Great Basin National Park · Nevada

Upper Strawberry Trail

1.5 mi of trail, end to end · about 1,000 ft of climbing · 8,173 ft–9,206 ft · native surface · trail class Developed · hiking, horse

8,173 ft 9,206 ft · 1.4 mi high 9,206 ft

Hike the Upper Strawberry Trail the Park Service's write-up

2-4 Hours · no dogs · Spring, Summer, Fall

Start Strawberry Creek Trailhead

A mountainside covered with green trees with small batches of yellow and orange fall color
Colors pop in the fall in this aspen heavy area Photo: B. Mills

Trail Overview

Total Distance: 4.0 miles / 6.4 kilometers

Starting elevation: 7,920 feet / 2,414 meters

Elevation Gain: 1,280 feet / 390 meters

Difficulty: Moderate/Strenuous

Time: 2 hours - 4 hours

Begin at : Strawberry Creek Trailhead

Matching the Sage Steppe Loop for it's beginning and end, the Upper Strawberry Loop travels up from the meadows of the loop to the saddle between Bald Mountain and the peaks to the north. The spring fed and snowmelt fed creek runs down parallel to the trail, and a number of natural stream crossings are required to ascend. Most of the elevation gain occurs after the loop and especially on the last half of the upper section.

Strawberry Creek is a prime area for Bonneville Cutthroat Trout restoration, although hampered by the 2016 Strawberry Fire. The fire raged through the canyon burning more than 4,700 acres. Restoration and monitoring efforts continue to this day, allowing this canyon and its flora and fauna to thrive as the years continue.

Spring, summer, and fall are all excellent times to explore this area. Wildflowers bloom seemingly endlessly through the meadows in spring, summer offers an opportunity to get above the heat and near water, fall brings spectacular fall foliage and colors as the aspens change. The riparian habitat here ensures many creatures thrive, with elk a common sight - especially during the fall rut.

There are wooden foot bridges along this trail, allowing for dry crossings of Strawberry Creek as you travel the south side of the Sage Steppe Loop.

This hike starts at the Strawberry Creek Trailhead at the end of Strawberry 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 Strawberry 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 1.5 miles before the 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.