Hiking the Pole Canyon Loop Trail in Great Basin National Park
Distance: 6.8 miles / 10.9 km
The Pole Canyon Loop Trail in Great Basin National Park is a lesser-known day hike off Baker Creek Road that winds its way up Pole Creek, climbs up and over a beautiful mountain pass with views of Wheeler Peak, and ends by passing through both Baker Creek and Grey Cliffs Campgrounds before completing the loop!
That said, I don’t believe it’s completely necessary to hike the full loop to enjoy the best of the Pole Canyon Trail, as outlined in this article.
I say this because, if time is a factor on your visit to Great Basin, I believe there are two great turnaround points, both of which I highlight and talk about in more detail below.
However, in my opinion, the full Pole Canyon Loop Trail is one of the best places to trail run in Great Basin National Park and one of the best hidden trailheads, as it is often overlooked compared to all the different day hikes that branch out from the Baker Creek Trailhead up the road!
Pole Canyon Loop Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Pole Canyon Loop Trail is located in one of two places for those who aren’t camping.
First, parking can be found at the Pole Canyon Trailhead, located near the end of Pole Canyon Road—the same road used to access Grey Cliffs Campground off Baker Creek Road.
The second is the Baker Creek Trailhead, the joint trailhead that serves several different day hikes and overnight adventures, including the Timber Creek Loop Trail, the Baker Creek Loop Trail, the Baker Lake Trail, and more.
Google Maps Directions: Pole Canyon Loop Trailhead / Baker Creek 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 Pole Canyon Loop Trail
As previously mentioned, the Pole Canyon Loop Trail can begin at either the Pole Canyon Trailhead or the Baker Creek Trailhead, located at the end of Baker Creek Road.
That said, this article begins at the Pole Canyon Trailhead, which is typically the least crowded of the two options.
Almost immediately after leaving the trailhead, the Pole Canyon Loop Trail crosses Baker Creek.
Pole Canyon Loop-Kious Basin Junction
Shortly after the creek, the Pole Canyon Trail comes to the one and only junction before the loop meets the Timber Creek Trail on the other side of the pass.
Once here, go right to stay on the Pole Canyon Loop Trail, and know that Kious Basin, to the left, is not a separate day hike in Great Basin. Rather, it’s really just a trail that leads out to the park boundary and beyond and is mostly of no interest to those visiting Great Basin National Park.
After the Kious Basin junction, the Pole Canyon Trail simply winds its way up Pole Creek, gaining elevation very gradually until the loop makes an abrupt turn and begins climbing up and over the pass toward Timber Creek.
This long section up Pole Creek stretches for about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) after the Kious Basin junction and gains roughly 1,210 ft. (369 m) from this point to the sharp turn, which is quite gradual over this distance.
Since the Pole Canyon Loop is so gradual, with the exception of the pass, I believe it is one of the better trail-running hikes in Great Basin National Park—even more so than the Timber Creek Loop Trail—because the views are better!
If trail running is something you’re considering, I recommend using the shoes I have linked below, as they work well for both hiking and trail running on all the best adventures across Great Basin.
Regardless of my thoughts on trail running the Pole Canyon Trail, hiking the full loop makes for quite a long day outside.
This is why I highly recommend wearing a hooded sun shirt to stay safe, and keep in mind that these photos were taken very early in the day, which may make the hike seem more shaded than it actually is.
One of the best things about Great Basin is how many different types of wildflowers there are to enjoy once the snow melts in early summer!
Compared with the much more popular Bristlecone–Alpine Lakes Trailhead, I’ve always loved how quiet the Pole Canyon Trail is—especially early in the morning, as shown here!
The pass between Pole Canyon and Timber Creek is the low point on the ridge on the right-hand side of the photo below.
This is the 2.6-mile (4.2 km) mark and the point where the Pole Canyon Trail reaches the far southern end of the loop.
This is also the beginning of the climb up and over the saddle between Pole Canyon and Timber Creek, which is why it’s the first place I recommend turning around if you aren’t interested in completing the full loop, as I don’t believe hiking through either campground is necessary to enjoy the best the Pole Canyon Trail has to offer.
However, the best views on the entire hike are just 0.6 miles (1.0 km) ahead at the top of the pass. So, if you decide to hike a little farther, I think it becomes more of a toss-up regarding whether it makes sense more to finish the loop or turn back, since the Pole Canyon side is only about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) shorter.
After less than 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the sharp turn at the far southern end of the loop, the Pole Canyon Trail begins climbing up and over the pass between Pole Canyon and Timber Creek.
This is as steep as the Pole Canyon Loop Trail gets, and even then, it’s not nearly as steep as some of the day hikes from the Snake Creek Trailhead, such as the Johnson Lake Trail or the Snake Creek Divide Trail.
This is the top of the pass between Pole Canyon and Timber Creek, and in my opinion, it’s the most beautiful part of the entire Pole Canyon Loop Trail, as Wheeler Peak is framed perfectly in the distance!
On that note, this is also the high point of the hike, meaning that in either direction, the Pole Canyon Loop Trail begins descending back toward the trailhead.
