View Nature Trail simply descends back to the Lehman Caves Visitor Center, located about 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from this point.
Lehman Caves Exit Tunnel
Just before the loop reaches the back side of the visitor center, the Mountain View Nature Trail passes the Lehman Caves Exit Tunnel.
This is where the majority of scheduled cave tours exit Lehman Cave, which connects to the Lodge Room on the inside.
In any case, go right at this split to stay on the loop and continue down to the visitor center.
Lehman Caves Visitor Center
This is where the Mountain View Nature Trail reaches the back side of the Lehman Caves Visitor Center.
For most hikers, this is typically the end of the trail, but if you are interested in completing the full loop, go left at the back side of the visitor center to stay on the loop and return to Rhodes Cabin.
Lehman Caves Entrance Tunnel
As the Mountain View Nature Trail passes behind the visitor center, it passes the Lehman Caves Entrance Tunnel, a late-1930s-era tunnel that replaced the need to climb down through the Natural Entrance shown above.
Before its construction, visitors had to descend approximately 60 ft. (18 m) through the Natural Entrance using ladders and a steep wooden stairway, but this tunnel drastically improved accessibility and gave visitors a much more gradual and safer route into the cave.
Book Here: Lehman Caves Tours
After the Lehman Caves Entrance Tunnel, the Mountain View Nature Trail simply continues around the back side of the visitor center.
Once on the north side of the visitor center, go left to return to Rhodes Cabin.
Mountain View Nature Loop Junction (Rhodes Cabin)
This is where the Mountain View Nature Trail returns to Rhodes Cabin and the beginning of the short 0.4-mile (0.6 km) loop.
On a different note, don’t forget to stop in the Great Basin Café to try one of their milkshakes, either before or after the trail or a scheduled cave tour, as sitting back and enjoying one on a hot summer day is truly one of the best things to do in Great Basin National Park!
