Great Basin National Park · Nevada

Snake Creek Overlook Trail

0.7 mi of trail, end to end · about 250 ft of climbing · 8,255 ft–8,510 ft · native surface · trail class Developed · hiking, horse

Backcountry camps

8,440 ft 8,437 ft · 0.3 mi high 8,510 ft

Along the way Shoshone 2 Shoshone 3

Hike to Snake Creek Overlook the Park Service's write-up

30-90 Minutes · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall

Start Snake Creek Trailhead

A wide open valley stretches beyond a trail the viewer stands on. Grey rocks, mint green shrubs.
Snake Creek valley Photo: B. Mills

Trail Overview

Distance: 1.1 miles / 1.8 kilometers

Starting elevation: 8,200 feet / 2,500 meters

Elevation Gain: 260 feet / 79 meters

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 30 minutes - 90 minutes

Begin at : Snake Creek Trailhead

Snake Creek Overlook is a humble trail branching off the Dead Lake Loop just near its start. Providing a scenic view of the valley below and passing by a walk-in primitive campsite , the trail is an excellent way to wind down a day, or prepare for a longer hike after setting up camp or picnicking.

Spring time ushers in a bevy of wildflowers of many colors, some years blooming well into the summer. Find yourself surrounded by pine, fir, and aspen trees as you hike through the forest and gain elevation.

This hike starts at the Snake Creek Trailhead on Snake Creek Road. Stop to park at the trailhead at the road's end. Parking outside of designated spaces or along the road is prohibited.

No pets permitted on park trails. Trained service animals allowed. Learn more about service animal regulations at this link.

Water

Potable water is not available along Snake Creek Road. Pack sufficient water with you, about one gallon per person per day.

Restrooms

The nearest restrooms are pit toilets with no running water at the Snake Creek Trailhead.

Accessibility This trail is not accessible

This hike on nps.gov

On the parks map

All 35 trails in Great Basin National ParkFind a trailOn the parks mapPark on nps.gov

About this trail's facts

The lines are the National Park Service's public trails layer, the trailheads and the waterfalls, views, peaks and historic places along them the Service's public points of interest, read 2026-10-16 and simplified for the map; the length is the line's, end to end. The write-ups are the Service's own "things to do" text, unedited. Heights come from USGS 3DEP through Terrain Tiles on AWS (Mapzen/Tilezen), read along each line and rounded; a short trail on steep ground can be off by a few tens of feet. Closures change: check the park's own site before you go.