This section, between the top of the pass and the Timber Creek Trail, is only 0.2 miles (0.3 km).
Pole Canyon Loop-Timber Creek Loop Junction
This is where the Pole Canyon Loop Trail meets the Timber Creek Loop Trail on the west side of the ridgeline between the two canyons.
At this point, go right to continue on the Pole Canyon Loop toward the Baker Creek Trailhead and the campgrounds beyond.
Read My Separate Post: Timber Creek Loop Trail
This section between the end of the official Pole Canyon Trail and the Baker Creek Trailhead is roughly 0.6 miles (1.0 km).
Pole Canyon Loop-Baker Creek Loop Junction
With about 0.2 miles (0.3 km) left before the Baker Creek Trailhead, the Pole Canyon Loop passes the junction for the Baker Creek Loop Trail, which is also the beginning of the Timber Creek Loop Trail when hiking up from the Baker Creek Trailhead.
Once here, go straight (right) to continue down to the Baker Creek Trailhead.
Read My Separate Post: Baker Creek Loop Trail / Timber Creek Loop Trail
Baker Creek Trailhead
This is where the Pole Canyon Loop Trail meets the popular Baker Creek Trailhead, which is the jumping-off point for countless beautiful adventures, most notably the hike up to Baker Lake!
However, to stay on the Pole Canyon Loop, go right to begin hiking toward Baker Creek Campground, about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from this point.
Read My Separate Posts: Baker Creek Loop Trail / Baker Lake Trail / Timber Creek Loop Trail
After the Baker Creek Trailhead, the Pole Canyon Loop Trail becomes very quiet in the sections between the campgrounds, as visitors seldom hike these three short sections between the end of the road and the Pole Canyon Trailhead.
Baker Creek Campground
After 0.5 miles (0.8 km) from the Baker Creek Trailhead, the Pole Canyon Loop reaches Baker Creek Campground, the first of two campgrounds before returning to the beginning.
That said, there is no trail through either campground. Rather, hikers must walk along the main road through each, at which point the Pole Canyon Loop Trail will pick up again on the far side.
Book Here: Baker Creek Campground
No information is collected by this website when using the Recreation.gov booking widget, and all reservations made here are secure through the official website.
At the uppermost loop in the Baker Creek Campground, it makes no difference which direction you decide to walk, as both sides meet again shortly ahead.
At the next split, go right to continue down the fastest route through Baker Creek Campground.
Then at the next split, go right once again to continue on the main road through the campground.
Baker Creek Campground Exit
This is where Baker Creek Campground Road passes the exit out to Baker Creek Road.
That said, go straight to continue hiking through the campground toward the actual Pole Canyon Loop Trail at the far northern end.
When the road reaches Campsite 20, go left to stay on the main road and avoid the potentially reserved campsite.
This is where Baker Creek Campground Road reaches the northernmost loop in the campground.
At this final split, go right to take the shortest path to the junction where the Pole Canyon Loop Trail leaves the campground.
This is where the Pole Canyon Loop Trail leaves Baker Creek Campground to begin the connector trail that leads over to Grey Cliffs Campground.
This section between the two campgrounds is roughly 0.6 miles (1.0 km).
As previously mentioned, I highly recommend wearing a hooded sun shirt for this and all day hikes across Great Basin National Park.
Grey Cliffs Campground
This is where the Pole Canyon Loop reaches the west side of Grey Cliffs Campground.
Once again, it makes no difference which direction you decide to walk on the road at the uppermost loop, as both sides meet again a short distance ahead.
Book Here: Grey Cliffs Campground
No information is collected by this website when using the Recreation.gov booking widget, and all reservations made here are secure through the official website.
This is where both sides of the upper loop come together.
At the next split, go right to continue hiking the main road through Grey Cliffs Campground.
This is where the main road meets the final campground loop before reaching the exit.
Once here, go straight, and Grey Cliffs Campground Road will pass the exit a short distance ahead.
Grey Cliffs Campground Exit
This is the exit that leads out to Baker Creek Road.
That said, go right to begin Pole Canyon Road and continue toward the final short section of the trail that leads back to the beginning.
Pole Canyon Road
Pole Canyon Road is the same road driven to get to the Pole Canyon Trailhead, which is why these final sections may look familiar if you decided to begin hiking from the bottom of the loop.
Just before Pole Canyon Road reaches the Pole Canyon Trailhead, the Pole Canyon Loop Trail leaves the road at this somewhat hidden, sharp right-hand turn.
However, if you miss the turn, walking the rest of Pole Canyon Road is just as easy as taking this final section of the loop back to the beginning.
I always think it’s interesting how the same Opuntia species can have distinctly different colors, even when growing side by side, as these two were!
Pole Canyon Loop Trailhead
After a somewhat long 6.8 miles (10.9 km), the Pole Canyon Loop Trail finally returns to the Pole Canyon Trailhead.
However, I don’t think the Pole Canyon Loop Trail feels nearly as long as the Timber Creek Loop Trail, because there are so many unique sections, such as the beautiful pass and the campgrounds.
This is why I prefer the Pole Canyon Loop over the adjacent Timber Creek Loop, but this is truly just one person’s opinion!
