Great Basin National Park · Nevada

Snake Divide Trail

4.1 mi of trail, end to end · Hike the Snake Divide Route: 13.4 mi round trip in the Service's write-up · about 2,400 ft of climbing · 8,921 ft–11,154 ft · native surface · trail class Moderately Developed · hiking, horse

8,921 ft 11,154 ft · 4.0 mi high 11,154 ft

Hike the Snake Divide Route 13.4 mi round trip · the Park Service's write-up

7-12 Hours · no dogs · Summer

Start Snake Creek Trailhead

Bristlecone pine tree with wide green canopy with a light blue and pink sky in the background.
Hike the Snake Divide for a rendezvous with many Bristlecone Pines. Photo: C. Reed

Trail Overview

Total Distance: 13.4 miles / 21.6 kilometers

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

Elevation Gain: 3,418 feet / 1,041 meters

Difficulty: Moderate

Time: 7 hours - 12 hours

Begin at : Snake Creek Trailhead

The out and back hike along the Snake Divide route is 13.4 miles round trip through rough terrain, gaining more than 3,000 feet. Following the well defined Shoshone trail, the Snake Divide trail branches and goes west, following the ridge formed by multiple 10,000+ foot peaks. The trail is often only marked by flagging and the occassional rock cairn, so having a GPS, map & compass, and the skills to use them is paramount if you want to remain on track. Do not remove/knock over rock cairns or create your own - they are vital wayfinding tools in the wilderness.

This route leads to two bristlecone groves located deep in the backcountry of Great Basin National Park. The Magic Grove below the rocky Mt Washington, and then above Mt Washington is the aptly named Mt Washington Grove. In these groves, be prepared to see the isolated bristlecone pines standing apart from each other and other species of tree. Some trees in these groves have stood for thousands of years, so please treat them with the respect and reverence they've earned. Collecting or burning of downed bristlecone wood is strictly prohibited , as even remnants of these trees are useful for scientific study and dendrochronology. Some downed trees and limbs could be thousands of years older than even the oldest living bristlecones, so please exercise caution.

If your only aim is to reach the Magic Grove bristlecones, a round trip distance of 12.0 miles is to be expected. If you want to summit Mt Washington, prepare for the full 13.4 miles.

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 is not an accessible route as it gains 3,000 feet over six miles on a dirt and rock route. Not recommended for those unsteady on their feet.

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.