Hiking the Snake Creek Overlook Trail in Great Basin National Park
Distance: 1.5 miles / 2.4 km
The Snake Creek Overlook Trail in Great Basin National Park is a very short and easy day hike in the foothills of the Snake Range that winds its way up to a beautiful overlook above the Snake Creek drainage!
Of all the different adventures that branch out from the Snake Creek Trailhead, the Snake Creek Overlook Trail is by far the easiest, largely due to the fact that it is the shortest and has the least amount of elevation gain.
This is why I believe it’s worth looking beyond some of the park’s most popular adventures off Wheeler Peak Scenic Road, as there are many amazing adventures in much less busy areas of Great Basin, including this and the Lexington Arch Trail to name a few!
However, if you’re wondering what the best day hike out of the Snake Creek Basin truly is, I believe that the Snake Divide Trail to both Magic Grove and Mt. Washington is the best of the best, though this long and remote adventure is also the most challenging of the four day hikes out of Snake Creek!
Snake Creek Overlook Trailhead Parking
Parking for the Snake Creek Overlook Trail is located at the Snake Creek Trailhead—the trailhead at the very end of Snake Creek Road—about 12.2 miles (19.6 km) from Highway 487 near the Nevada–Utah state line.
The Snake Creek Trailhead is the joint trailhead that serves several different day hikes and overnight adventures, including the Johnson Lake Trail, the Snake Divide Trail, the Dead Lake Trail, and more.
Google Maps Directions: Snake Creek Overlook 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 Snake Creek Overlook Trail
The Snake Creek Overlook Trail begins on the south side of the Snake Creek Trailhead, where it follows the Shoshone Trail for just a few steps before branching off on the Dead Lake Trail.
Snake Creek Overlook-Shoshone (Snake Divide) Junction
After a short walk, the Snake Creek Overlook Trail leaves the Shoshone Trail, more commonly known as the route that leads up to Magic Grove on the Snake Divide Trail.
That said, go right to leave the Shoshone Trail and continue hiking to the start of the official Snake Creek Overlook Trail shortly up the hill.
Read My Separate Post: Snake Divide Trail
Snake Creek Overlook-Dead Lake Junction
After just 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the previous junction, the Snake Creek Overlook Trail branches off from the Dead Lake Trail.
Once here, go left to begin hiking the official Snake Creek Overlook Trail to the loop and the overlook at the top.
Read My Separate Post: Dead Lake Trail
This bridge is where the Shoshone Trail crosses Snake Creek for the first and only time on the hike up to the loop.
Shoshone 2 & 3
Immediately after crossing Snake Creek, the Snake Creek Overlook Trail passes two of the primitive campsites in the Snake Creek Basin, one on either side of the trail.
Following the Snake Creek crossing, the trail climbs about 180 ft. (55 m) over the course of about 0.4 miles (0.6 km) to the loop at the top.
Some hikers may prefer to bring trekking poles on the Snake Creek Overlook Trail, which can certainly be useful for every other day hike that begins at the Snake Creek Trailhead below.
Snake Creek Overlook Loop Trail
After about 0.6 miles (1.0 km), the Snake Creek Overlook Trail reaches the 0.3-mile (0.5 km) loop at the top of the hill.
In my opinion, it doesn’t make much difference which direction you choose to hike the loop, but the Snake Creek Overlook is closest to the right.
Regarding my thoughts above, I chose to go right in the counterclockwise direction around the loop.
Snake Creek Overlook
This bench is the Snake Creek Overlook, located just over 0.1 miles (0.2 km) from the start of the loop.
After the overlook, the Snake Creek Overlook Trail turns sharply and begins working its way back toward the start of the loop.
This is the highest point on the Snake Creek Overlook Trail.
Snake Creek Overlook Loop Junction
This is where the Snake Creek Overlook Loop returns to the initial junction and the trail that leads back down to the Snake Creek Trailhead.
Once here, go right to begin hiking back to the beginning, about 0.6 miles (1.0 km) from this point.
